Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage

Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage

Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage

Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage

SIT's Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage was the first named massage degree programme to be approved in New Zealand. It has been taught since 2002.

The Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage (BTSM) is a 3 year programme that can be studied full-time over 3 years or part-time over 5 years. In the first year you will study face to face at SIT/Te Pukenga Campus. You will build your knowledge in anatomy, physiology, foundations of massage therapy and learn in a clinical environment.

In the second year you will study via HyFlex which means students will have the flexibility to remain in their hometown massage therapy clinics and communities. Teaching occurs using a mix of online learning, practical experience, and traditional classroom teaching during compulsory block courses in Invercargill. The second year builds on the knowledge in Year 1 with Functional assessment, pathology, advanced techniques and massage for physical performance as well as research for the massage practitioner.

Year 3 is comprised of four papers, MT7340, MT7350, MT7360, MT7370. Each paper is 30 credits. All four papers are now taught using blended/HyFlex delivery. These papers will challenge and develop your skills, knowledge and clinical practice in massage therapy. Approximately 320 massage therapy clinical / industry hours are completed within papers MT7350, MT7360 and MT7370.

Blended delivery through HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') allows students the flexibility to remain in their home town massage therapy clinics and communities. Teaching occurs using a mix of online learning, practical experience, and traditional classroom teaching during compulsory block weeks in Invercargill.

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Key Details
Invercargill / Hyflex
Qualification:
Degree
Level:
7
Credits:
360
Duration:

Three years full-time

Study Modes:
Dates:
To be advised – Please Enquire
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • No Tuition Fees
  • Direct Material Costs: $947.10(Y1), $900.00(Y2) and $1,035.85(Y3) (GST inclusive)

International Fees can be found here.

 

 


Some Course Details May Change

As part of our move into Te Pūkenga we're aligning our courses nationally. This is ongoing, and means that some course details including fees, and entry requirements may change. In the meantime please go ahead and apply as normal, we will keep you advised of any changes, and we are always available to answer any questions you might have.

SIT's Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage was the first named massage degree programme to be approved in New Zealand.  It has been taught since 2002 and students have been graduating since 2004.  Health care delivery has moved beyond clinical competence and beyond copying previously successful clinicians.  Today's practitioners need to relate to a wider health care team and respond to the expressed needs and expectations of families, pressure groups, professionals and the wider community (Higgs & Edwards, 1999).

Backed by SIT's recognised infrastructures and academic community, the programme promotes research driven education, strong training in a community based clinic, and exceeds suggested industry requirements in both academic areas and clinical practice.

The Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage encourages graduates to join a professional group which represents their career interests, but can not endorse any one group.

Graduating students from this degree have good opportunities for employment, both nationally and internationally. 

Graduates are critical thinking, reflective practitioners with technical and professional competence, sound reasoning and research literacy, and have a capacity to manage knowledge and its acquisition during their working lives.

This qualification has been designed to prepare graduates for careers in both the therapeutic and sports massage fields.  The programme of study includes anatomy and physiology, general pathology, therapeutics, clinical reasoning and functional assessment, massage for physical performance, research and business management principles.

The Year 3 programme is available via Blended Delivery flexibility to remain in their home town massage therapy clinics and communities.

Send us an email to learn more.


Learn More about Blended Learning for our Year 3 of the Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage

Year One (120 credits)

Aim: To train wellness and relaxation massage therapists who can work independently and communicate with other professionals.

Course content:

REHB5601 Massage Theory to Practice (15 credits)

REHB5602 Wellness Dimensions and Client-Centred Care (15 credits)

REHB5603 Musculoskeletal Surface Anatomy (15 credits)

REHB5604 Human Anatomy and Physiology (15 credits)

REHB5605 Sports Massage REHB5606 Te Hīhiri (15 credits)

REHB5607 The Professional Practitioner (15 credits)

REHB5608 Relaxation and Wellness Massage Clinical Practice (15 credits)

 

Year Two (120 credits)

Aim: Equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to provide remedial massage services and progress to higher-level massage therapy qualifications.

Click here for more details on each paper, including compulsory block courses and online sessions

Course content:

REHB6601 Functional Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (15 credits)

REHB6602 Advanced Techniques 1 (15 credits)

REHB6603 Pathology for Massage Therapy (15 credits)

REHB6604 Clinical Practice 1 (15 credits)

REHB6605 Massage for Physical Performance (15 credits)

REHB6606 Advanced Techniques 2 (15 credits)

REHB6607 Research for Massage Practitioners (15 credits)

REHB6608 Clinical Practice 2 (15 credits)

 

Year Three - Blended Delivery (120 credits)

Aim: The aim is to prepare graduates who are independent health care professionals who work with people of all ages and varying stages of health and wellness. Graduates will provide culturally safe massage therapy practice in a variety of social and cultural contexts. They will comprehend, critique and apply knowledge within a legal and ethical framework which recognises the values of the individual and other health professions. Graduates will be versed in evidence based practice supported by research.

