Admission Criteria
In addition to the general admission requirements for the College, admission to the Therapeutic massage program requires:
- Unconditional admission to the College on clear academic status.
- 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at Southern Union.
- Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required).
- Application for the Therapeutic Massage Program by published deadline.
- Meeting eligibility requirements for English 101 and Math 100.
- Ability to meet and comply with standards and policies in the current College Catalog and Student
Handbook. - Ability to meet all health/ lab requirements as stated in current Therapeutic Massage Student
Handbook.
Therapeutic Massage Program Application
Certificate - Therapeutic Massage Program Brochure
Degree - Wellness and Therapeutic Massage Brochure
Therapeutic Massage Program Handbook 2025
Therapeutic Massage Program Costs
Wellness and Therapeutic Massage Program Costs
Therapeutic Massage Essential Functions
The Therapeutic Massage Certificate (29 hours) is designed to prepare individuals to work as licensed massage therapists.
The Wellness and Therapeutic Massage Degree (66 hrs) is designed for students who wish to complete a two-year degree and become both a certified personal trainer and a certified massage therapist. Students may earn personal trainer certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) by passing the ACE Personal Trainer Exam, as well as CPR certification through the American Heart Association.
Upon successful completion of the program, students may pursue licensure through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and/or through a state board of massage therapy.
In addition to meeting the College’s general admission requirements, students must apply to and be accepted into the Therapeutic Massage Program and meet all program-specific requirements to pursue the Wellness and Therapeutic Massage degree (see Therapeutic Massage admission requirements).
The Massage Program admits a new cohort each fall and the Therapeutic Massage Certification (29 hrs) can be completed in three semesters. Wellness and academic courses required for the Wellness and Therapeutic Massage degree (66 hrs) may be taken before, during, or after acceptance into the Therapeutic Massage Program.
WELLNESS AND THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Associate Degree
(Must apply to Therapeutic Massage Program to Pursue This Degree)
| Semester | Course | Course Description | Credit Hours | Area |
| 1 | ENG 101 | English Compostion I | 3 | I |
| *BIO 111 | Survey of Human Biology | 4 | III | |
| MSG 101 | Intro to Therapeutic Massage | 3 | V | |
| MSG 102 | Therapeutic Massage Lab I | 3 | V | |
| MSG 104 | Musculoskeletal & Kinesiology | 3 | V | |
| 2 | ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 | I |
| *IDS 102 | Ethics or Fine Arts or Humanities Elective | 3 | II | |
| PED 226 | Wellness | 3 | V | |
| MSG 202 | Therapeutic Massage Lab II | 3 | V | |
| MSG 204 | Musculoskeletal & Kinesiology II | 3 | V | |
| MSG 105 | Therapeutic Massage Clinical I | 2 | V | |
| 3 | PSY 200 or PSY 210 |
General Psychology or Human Growth & Development |
3 |
IV |
| HED 221 | Personal Health | 3 | V | |
| HPS 116 | Complementary and Alternative Therapies | 3 | V | |
| MSG 203 | Pathology | 3 | V | |
| MSG 205 | Therapeutic Massage Clinical II | 2 | V | |
| MSG 201 | Massage for Special Populations | 2 | V | |
| MSG 206 | National Certification Exam Review | 1 | V | |
| 4 | MTH 100 | Intermediate Algebra or Higher | 3 | III |
| HEC 140 or PED 224 |
Principles of Nutrition |
3 |
V |
|
| HED 231 | First Aid | 3 | V | |
| PED 100 | Fundamentals of Fitness | 3 | V | |
| PED 223 | Methods of Instruction | 3 | V | |
| Total Hours 66 |
||||
Note: Wellness and Academic Classes may be taken in any semester if prerequisites are met.
All courses for this degree must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
*Students that have completed BIO201 and BIO 202 with a grade of C or higher are not required
to take BIO111.
*Any approved Fine Arts or Humanities Elective will be accepted.
If planning to transfer to a 4-year school, MTH 110 is recommended.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Short-Term Certificate - 29 hours
| Semester | Course | Course Description | Credit Hours | Area |
| 1 | *BIO 111 | Survey of Human Biology | 4 | III |
| MSG 101 | Intro to Therapeutic Massage | 3 | V | |
| MSG 102 | Therapeutic Massage Lab I | 3 | V | |
| MSG 104 | Musculoskeletal & Kinesiology | 3 | V | |
| 2 | MSG 202 | Therapeutic Massage Lab II | 3 | V |
| MSG 204 | Musculoskeletal & Kinesiology II | 3 | V | |
| MSG 105 | Therapeutic Massage Clinical I | 2 | V | |
| 3 | MSG 203 | Pathology | 3 | V |
| MSG 205 | Therapeutic Massage Clinical II | 2 | V | |
| MSG 201 | Massage for Special Populations | 2 | V | |
| MSG 206 | National Certification Exam Review | 1 | V | |
| 29 | ||||
*Students that have completed BIO201 and BIO 202 with a grade of C or higher are not required
to take BIO111.
WELLNESS AND PERSONAL TRAINER
Short Term Certificate - 22 Hours
These courses may be taken in any sequence. However, it is recommended that PED 100 be taken
first and PED 223 last.
| Courses | Course Description | Credit Hours | Area |
| PED 100 | Fundamentals of Fitness | 3 | V |
| PED 105 | Personal Fitness | 1 | V |
| PED 223 | Methods of Instruction | 3 | V |
| HED 226 | Wellness | 3 | V |
| HED 231 | First Aid | 3 | V |
| HEC 140/PED 224 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 | V |
| HPS 116 | Complementary and Alternative Therapies | 3 | V |
| Wellness and Sport Sciences Elective | 3 | V | |
| 22 | |||
Academic Courses - 15 Hours
| Courses | Course Description | Credit Hours | Area |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 | I |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 | I |
| IDS 102 | Ethics (Preferred) or Fine Arts or Humanities Elective | 3 | II |
| MTH 100 | Intermediate Algebra or Higher | 3 | III |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology | 3 | IV |
| 15 | |||