In June 2006, Gwinnett College acquired Rising Spirit Institute of Natural Health. After reviewing many massage therapy programs, it was our belief that their program was the best around. After the change of ownership, we began the process to gain approval to offer this program. On November 17, 2006, we received approval from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. After approval from accreditation, we began the process of preparing our facility for the program. The focus of our Massage Therapy program is to give you the knowledge, skills, and business acumen to become a successful, prosperous Massage Therapist. Now students can take this program at our Gwinnett / Lilburn, Dunwoody / Atlanta, or Marietta campus.

The Massage Therapy Program is a well-planned sequence of courses, with each class preparing the student for the more intensive information to follow. The curriculum reinforces the mission of the program, which is to give each individual the scientific knowledge, manual skills, and mastery of business to successfully become a professional massage therapist. Three areas of study form the CORE of the curriculum. The CORE curriculum encompasses:

(1) Exact Knowledge of Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Kinesiology.
(2) Excellence in Applying Swedish / Deep Tissue Massage, NeuroMuscular Therapy, Chair Massage and Reflexology.
(3) The Ability and Motivation to Be a Success at “The Business of Massage Therapy.”

Call us today at (770) 381-7200 or complete the "Request More Information" form at the left of the page. The Massage Therapy program is also designed to transfer all of its credits into our Associate of Science Degree in Business program. This will equip graduates with the skills necessary to run their own practices and offer them the opportunity to continue beyond an associate degree through one of our articulation agreements.

We also offer massage therapy at our sister schools the Rising Spirit Institute in Atlanta / Sandy Springsand at The Medical Arts School in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Also see some recent articles related to massage therapy. Click Here.

For disclosures related to the Department of Education's Gainful Employment Rule, Click Here.

Here's what the Department of Labor says:

What Massage Therapists Do

Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body. With their touch, therapists relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients.  

Duties

Massage therapists typically do the following:

• Talk with clients about symptoms, medical history, and desired results
• Evaluate clients to locate painful or tense areas of the body
• Manipulate muscles or other soft tissues of the body
• Provide clients with guidance on how to improve posture, stretching, strengthening, and overall relaxation

Massage therapists use their hands, fingers, forearms, elbows, and sometimes feet to knead muscles and soft tissue of the body to treat injuries and to promote general wellness. A massage can be as short as 5–10 minutes or could last more than an hour.

Therapists also may use lotions and oils, massage tables or chairs, and medical heat lamps when treating a client. Massage therapists may offer clients information about additional relaxation techniques to practice between sessions. 

Massage therapists can specialize in many different types of massage, called modalities. Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, and sports massage are just a few of the many modalities of massage therapy. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require different techniques.

Usually, the type of massage given depends on the client’s needs and physical condition. For example, therapists may use a special technique for elderly clients that they would not use for athletes. Some forms of massage are given solely to one type of client; for example, prenatal massage is given to pregnant women.

Pay

The median annual wage of massage therapists was $34,900 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,970, and the top 10 percent earned more than $69,000.

Most massage therapists earn a combination of wages and tips.

Many massage therapists work part time; only about 1 out of 4 worked full time in 2010. Because therapists work by appointment in most cases, their schedules and the number of hours worked each week vary considerably. In addition to hours giving massages, therapists may also spend time recording patient notes, marketing, booking clients, washing linens, and other general business tasks.

Call us today at (770) 381-7200 or complete the "Request More Information" form on the left side of the page to take the next step towards your new career in the Business Field.

E-mail: admin@gwinnettcollege.com