WHAT IS MASSAGE THERAPY?

A Licensed Massage Therapist is an allied health professional who provides hands-on care to clients and patients in a variety of settings. The practitioner applies manual therapeutic massage techniques of the body's soft tissue, along with adjunct therapies, in order to positively affect the health and well-being of the client, promoting wellness, stress management, and rehabilitation.

WHAT DOES A MASSAGE THERAPIST DO?

Massage Therapists can choose from a variety of bodywork modalities ranging from deep tissue manipulation to the lighter touch of energy therapies such as reiki or craniosacral realignment. Massage therapists can work in a myriad of settings: wellness massage in spas, resorts, and cruise ships; sports massage in health clubs; medical massage in hospitals, rehab centers and chiropractic offices; stress-management massage in corporate offices, and general massage in private practice.

MASSAGE THERAPY AT TROCAIRE COLLEGE:

For over 50 years, Trocaire College has been preparing individuals for the health care professions. Building on this tradition of excellence in health care, Trocaire now offers the first Massage Therapy Program in WNY available in a higher education setting.

The Massage Therapy program was developed to meet the increasing demand for qualified Massage Therapists in the community. With the current changes in health care and the growing use of complementary therapies, Trocaire is uniquely positioned to create and develop hands-on therapy for the 21st century.

Massage Therapy is a profession in which the practitioner applies manual techniques for the purpose of improving muscle tone and circulation with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the client. Massage is both an art and a science of healing which dates back more than 4,000 years.

Trocaire's program combines lecture, college laboratory experiences, and a clinical component providing practical experience. The program is comprehensive it its coverage of both Eastern and Western massage therapy techniques.

An individual can enroll in this program as either a full-time or a part-time student and earn a Certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the NYS board licensure exam for professional massage therapists.

Massage Therapy courses, as well as hands-on training in the massage therapy laboratory and student-run clinic, are offered in a newly renovated facility at 2262 Seneca Street.  This new location, just two minutes from the main campus, is a 7,500 square foot facility focusing on the needs of the Massage Therapy program.  The space includes a classroom/laboratory area as well as six clinical massage rooms and a clinic office.

Admission Requirements:

1. High School Diploma (minimum 75% average) or GED Diploma with a minimum score of 2500
2. Biology
3. Minimum final semester average of 2.0 with minimum grades of "C" in laboratory sciences for current and transfer students
4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required prior to clinical experiences

Minimum Requirements:

1. A total of at least 50 semester hours for the Certificate, with a Quality Point Average of 2.0
   Normal Time to completion: 24 months
2. Core Requirements: GS100 College Seminar or GS 102 College Success, EN101 or EN200 (Basic Communication), EN 102 (Humanities), Mathematics (3-4 credits), Natural Science (BIO130/BIO130L, BIO131/BIO131L), PH103, PH205 (Philosophy), Social Science (PSY101 and one 3 credit social science elective)
3. Program Requirements*: BIO243, BIO333, MT101, MT105, MT106, MT110, MT111, MT205, MT206, MT211, MT212, MT230, MT240, MT245, One, 3 credit hour "hands-on" Massage Therapy elective
   (other electives in the department are considered to be free electives)

*A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required.
*Math 107 is recommended and can be completed at any time during the four semesters.