Course Descriptions

Core Curriculum for the Massage Therapy Diploma (746 hours)
** hours indicate classroom lecture time, students will also have written projects, reading assignments, and massage practical hours outside of their lecture hours.

Anatomy & Physiology (223 hours)

This course gives students an understanding of the human body with a primary focus on the skeletal and muscular systems. Student will have a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology as it relates to massage therapy. This course will give students an in-depth study of kinesiology and musculoskeletal pathology. Students will also learn medical terminology as it relates to massage therapy. Areas of study will include: internal organ systems, metabolic activities, and how every system comes together to put together the human body.

Massage Therapy Technique (126 hours)

Students will learn the benefits of massage, its history and legalities, and basic massage techniques for the entire body. Basic massage modalities to be taught are Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. This course is mostly hands-on.
* Note additional seminars and continuing education workshops will focus on Spa Treatments, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Prenatal, and Hot Stone Therapy.

First Aid & CPR (8 hours)

This course is taught by the American Red Cross. Students will receive a certification from the American Red Cross in Community First Aid and Safety; and Community CPR.

Holistic Health: Psychology, Sociology, Sexuality (88 hours)

Holistic health care is an area of study which focuses on the whole person and takes into account the body/mind relationship. The topics involved in the study are herbology, homeopathy, aromatherapy, affirmation therapy, and their relationships to the body. The study of holistic health will also include the study of its historical perspectives and modern day applications.

Acupressure (50 hours)

This course introduces students to the history and current trends in acupuncture and acupressure. Students learn the anatomical pressure points to incorporate into their massage.

Personal Development (43 hours)

This course is the foundation relating to the personal development of the massage therapist. It will explore psychological and sociological issues, as related to intrapersonal awareness and interpersonal awareness. Emphasis is on basic psychological and sociological concepts, growth in spirituality, awareness of one’s sexuality, and other sensate issues of massage.

Nutrition (16 hours)

The functions and sources of nutrients form the basis for making wise decisions in selecting and preparing foods. Students will explore the application of nutritional principles to human development and health maintenance. Topics will include major nutrients, body mass index, portion size, and supplements.

Chemistry (16 hours)

In this course, students will learn the hierarchy of the body’s chemical composition: its molecules, compounds, atoms and sub-atomic structures. Additionally, students explore the chemical transformations of nutrients and their relationship to maintaining the chemical normality of the body. Topics will include atomic structure, periodic trends, common biological ions, diffusion and osmosis, thermo chemistry and nutrition.

Small Business Practices (18 hours)

Students will address aspects of small business management including: accounting, bookkeeping, time management, inventory, communication, customer service, client retention and training. The course will focus on building your business and marketing strategies, including promoting, networking, advertising, and publicity. Other topics might include: teambuilding, the power of attitude, communication skills, and effective writing and organizational skills.

Ethics (8 hours)

This course focuses on ethical implications of the client-therapist relationship. Topics will include the study of the psychological life of the body, boundaries and limits in massage therapy, emotional release, and understanding mental health.

Document Practices (Total 150) /Clinical Hours (70 hours)

This course covers the necessary skills in preparation for a professional practice. Students will learn to interview and assess each client in order to develop a treatment plan. Students will learn the SOAP note format and contraindications of massage therapy. This course allows students to practice techniques of full body massage with an emphasis on therapeutic applications. This is where students combine their knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, massage technique and business to treat a variety of clients with individual skeletal and muscular complaints.

*Students must engage in sixty hours of practiced technique in the university clinic. Clients are recruited by students, which become your future professional clients, or our Hired Hands International University clients. The massages are completed under the supervision of a licensed massage therapist, who provides necessary supervision and supplemental instruction.

**Students are required to complete client massage documentation forms for each practicum massage. Clients will also be asked to fill out an evaluation form.

Seminars (236 hours)

Chair Massage

Students will learn chair massage, a technique that is performed where the client remains fully dressed in a unique and exceptionally comfortable chair. This massage concentrates on your back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands.

Spa Treatments

Students will have the chance to learn several of the Lincoln Park Massage Spa body treatments. Treatments include the aromatherapy steam treatments, sugar body polishes, treat for your feet, revitalizing eye, scalp and headache relief, and hand and wrist relief.

Reflexology

Students will learn the zones of the body as they relate to the corresponding zones of the feet, so that the appropriate manipulations may alleviate the effects of stress in a client by facilitating deep relaxation, thus affecting the pathways of the nervous and circulatory systems to enhance the client’s well being. Students additionally explore the roles of affirmation and visualization as they relate to reflexology.

Hot Stone Therapy

Students will learn the ancient Native American treatment utilizes smooth basalt river rocks that are heated to dissolve muscle tension. Students will learn how to massage with the stones using traditional Swedish massage strokes.

Sports Massage

This seminar focuses on the specialized aspects of using massage as a tool to help athletes achieve maximum efficiency through free, complete and synchronous motion. This workshop will familiarize students with the proper techniques to massage athletes in an attempt to have them maximize their motional efficiency.

Certificate of Approval To Operate Issued By the Illinois State Superintendent of Education, 100 North First Street, Springfield, Illinois 62777.

630 W. Webster Ave Chicago, IL 60614 773-296-0129

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