NWCCD 2019-20 Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
NWCCD 2019-20 Catalog [This is an Archived Catalog.]

Massage Therapy AAS


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Massage Therapists are trained to manipulate muscles, relieve pain and stress, rehabilitate injuries, and assist in the overall wellbeing of clients. Certified therapists travel with professional sports teams, work in spas, physical therapy practices, chiropractic offices, and private practices. Massage therapy is a rapidly growing field with employment opportunities across the region and country. NWCCD’s Massage Therapy program will give you the therapeutic skills and knowledge of the human body to succeed as a professional massage therapist. The Massage Therapy program at NWCCD is nationally accredited and features hands-on, clinical practice in a variety of settings on- and off-campus at Sheridan College.

Industry Outlook

Demand is high for Massage Therapists across the United States. Businesses across the state and country contact our program director each year to hire our Massage Therapy graduates. With an array of options for employment, Massage Therapists are able to pursue work in a variety of locations and settings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23% job growth for licensed Massage Therapists, with an estimated 30,000 new jobs available from 2012-2022.

Careers and Opportunities

NWCCD’s Massage Therapy program closely follows industry standards and guidelines to ensure you are gaining the skills you need to work as a professional Massage Therapist. Our graduates have found employment in spas, medial settings, rehab centers, and more, in locations such as Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, and Virginia. Most, but not all states require a license to practice. You can become a licensed Massage Therapist by sitting for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) using your education from NWCCD.

Our graduates work in a professional setting such as:

  • Spas
  • Salons
  • Professional athletes and teams
  • Theater and performing arts
  • Hospitals
  • Physical therapy clinics
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Chiropractic clinics
  • Private practices
  • Local clinics

Research additional employment information by viewing this program’s gainful employment page.

Businesses across the state and nation hire our NWCCD Massage Therapy graduates each year.

Our Program

Our NWCCD Massage Therapy program focuses on hands-on practice and learning. Sheridan College offers the only Massage Therapy program at a Wyoming community college. Available as an Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Completion degree options, in addition to a new accelerated 6-month certificate (mostly online) for health care professionals and those with other degrees. NWCCD Massage Therapy students at Sheridan College experience small class sizes, excellent student-to-instructor ratios and opportunities to practice. NWCCD’s on-campus Massage Therapy room and off-campus student clinical rotations provide you with diverse settings and learning environments, giving you the experience to make an informed decision for your professional goals. Many NWCCD students have been offered jobs as a result of their clinical rotations.

The NWCCD Massage Therapy program curriculum is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges. Graduates may choose to sit for the MBLEX exam. Sheridan College is also a member of the American Massage Therapy Council of Schools.

Small class size, individualized training, expert faculty and on-campus services set NWCCD’s Massage Therapy program apart.

Faculty and Community

NWCCD’s has some of the most experienced and dedicated Massage Therapy instructors in the area. They will help you understand each aspect of the industry and train you to succeed and thrive as a certified professional.

NWCCD faculty members have strong partnerships with medical offices, rehab centers, spas, hospitals, and more to give you unique learning opportunities through internships, clinical rotations, and jobs.

NWCCD’s Massage Therapy program is geared to meet the needs of the industry both locally and nationally. That’s why we offer a six-month accelerated program designed for health science professionals who have already earned a degree. This program is mostly online for ease and speed of completion for professionals who already have a skill set in health sciences.

Learn more about your course schedule for Massage Therapy at Sheridan College.

Massage Therapy AAS Program Outcomes:

  1. Identify contradictions to MT
  2. Integrate protocols of a given modality as needed during treatment.
  3. Demonstrate effective use of techniques of a modality in the clinical setting
  4. Design a comprehensive business plan.
  5. Assess workforce readiness through self-appraisal.
  6. Correlate Body Structure and Function to maintain health.

Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Total Credit Hours: 60


Total Program Contact Hours: 960 - 990


Course Options for Cultural Studies:


PSYC 1000 General Psychology (4 credits) (may reduce program electives to 2 credits)
CO/M 1030 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
HLTK 2960 Field Studies (3 credits)

Course Options for Program Electives:


PSYC 1000 General Psychology (4 credits)
CO/M 1030 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
HLTK 2960 Field Studies (3 credits)
BIOL 1010 General Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1050 Medical Terminology (3 credits)
HLED 2020 Health Promotion (2 credits)

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