The Massage Therapy Program at Ridgewater College offers a variety of options for students interested in pursuing a career as a massage therapist. Options include a 60-credit AAS degree as well as a 32-credit diploma in Massage Therapy. The program is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage (NCBTMB). The benefit for students to obtain this certification is significant, especially if they plan to practice outside of Minnesota. In both the diploma and AAS programs, students learn massage techniques used for full body, partial body, and seated-chair massage. Students study specialized massage techniques such as Swedish massage, Reflexology, Myofascial Release, and Sports massage, as well as Ancillary Treatments. Students will complete their field experience in the Student Massage Center on both campuses. The program also includes courses in the related areas of anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology for massage, business operations, client communications and marketing, clinical field experience, and First Aid/CPR. Students should note that the program schedule is a full-time student load, meeting two late afternoons/evenings per week, plus Saturdays on the Willmar campus or one late afternoon/evening and two traditional daytimes per week on the Hutchinson campus.