Click here for more details on each paper, including compulsory block courses and online sessions

MT7340 Research and Advanced Professional Development (full year)

To enable the student to conduct small scale research, undertake data analysis, draw conclusions and report findings in a scientific format.

Credits: 30

MT7350 Advanced Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Practice III
To provide the student with an advanced clinical placement to develop and apply further skills in clinic management, differential diagnosis, clinical reasoning and wellness and rehabilitation interventions.  Students will demonstrate independence and accountability in clinical practice.  Students will develop a business plan for their “own business”; and apply skills in operating a business in Clinical Practice III.

Credits: 30

MT7360 Advanced Professional Studies

Outline This paper is designed to further develop the personal growth and professional knowledge and skills of advancing practitioners within a clinical and industry setting.
Taught Semester 1 only (with assessment in July)
Dates 10 Feb to 25 July 2020
Credits 30
Total Hours / week average 10 (includes self-directed learning and industry and PD hours)
Delivery style: Block courses, Industry and professional development participation, Online readings and Online tutorials
Block courses Two
Block course Dates:  1: Mon 24 Feb 9am to Fri 28 Feb noon
(timetable available in 2020) 2: Mon 20 July 9am to Sat 25 July 6pm
Online tutorials / tutor contact approx. 7 sessions throughout the semester 
(need internet connection) each session 1-2 hours
Day and Time TBA once student needs are known 
Assessments Educational Workshop
PD/IP Report 

This paper is designed to further develop the personal growth and professional knowledge and skills of advancing practitioners within a clinical and industry setting.

Credits: 30

MT7370 Therapeutics III

This paper enables massage therapists to develop knowledge and skills in wellness and rehabilitation principles and practices for a range of musculoskeletal conditions. The student will be able to apply this knowledge to wellness and rehabilitation massage therapy interventions for a range of client groups in clinical or industry settings.

Credits: 30

Graduates may work as therapists and sport massage specialists in the following settings:

  • multi disciplinary health practices, 
  • private practice, 
  • hospitals, 
  • rehabilitation centres, 
  • community centres, 
  • gyms and sports complexes, 
  • sports teams, 
  • physiotherapy or 
  • chiropractic clinics, 
  • complementary health clinics, 
  • hotels and resorts, 
  • community mental health centres 
  • and nursing homes, 
  • as well as in education.
Therapeutic and sports massage specialists will work with individuals and groups of all ages, assisting those recovering from or dealing with injury, illness or disability, as well as individuals and groups looking for stress management intervention and injury prevention strategies.

Therapeutic and sports massage specialists will work with individuals and groups of all ages, assisting those recovering from or dealing with injury, illness or disability, as well as individuals and groups looking for stress management intervention and injury prevention strategies.

School Leavers

NCEA Level 3 - three subjects at Level 3, made up of:

  • 14 credits each, in three approved subjects 
  • Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing
  • Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required)

Mature Applicants
Applicants in this category will have achieved the age of 20 by March 1 of the first year of enrolment in the programme and have provided evidence of relevant prior learning and experience.

Special Admission
The applicant has successfully completed a special programme at NZQA Level 4 or above, which prepares students for the required academic standard for entry eg New Zealand Diploma in Remedial Massage, or its equivalent, or successful completion of Year One of the Diploma in Sport and Recreation.

In the opinion of the Head of School in consultation with the Programme Manager, the student will have a good chance of achieving success in the degree programme and the student will not place an unreasonable burden on the teaching staff and or other students.

Provisional Part time Admission
An applicant who does not meet academic criteria may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.

Additional Criteria
In addition, the following requirements also apply to applicants in all admissions and categories:

 

  • Applicants may be required to participate in an interview, or if they live at some distance from the campus, complete a telephone interview and must produce copies of applicable certificates and/or evidence of prior achievements before interviews
  • Applicants may also be required to participate in a pre entry testing process and/or demonstrate successful completion of prior learning at NZQA Level 4
  • Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation and is suitable to work with vulnerable clients
  • Applicants are asked to make a confidential declaration as to whether or not they have prior criminal convictions.  They are advised at the time of the request for information that a prior conviction may not necessarily exclude them from admission
  • Applicants must have a level of health and abilities commensurate with achieving practice competencies in the programme.  Applicants are required to complete a health declaration and further reports may be requested with the consent of the applicant

 

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

Specific requirements

Please note that papers within this programme may alter due to the Unification of Massage Therapy Level 6 Curriculum. Further details will be made available when known.

In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage (BTSM), a student must have been credited with all required papers as specified in the programme schedule.

A student undertaking the BTSM will normally complete the programme within three years. Please note: students failing to attend for 80% of timetable programme hours may forfeit their Zero Fees entitlement.

All timetables for Term 1 will be available in early February 2024.

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