Northwestern Health Sciences University Introduces
Massage Therapy Program

Northwestern Health Sciences University recently enrolled its first class of future massage therapists. "Northwestern's 760-hour program is designed for students who seek an academically rigorous, professional massage therapy program," said Mike Skoglund, MA, associate dean of Northwestern's College of Arts and Sciences and director of the massage therapy program.

"The key distinction between Northwestern Health Sciences University's massage program and others in the area is that we look at massage therapy as a profession, not just a trade, but a health-care profession," Skoglund said. "We decided to add the massage program because it is an integral part of the integrative health-care scene."

According to Skoglund, Northwestern's massage program emphasizes a solid foundation in the basic sciences. Offered in an evening/weekend format, Northwestern's program features some of the premiere massage therapy faculty in Minnesota, Skoglund said. Requirements for entry into the massage program include a high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma, or a foreign equivalent.

"Professional massage represents an important niche in the health-care field," Skoglund said. "A growing number of medical doctors and doctors of chiropractic are referring patients to massage therapists all around the United States." The massage therapy program at Northwestern is dedicated to advancing the public's perception of massage therapy and increasing public acceptance of massage therapy as an important health-care option, Skoglund said.

Northwestern's massage therapy program is the most recent addition to the University. Formed in 1999, the new university offers a wide array of choices in natural healthcare education. Programs include chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, integrative health and wellness, and human biology.

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: