Catalog 2025-2026

Therapeutic Massage - Associate in Applied Science

  • Health

TMSG

CCRI's Associate in Applied Science for Therapeutic Massage is currently under Academic Review and is not accepting new applications.

The Therapeutic Massage Certificate Program is currently accepting applications.

Occupational Title: Massage Therapist
Newport County Campus, Newport

The Therapeutic Massage associate degree program offers students a strong scientific background for the understanding and application of various soft tissue techniques to promote health and wellness. Eastern and Western practices will be studied to ensure an education that includes a holistic approach to massage. The program is guided by the Massage Therapy Foundation’s Mission:

The Massage Therapy Foundation advances the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education, and community service.

The Therapeutic Massage Program offered at CCRI is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), elevating CCRI to COMTA-endorsed curriculum status. The program offered at CCRI’s Newport campus is a modified evening and weekend program with the core courses offered at the Newport location. All of the required general education courses may be taken at other CCRI campuses prior to acceptance into the program. Graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree after completing a combined 1135 hours and 60 credits of coursework and clinical internship. All internship courses must be completed within 18 months following completion of the academic training.

All graduates are eligible to sit for the state licensing (State licensure requirements vary state to state) and the Board Certification exams. An individual must successfully pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLex), overseen by the Federation of State Massage Boards, to apply for a license to practice massage in the State of Rhode Island. The Board Certification Exam is administered by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). The NCBTMB has designated CCRI as an Assigned School, which allows CCRI graduates to sit for an optional exam to become board certified therapeutic massage and bodywork practitioners.

CCRI graduates, who are licensed massage therapists, are employed in a variety of settings that include rehabilitation clinics, wellness centers, chiropractic and acupuncture offices, health clubs and spas. Additionally, many of our graduates have opened successful private businesses. CCRI’s Therapeutic Massage Program rigorously prepares students to be able to work in hospitals, medical environments and with clients who have compromised health or physical impairments.

Note: Many courses require prerequisites, corequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for detail.

General Policies

See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements to Apply to the Therapeutic Massage Program

  1. CCRI application – Complete and submit a CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be the first choice; TMSG should be the second choice.
  2. High school transcript – Send an official copy of the applicant’s high school or GED® transcript, including date of graduation. If the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, the high school transcript may be waived; a college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
  3. Placement testing
    • Demonstrate competency at Introduction to College Mathematics (MATH 1025) level by placing into MATH 1025 (formerly MATH 1420) through the standardized test or completion of Early Foundations of College Mathematics (MATH 0099) with a C or better. The following courses will substitute for Introduction to College Mathematics (MATH 1025): College Algebra (MATH 1200), College Trigonometry (MATH 2110), Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (MATH 1139), Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175), Statistical Analysis I (MATH 1240), Quantitative Business Analysis I (MATH 2077), Pre-Calculus Mathematics (MATH 2111), Calculus I (MATH 2141), Calculus II (MATH 2142), Calculus III (MATH 2243). (Highest grade earned in any of these courses will be calculated in the point system.
    • Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION) issued by CCRI’s Advising Center. Competency of 250 or above is required for reading comprehension or completion of Reading and Study Skills Program (ENGL 1002) with a grade of B- or better.
    • Must earn English placement test results (ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION) issued by CCRI’s Advising Center
    • , must show readiness to take Composition I (ENGL 1010) or the applicant must have completed College Writing (ENGL 1005) with a grade of "C" or better. Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) (ENGL 1300) will not substitute for Composition I (ENGL 1010).
  4. Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:
    • Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201) 
    • Introduction to Therapeutic Massage (TMSG 1000) 
    • Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health (RHAB 1010) 
    • Fundamentals of Palpation and Body Movement Skills (RHAB 1020) 
    • American Literature to 1865 (ENGL 1020)
  5. Age requirement – Must be 18 years of age or older to register for Introduction to Therapeutic Massage (TMSG 1000).
  6. GPA – Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all college courses taken.
  7. Health Sciences application – Complete and submit performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission degree evaluation. The application and instructions can be found at www.ccri.edu/oes/admissions/index.html.
    • Important: All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily before submission of performance-based Health Sciences application and do not guarantee acceptance to the program. At the time of admission, the student must meet the current admission requirements of the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current admission requirements for the application period in which they reapply. Once accepted into the Therapeutic Massage degree program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Rehabilitative Health Department.
  8. Background check – Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from One Stop Student Services. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on the results of the background check.

CCRI's Associate in Applied Science for Therapeutic Massage is currently under Academic Review and is not accepting new applications.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:

  1. x

CCRI's Associate in Applied Science for Therapeutic Massage is currently under Academic Review and is not accepting new applications.

Requirements

Preadmission General Education Requirements
These courses must be taken prior to program admission:
BIOL 2201Human Anatomy & Physiology I MSCI; Information Literacy; Scientific Reasoning4
ENGL 1010Composition I HUMN; Written Communication; Information Literacy3
Subtotal7
General Education Requirements
MATH 1025Introduction to College Mathematics MSCX; Scientific Reasoning; Quantitative Literacy3
PSYC 2010General Psychology SSCI; Critical Thinking; Scientific Reasoning4
PSYC 2030Developmental Psychology SSCI; Critical Thinking; Scientific Reasoning3
General Education Elective3
Subtotal13
Prerequisites - Major Requirements
These courses must be taken prior to program admission.
RHAB 1010Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health1
RHAB 1020Fundamentals of Palpation and Body Movement Skills3
TMSG 1000Introduction to Therapeutic Massage2
Subtotal6
Major Requirements
COMM 1100The Art of Public Speaking: Romancing the Room3
RHAB 1030Pathophysiology for Rehabilitative Health Practitioners3
TMSG 1020Swedish Massage5
TMSG 1030Deep Tissue Massage5
TMSG 1040Introduction to Eastern Modalities2
TMSG 1140Integrating Eastern and Western Techniques2
TMSG 2010Sports & Repetitive Use: Recovery Techniques2
TMSG 2020Student Massage Clinic 13
TMSG 2021Massage Practice Business Theory2
TMSG 2030Clinical Internship I 22
TMSG 2040Foundation of Evidence-Based Outcomes for Massage Therapists3
TMSG 2110Advanced Sports Massage3
TMSG 2130Clinical Internship II2
Subtotal37
Total Hours63
1

Student Massage Clinic (TMSG 2020) includes 100 hours of onsite student/faculty clinic.

2

Clinical Internship I (TMSG 2030) and Clinical Internship II (TMSG 2130) each include 60 hours of clinical internship.

CCRI's Associate in Applied Science for Therapeutic Massage is currently under Academic Review and is not accepting new applications.

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
PrerequisitesHours
BIOL 2201 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4
TMSG 1000 Introduction to Therapeutic Massage 2
RHAB 1010 Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health 1
ENGL 1010 Composition I 3
RHAB 1020 Fundamentals of Palpation and Body Movement Skills 3
 Hours13
Year 1
Semester 1
RHAB 1030 Pathophysiology for Rehabilitative Health Practitioners 3
TMSG 1020 Swedish Massage 5
TMSG 1040 Introduction to Eastern Modalities 2
PSYC 2010 General Psychology 4
 Hours14
Semester 2
TMSG 1030 Deep Tissue Massage 5
TMSG 1140 Integrating Eastern and Western Techniques 2
MATH 1025 Introduction to College Mathematics 3
COMM 1100 3
 Hours13
Summer Session
TMSG 2010 Sports & Repetitive Use: Recovery Techniques 2
TMSG 2020 Student Massage Clinic 3
TMSG 2021 Massage Practice Business Theory 2
General Education Electives 3
 Hours10
Year 2
Semester 1
TMSG 2030 Clinical Internship I 2
TMSG 2040 Foundation of Evidence-Based Outcomes for Massage Therapists 3
TMSG 2110 Advanced Sports Massage 3
TMSG 2130 Clinical Internship II 2
PSYC 2030 Developmental Psychology 3
 Hours13
 Total Hours63

Transfer

Please meet with an Academic Advisor/Student Success Coach if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. Your Academic Advisor will help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Check out the Joint Admissions Agreement if you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island. The JAA program offers seamless transfer to RIC or URI with additional benefits. Transfer information, events, and articulations are available on the Transfer Center website.