PROGRAM FORMAT
10-month – Days 10AM - 2PM starts January & September
12 month - Part time evenings and weekends 6-10PM starts March & September
Create your own – consult with our staff to create a custom 702-hour schedule, choose from classes in all programs both days, nights and weekends.
Experiential learning segments – students enrolled in all programs will be required to complete 100-hours of student clinic as well as 6-hours of Community Outreach. Scheduled at their convenience, students choose from regular Wellness Center operating hours and various events.
Life saving skills – students enrolled in all programs will be required to complete at least 6-hours of adult CPR & First Aid.

CALENDAR

	Start Dates	End Dates
Fall Day & Evening Programs	September 8, 2008	July & Sept, 2009

Holidays -The school is closed certain holidays that occur during regulary scheduled trimesters including: the day prior to and Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Special consideration is provided for individual religious holidays students celebrate, please notify administrative staff in writing of any days you are obligated to observe and will not be attending class. Detailed calendars will be provided the first day of classes for all students.

Emergency Closings -School closings or delays are announced that day on the answering machine at least two hours before the posted start times for day and evening classes. If Philadelphia public schools close for snow, we also close.

Class Size -Classes are limited to 16 students for hands on classes and 20 in science lecture.

Definition of Clock Hours -A clock hour is 50 minutes of instruction per hour.

SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Day classes: Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am - 2pm (Wed 1:30p-5:30p for 1st trimester only then Wed 9am-1pm 2nd and 3rd trimester)
Part time evening classes March start-Tuesday & Thursday 6pm-10pm and every other Saturday 9am-5pm or October start-Monday & Wednesday 6pm-10pm and every other Saturday 9am-5pm

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
School closings or delays announced on the answering machine by 8:00 am.

CLASS SCHEDULE
Day classes: Mon-Thurs 10am - 2pm (Wed 9am-1pm for 1st trimester only)
Evening Classes: 2 evenings 6pm - 10pm
Weekend Classes: Saturday 9am - 5pm

COURSES
Swedish Massage, Theory and Practice —140 hours
Students will learn theory, philosophy, and application of Swedish massage therapy. Learn the manual application of the fundamental strokes to individual body sections culminating in full body massage treatments. Students will also learn the recognition of conditions when professionals avoid providing therapy. Universal precautions, hygiene, draping, body mechanics, ROM, interpersonal skills, ethics, and self-care are also covered.

Clinic Orientation —4 hours
This course provides an overview of the student clinic. A handbook provided to each student supplies the framework for clinic operation in detail. Treatment area set up, rules, grading criteria, etc. are discussed in detail.

Anatomy & Physiology I — 48 hours
Explore the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology studies, including chemistry and cells. In depth looks at the muscular and skeletal systems begins in this segment of anatomy and physiology training. Classes place emphasis on the anatomy of bones, muscles, nerves, and blood supply also covering action, origin, and insertion of the individual muscles.

Shiatsu — 96 hours (days) 38 hours (eves)
Shiatsu is a Japanese healing art incorporating movement, stretching, and direct finger pressure to encourage Qi (energy) to flow more freely. Shiatsu combines an understanding of Qi movement through meridians, the Five Element Theory, and "hara". Students will learn twelve energy meridians, their directional flow, major tsubo points, proper hand and finger techniques, stretches, hara evaluation and basic concepts of the Five Element Theory.

Anatomy & Physiology 2 — 48 hours
Continue your in depth exploration of the muscular and skeletal systems while learning the basics of the human-central and peripheral nervous systems.

Anatomy & Physiology 3:The Systems — 44 hours
Class emphasis is on the ten basic human body systems, their structures, and functions. Topics include the immune, cardiovascular, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive, respiratory systems and their relation to massage.

Professional Ethics — 8 clock hours
In this course, students will study safety and ethical issues involved in bodywork. Students learn the importance of understanding and respecting professional boundaries, what trasference and counter-transference is as well projection. Knowledge in this area can be the difference between a successful or failing practice.

Pathology — 48 hours
Pathology is the study of disease. When a client seeks treatment, you need to understand their condition in order to tailor the massage to their individual needs and concerns. Class discussion will focus on client conditions, their relation to bodywork therapies, and to recognize when not to administer any treatment at all. Developing evaluation skills about how to, or whether to treat a particular client is of paramount importance to a practitioner. This course will cover: terminology, etiology, inflammation and tissue repair, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, common cancers, and infectious diseases.

Connective Tissue Modalities — 72 hours
In this course, students learn how to view the connective tissue as a structural support system modeled after structural integration theories. Emphasis placed on the proper use of body mechanics to perform correct myofascial techniques and stretches insures a sustainable practice of this adjunct modality. Proper application of the techniques to the body in specific segments; low back, hips, legs & feet, upper back & shoulders is demonstrated and practiced. Craniosacral and myofascial therapies are explored.

Complementary Modalities — 52 hours
Complementary Modalities is a course that covers many healing arts and their unique way to blend with massage therapy. Many advance practitioners diversify their practices with these methods or learn them in order to provide their clientele with appropriate referrals to different practitioners. Topics of discussion and practical application include; energy-healing methods, reflexology, the use of spa techniques, hydrotherapy, Sports massage, aromatherapy promotion of a massage chair and other marketing tools and many more useful skills and techniques.

Business Development— 24 clock hours
Students learn techniques such as rapport and communicating with clients to refine assessment skills with role-playing. Learn how to write business plans, goal planning, perform mock interviews, and learn how to market their practice and services

STUDENT CLINIC

Clinic Practicum — 100 hours(days) 136 hours(eves)
The Wellness Center is a model for professional practice, with students working on clients in a supervised setting. The clinical experience provides students with both written and verbal feedback form their clients and instructors concerning quality of touch, communication, and service skills. Clinic Practicum allows an opportunity for students to practice and refine their skills in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. It also assists with the development of professionalism and self confidence. Student Clinic hours are scheduled by students outside of the normal class hours during regular Wellness Center hours. Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours in their second and third semesters.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

Community Outreach— 6 hours(days) 32 hours (eves)
Community outreach is an experiential learning segment of the massage therapy program. Students must attend scheduled events outside normal class hours. The goal of community outreach is to demonstrate the need for a connection to the community in order to facilitate the success of an individual or group practice. Skills learned assist with marketing, networking, and education the public about the effects and benefits of our work.
Prerequisite: Swedish Massage Theory & Practice

LIFE SAVER SKILLS

CPR / First Aid—
Students are required to enroll in and complete at least 6 hours of Adult CPR and First Aid. Classes are not included in the tuition or courses at Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia though they are made available through the Continuing and Holistic education schedule, approximately twice a year. A valid CPR/ First Aid certification is a requirement for graduation.