Course Descriptions
BIOL211 Anatomy & Physiology 1:
Fundamentals
This course includes an introduction to anatomy and physiology and
the basic structure and function of the muscular, skeletal and
integumentary systems of the human body. Students will learn
terminology and functional anatomical
structures. Prerequisite: None
BIOL212 Gross Anatomy Laboratory 1
Under close supervision, students have the opportunity to observe
and palpate prosected human cadavers. Tissues covered in A&P I
will be specifically covered. Prerequisite:
None. Corequisite: BIOL211
BIOL213 Anatomy & Physiology 2:
Systems
This course includes the basic structure and function of the major
systems of the human body with an emphasis on neuromuscular
physiology. Also covered will be cell/tissues; integument; muscle
physiology; nervous tissue; spinal cord and nerves, brain and
cranial nerves; special senses, sensory and motor systems;
autonomic nervous system; endocrine system and the stress response;
cardiovascular system - heart, blood, vessels; lymphatic system;
respiratory physiology; physiology of the digestive system and
metabolism; physiology of the urinary system, and reproductive
physiology (development and inheritance). Students will learn the
terminology and functional anatomical
structures. Prerequisite: BIOL211, BIOL212
BIOL214 Anatomy & Physiology 3:
Kinesiology
This course includes the basic structure and function of the
musculoskeletal system of the human body. Students will learn
terminology and functional anatomical structures with a detailed
study of the origin, insertion and action of the major muscles of
the human body. Prerequisite: BIOL211, BIOL212
BIOL215 Gross Anatomy Laboratory 2
Under close supervision, students have the opportunity to observe
and palpate prosected human cadavers. Tissues covered in Anatomy
and Physiology II and III will be specifically covered.
Prerequisite: BIOL211, BIOL212. Corequisite:
BIOL213, BIOL214
MT111 Assessment 1:
Palpation
Students will learn
through study and practical application the major superficial
muscles and body landmarks. Basic palpation skills are developed in
laboratory hands-on activities. Prerequisite:
None. Corequisite: BIOL211 and
BIOL212
MT121 Massage: Fundamentals
This introductory course provides the student with a solid
foundation of fundamental Swedish massage techniques and methods,
along with proper biomechanics, posture and table management.
Concepts in soft tissue physiology as they relate to massage also
are stressed. Draping also will be covered in this
laboratory. Prerequisite: None.
Corequisite: BIOL211, BIOL212, MT111
MT131 Non-Western Medicine and Evidence Informed
Practice (EIP)
Massage therapy as practiced today incorporates various
principles and objectives. Although a therapist need not be
proficient in all types and styles of massage, an understanding of
some of the more common variations utilized by therapists will
assist a practitioner. This course provides an overview of some of
the non-western approaches to medicine, as well as a brief overview
of various energetically-based applications of massage. All
health care professionals depend on research results for new
information in their field. This course provides the foundation for
understanding basic research methods, building research literacy
skill, and learning how the application of research findings can
strengthen one's practice. Prerequisite: None
MT141 Ethical Practice Management 1
Massage therapy students will learn about the scope of practice,
use of client forms, the therapist-client relationship, developing
a good working relationship with other health care practitioners
including giving and receiving referrals, maintaining professional,
ethical, sexual, and emotional boundaries with clients, recognizing
potential problem areas, and providing guidelines for use in
unclear and/or unsafe situations. Prerequisite:
None
MT142 Ethical Practice Management 2
Massage therapists commonly desire to start their own small
business in providing massage therapy to clients. Information is
discussed on the subjects of setting up and building a successful
client base, bookkeeping, taxes, marketing, and compliance with
local and state laws. Prerequisite: MT141
MT171 Interpersonal Communication &
Ethics
This course teaches skills required as a speaker and listener as
well as the basics of body language and non-verbal cues. The
subject of ethical behavior is important to all massage
professionals. In this course, participants will discuss personal
and professional codes of ethics. This course focuses on different
