Therapeutic Massage, A.A.S. (A45750)

Admission Information

Students applying for admission to the Gaston College Therapeutic Massage program MUST meet the following requirements for General Admission to the college:

1. Submit to the Gaston College Office of Admissions a completed Application for Admission.
2. Request that your high school mail an official high school transcript to the Gaston College Office of Admissions at Gaston College, 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034-1499. The documentation listed below can be submitted in the place of a traditional high school transcript.
   1. Official Adult High School transcript, if applicable
   2. Official copies of GED scores
   3. Official transcript from International Correspondence School
   4. Official transcript from Home School
3. Request that all colleges previously attended submit official transcripts.
4. Schedule and take the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the SAT are not required to take the Writing and Reading portions of the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the SAT are not required to take the Mathematics portion of the placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Gaston College Office of Admissions.
   Students who score a 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Writing portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score a 21 or higher on the Reading portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Reading portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score a 22 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Math portion of the college’s placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Gaston College Office of Admissions.
   A transfer student who has earned a “C” in both college level math and English from a regionally accredited institution shall have the test waived.
5. Applicants from countries whose language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by scoring no less that 540 (207 on the computer) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). United States resident applicants whose primary spoken language is not English will be required to demonstrate English proficiency. This may be established by scoring no less that 540 (207 on the computer) on the TOEFL.

Additional Requirements

To be Eligible to Submit an Application to the Therapeutic Massage Program:

1. Must have an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better in required college courses.
2. Must have grades of “C” or better in all related courses.
3. Must have completed the required Biology courses within five (5) years from the date of application to the program.

The following criteria will be utilized by the Admissions Committee in the selection process of recommending applicants for admission to the program:

1. The number of related courses completed by end of the fall semester prior to making application.
2. Grade Point Average (GPA) in related courses.
3. Interview with Therapeutic Massage Director.
4. Must receive one (1) professional therapeutic massage.

The final selection of applicants into the program is made by the Department Chairperson in consultation with the Dean of Health Sciences.

Required before entrance into the program by date to be announced by the Therapeutic Massage Chairperson:

1. Criminal Background Checks, Finger Prints and Annual Drug Screening: In order to comply with current Student Facility Affiliation Agreements students admitted into the Therapeutic Massage Program will be required to complete successful Criminal Background Checks, Finger Prints and Annual Drug Screens according to Gaston College procedures before being placed in a clinical facility. The facility reserves the right to deny the student access to the facility. Completion of clinical experience is required for the satisfactory completion of the program. More information will be provided upon conditional acceptance into the program.
2. A completed health form documenting satisfactory emotional and physical health.
3. A current Adult and Infant CPR certification.
4. A satisfactory dental examination.

First

• BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 Credit Hours)
• ENG 111 Expository Writing (3 Credit Hours)
• PSY 150 General Psychology (3 Credit Hours)
• MTH 110 Fundamentals of Massage (10 Credit Hours)

Second

• BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II (4 Credit Hours)

Third

• COM 120 Intro Interpersonal Com (3 Credit Hours)
• MTH 125 Ethics of Massage (2 Credit Hours)

Fourth

• BIO 271 Pathophysiology (3 Credit Hours)
• MED 121 Medical Terminology I (3 Credit Hours)
• MTH 210 Skills of Massage (8 Credit Hours)
• MTH 221 Clinical Supplement II (2 Credit Hours)

Fifth

• Humanities Elective (3 Credit Hours)
• MTH 220 Outcome-Based Massage (7 Credit Hours)
• PED 110 Fit and Well for Life (2 Credit Hours)
• PED 122 Yoga I (1 Credit Hour)
• PSY 118 Interpersonal Psychology (3 Credit Hours)

Total Semester Hour Credits: 75

Note(s):

Humanities/Fine Arts Elective – Select one: Art, Literature, Humanities, Philosophy or Religion.

*Graduates may be eligible to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination. Upon passing this exam, a candidate may apply for North Carolina State License for Massage and Bodywork. Licensure is MANDATORY to practice massage in the state of North Carolina. Refer to website: www.bmbt.org for details. Fifty (50) hours of independent massage practicum.