theories of ethics, ethical considerations involved in a massage
business, and codes of ethics of professional massage
associations. Corequisite: MT141
MT222 Massage: Chair/Trigger Point/Sport
This laboratory gives hands-on experience in the art and
science of chair massage, trigger point therapy, and massage
techniques for the chiropractic setting. Students builds on their
previous hands-on skills and knowledge to begin to work with
techniques for the structures of the body. Students will learn to
adapt their skills to a wide range of client complaints by
developing their ability to think critically and select appropriate
courses of action with clients. Prerequisite: MT
121
MT224 Massage Therapy for Special Populations:
Geriatric, Cancer, Pregnancy, Infant, Pediatric
This 30-hour course will explore the role of massage therapy as it
relates to pregnancy, infant massage, cancer patients, AIDS
patients, and the geriatric population. Other topics of interest
will include massage for people with degenerative neurological
diseases such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravies,
Parkinson's disease, as well as other issues such as people with
cerebral palsy, paraplegia or quadriplegia from stroke or trauma,
respiratory or metabolic disorders, and hospice patients. This
course may also include a field trip to a rehabilitation facility
to witness first hand, the challenges and adaptations required by
the massage therapist as they encounter various environments such
as a hospital or clinic, as well as patients who may still be
catheterized, connected to oxygen or intravenous lines, or have
other physical limitations due to their condition. An extension of
this course would allow students to offer massage to people with
special needs as part of the NUHS Massage Outreach Program. The
special needs of the pregnant female, the infant and the child also
will be discussed with massage procedures being demonstrated and
practiced. Prerequisite: MT 121
MT225 Massage: Orthopedic/Syndromes/Chiropractic
Setting
This laboratory gives hands-on experience in the art and science
of orthopedics and sports massage. Students build on their previous
hands-on skills and knowledge to begin to work with techniques for
the structures of the body. Students will learn to adapt their
skills to a wide range of client complaints by developing their
ability to think critically and select appropriate courses of
action with clients. Prerequisite: BIOL213, BIOL214,
BIOl215, MT222
MT313 Assessment 3: Signs/Symptoms/Systemic
Conditions/Exam Procedures
This course will give students insight into what to look for and
listen for during the history and assessment of the client to help
them determine an appropriate massage therapy plan or to consider
referral. This course also helps students to understand examination
procedures used in health care offices and how those procedures
help to determine conditions of the major human systems and how
they relate to wellness. Prerequisite: BIOL213, BIOL214,
BIOL215
MT323 Clinic Internship 1
Students will participate in Internship I in the University's
clinics. Students must complete the equivalent of 30 one-hour
therapy sessions. The clinical experiences improve confidence and
client interaction and provide opportunities to learn and
experience a greater diversity of treatment plans. The experience
includes orientations and on-site seated or table massage. The
clinic and assigned clinic hours are matched to the request of each
student when possible; students will be assigned when requests can
not be accommodated. Second and third trimester internships
comprise a minimum of 32 continuous weeks beginning with the second
trimester and ending with the third trimester. Students are
expected to maintain clinical internship hours during the course
break between second and third trimesters. Internship I and II must
be taken as one unit. Withdrawal from a second trimester course
also requires withdrawal from massage internship.
Prerequisites:
- Successfully complete all courses in the first trimester. (Students who do not enter clinic immediately upon finishing MT121 must pass a massage competency assessment before scheduling clients.)
- Complete freshman physical.
- Present proof of a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers with AED card that will not expire prior to the end of the clinic internship.
- If taking full second and third trimester course loads: Concurrent enrollment in all second trimester courses. If any second trimester courses are NOT successfully completed, Massage Internship I (MT323A) must be repeated with the failed course.
- If taking a partial load in second trimester and planning to take the full course load in third trimester: Concurrent enrollment in all remaining second trimester courses. If any second trimester courses are NOT successfully completed, Massage Internship I (MT323A) must be repeated with the failed course. If circumstances change at the successful conclusion of second trimester, and third trimester is taken via partial load, the student must repeat Massage Internship I (MT323A) with the initial partial load of the third trimester courses (second-to-last trimester of attendance before graduation).
- If planning to take partial loads in third trimester: Internship I must be taken in the second-to-last trimester of attendance prior to graduation. Internship II must be taken in the trimester in which the student graduates (last trimester of attendance). If any third trimester courses are NOT successfully completed, Massage Internship I (MT323A) must be repeated unless all remaining courses are taken from the third trimester (unless the failed course was Internship I) including Internship II to finish the program.
Note:The use of MT323A on a transcript indicates than an additional 15 hours of massage have been added to the student's requirement for graduation due to extenuating circumstances.
Corequisite: BIOL213, MT222, MT224, BIOL214, BIOL215
MT325 Clinic Internship 2
Students will participate in Internship II in the
University's clinics and a variety of sites in the community.
Students must complete the equivalent of 60 one-hour therapy
sessions. The clinical experience improves confidence and client
interaction, and provides opportunities to learn and experience a
greater diversity of treatment plans. The experience includes
orientations and on-site seated or table massage. The clinic and
assigned clinic hours are matched to the request of each student
when possible; students will be assigned when requests can not be
accommodated. Community sites are offered to provide experience
outside the college campus and aid in job placement. These may
include athletic clubs, rehabilitation clinics, senior centers,
hospitals, corporate offices, police and fire departments, and
sports and dance venues. Second and third trimester internships
comprise a minimum of 32 continuous weeks beginning with the second
trimester and ending with the third trimester. Students are
expected to maintain clinical internship hours during the course
break between second and third trimesters. Internship I and II must
be taken as one unit.
Prerequisites:
- Successful completion of all second trimester courses.
- Concurrent enrollment in all third trimester courses.
- Must be taken during the last trimester of attendance (the trimester in which the student graduates). If any third trimester courses must be repeated, Internship II (MT325A) must be repeated.
Note: The use of MT325A on a transcript indicates than an additional 15 hours of massage have been added to the student's requirement for graduation due to extenuating circumstances.
Corequisite: NU151, WELL126, MT313, PT352, MT142, MT225
NU151 Wellness 1:
Nutrition
This course is an
introduction to the fundamentals of human nutrition. Introductory
topics include a description of the basic science aspects of the
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins (macronutrients), minerals,
and metals (micronutrients) used by the body to obtain maximal
health status. Topics presented in this course include a discussion
of the severe deficiency states for both micronutrients and
macronutrients. Energy production and weight management are
described. Food habits in the United States and nutrition for
sports and exercise are introduced, as well as the clinical aspects
of connective tissue disease and musculoskeletal and joint health
is given. An introduction to the use of botanical medicines is also
presented. Prerequisite: None
PM112 Assessment 2: Clinical
Pathology/Microbiology
This course introduces students to the basics of inflammation and
repair, infectious disease, universal precautions and conditions of
the skin, muscle and fascia. Students will learn to identify skin,
muscle and fascial conditions they are likely to encounter in a
massage practice. Prerequisite: None
PT352 Wellness 2: Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Exercise/
Hydrotherapy
This course discusses the scientific application of
rehabilitation procedures, therapeutic exercise and hydrotherapy
for therapeutic purposes and wellness. Students will learn the
correct uses of rehabilitation procedures, therapeutic exercise and
applications of ice packs and hot packs. Prerequisite:
BIOL213, BIOL214, BIOL215
TERM161 Medical
Terminology
Students will learn
terminology for use in the massage therapy environment and
terminology necessary to communicate with other health care
providers. Prerequisite: None
WELL126 Relaxation
Therapies: Yoga/Qi Gong
Stress reduction is
one of the main benefits of massage therapy. This laboratory
teaches how to recognize stress and the physiological and
psychological effects of stress. A variety of stress intervention
techniques such as yoga and Qi Gong for the reduction of stress
will be learned and practiced. Prerequisite:
None
MT226 Massage: Myofascial
Release/Thai/Aroma
This 30-hour laboratory gives hands-on demonstration and
experience in the art of myofascial release and Thai massage. The
students will also be introduced to aroma
therapy. Prerequisite: None
MT227 Massage: Lymph Drainage/Reflexology/Energy
Fundamentals
This 30-hour laboratory gives hands-on demonstration and
experience in the art of manual lymphatic drainage, reflexology and
basic energy procedures. Prerequisite: None
MT228 Massage: Cranial/Visceral
This 30-hour laboratory gives hands-on demonstration and
experience in the art of cranial fascia technique and visceral
massage procedures. Prerequisite: None
MT229 Massage: Advanced Fundamentals &
Variations
This 30-hour laboratory gives hands-on demonstration and
experience in advanced general massage procedures and options due
to body type and size. Prerequisite: MT121
MT233 CPR
This course is an American Heart Association Basic Life Support
with AED for Health Care Professionals course for students who
don't currently possess this certification
card. Prerequisite: None
MT234 Graston Technique
This 15-hour hands-on laboratory course presents assessment and
treatment procedures for soft tissue lesions throughout the body.
The assessment procedures may include palpation, "Cyriax style"
active and passive tissue evaluation, and other procedures that are
specific to the application of Graston Technique. Treatment will be
primarily via the use of Graston instruments. Manual myofascial
release, manual trigger point therapy, soft tissue elongation
techniques, stretching, and rehabilitation exercises may be
included. Physical modalities such as ultrasound, hot packs and
cold packs may be used if the venue permits. Visceral adhesions,
intra-oral, and pelvic floor lesions will not be
addressed. Prerequisite: MT12
Courses for Chiropractic Assistant Certificate
CA233 History & Principles of Chiropractic, CA
Fundamentals, Nutritional Products, and Diagnostic
Testing
This course provides the fundamentals of what a chiropractic
assistant does on a day-to-day basis to help the chiropractic
physician with the care and management of patients and the
business/management needs of the office in 10 hours (two five-hour
seminars).
This course provides five hours of instruction (one five-hour seminar) in the philosophy and history of manipulative care, identifying specific individuals and their contributions to the development of the modern practice of chiropractic.
This course provides five hours (one five-hour seminar) of instruction on the appropriate identification and categorization of botanical medicines, supplements, and other nutritional products used in the chiropractor's office. It provides information regarding labeling laws, standardization, and methods of extraction of nutrients and supplements as well as botanical medicine, chelators, glandular products, and glyconutrients. A description of dosage forms, dose scheduling, and types of preparations available is given. The positive and negative aspects of each type of product is discussed.
This course also provides 10 hours of instruction (two five-hour seminars) in an introduction to procedures and equipment used in making a diagnosis, including the taking and recording of vital signs. Laboratory procedures including urinalysis, venipuncture and hematology are discussed.
CA234 X-Ray Technology & Safety, Darkroom Procedures
and Physiological Therapeutics
This course provides a continuation of the fundamentals of what a
chiropractic assistant does on a day-to-day basis to help the
chiropractic physician with the care and management of patients and
the business/management needs of the office in 5 hours (one
five-hour seminar).
This course provides 10 hours of instruction (two five-hour seminars) in the study of the basic principle of X-ray imaging, the safety considerations surrounding this technology, and the proper development of X-rays. This course also provides 15 hours of instruction (three five-hour seminars) in the procedures and equipment used in administering physiological therapeutics, including hands-on training.
CA535 Practicum in the Clinic
This clinic practicum provides 10 hours of experience in the
University clinic system. The experience gives the student the
opportunity to function as a CA in a clinical setting.
