UNM – TAOS

Syllabus

Course Name & #: Massage Therapy I MAS 250

Instructor: Kirstie Segarra, PHD LMT RMTI I-0382 ERYT
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:30 to 4:00 pm or by appointment
Contact: kirstie@taosnet.com or (575) 741-7808
Textbook: Beck, Mark F., Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage, Delmar Publishing.
ISBN 10-1-4018-8030-4 and Trail Guide to the Body, by Andrew Biel ISBN 978-0-
9658534-5-3

Course Description:
This course is for students enrolled in the UNM Integrative Massage Therapy Program who have
successfully completed Introduction to Massage and acceptance into the program. This course will provide
the opportunity for students to refine their understanding of basic Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage
fundamentals as well as an opportunity to practice. Students will continue developing there skills in Swedish
and Deep Tissue Massage and become more at ease using the techniques of effleurage, petrissage,
tapotement, compression, vibration and friction. Other massage modalities may be explored at the discretion
of the instructor. Students will work on each other in a safe, supportive, and professional environment.

Course Objectives:
[Major concepts, skills and goals for the class]
1. Students will apply their skills in Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage and related techniques to
provide nurturing, stress reduction and wellness enhancement.
2. Students will gain more familiarity with common pathologies and contraindications to massage
therapy.
3. There will be further exploration of the healing mechanisms of the body/mind and how the massage
therapist can facilitate optimal wellness.
4. Students will continue examination of personal growth and awareness issues.
5. Students will discuss and experience all aspects of providing massage treatment to clients.
6. Various massage treatments will be demonstrated.
7. Students will learn what professionalism and safety mean in a therapeutic environment.

Student Learning Outcomes:

[List 3-4 measurable student learning outcomes that you want the student to be able to do when they
1. Perform advanced and Deep Swedish massage strokes and sequences.
2. Apply advanced draping procedures while massaging client.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of basic pathologies and contraindications to massage
4. Demonstrate basic muscle anatomy and how it applies to developing a massage sequence.

Expectations:
[Homework, projects, class participation and the like. Also no cell phones (turn off).]
1. Students will comply with the hygiene and dress code.
2. Attendance is crucial aspect of this course. See attendance policy below.
3. Student must bring clean twin size sheets class to perform massages.
4. Student is expected to keep up with the reading materials as described in the outline. This is crucial
preparation for the Nation Exam and may not be covered during class time.

Course Requirements:
• Exams – Mid-term and Final Exam • Quizzes – unannounced
• Presentations – Individual • Exercises – In class

Attendance Policy:
• Students must attend class regularly and punctually. Students should be in class and prepared to
start at the start of class.
• Tardiness beyond 15 minutes will be considered an absence.
 • If you arrive late to class you should enter quietly and not engage in conversation. You are expected
to talk to another student to find out what you missed outside of class time not the instructor. It is
very disruptive to other students to arrive late and distract from class time.
• Excessive absences may result in a student being dropped from the class. It is UNM-Taos policy
that a student MAY be dropped by their instructor after one absence.
• Due to the fact that this program is regulated by the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board and
massage is taught as contact hours with a Licensed Instructor teaching NO MAKE UP is allowed.
You must clock hours in with a Licensed Instructor in order for the course to count toward licensure.
You may enroll in an independent study make up course to make up hours missed.

Grading Policy:
Attendance - 40%
Participation - 30% Final exam - 5%
Midterm - 5% Technique Evaluation by Instructor 20%

Service-Learning: toward personal and academic development. All

Service-learning is the integration of community
service into course study; an experiential
approach to teaching and learning. The
instructor may offer students an opportunity to
integrate relevant service-learning into course
study. Students interested in incorporating
community-based service into their studies, may
choose from the service-learning options outlined
in the course description and course outline to
replace some or all class assignments. Service-
learning experiences must receive prior approval
by the instructor in order to count for credit. The
instructor will work with the student to identify
appropriate projects and community partners as
well as help structure the learning experience.
Service-learning activities must meet course
objectives, contribute significantly to a
community need, include reflection on the service
experience, and be part of a student’s grade.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
In accordance with University Policy 2310 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
academic accommodations may be made for any
student who notifies the instructor of the need for
an accommodation and who registers with Student
Services (737-6200). It is imperative that you
take the initiative to bring such needs to our
attention, as the instructor is not legally
permitted to inquire. Students who may require
assistance in emergency evacuations should
contact the instructor as to the most appropriate
procedures to follow.
University policies regarding academic honesty
apply to this course. Academic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, cheating or
copying, plagiarism (claiming credit for the words
or works of another from any type of source such
as print, Internet or electronic database, or failing
to cite the source), fabricating information or
citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty
by others, having unauthorized possession of
examinations, submitting work of another person
or work previously used without informing the
instructor, or tampering with the academic work
of other students. The University’s full statement
on academic honesty and the consequences for
failure to comply is available in the college
catalog or online at http://taos.unm.edu.
Dropping the course:
It is the student’s responsibility to drop a course.
The instructor is not required, nor should be
expected, to drop a student from the official
roster. Do not assume that failing to come to class
will result in your being dropped from the course.
Due Process:
If you have any problems in the class that cannot
be directly handled by talking with the instructor,
the appropriate person to contact is the Academy
Head or the Student Affairs Department.

Academic Integrity:
The policy of the University of New Mexico-Taos
is that academic honesty is one of the basic steps
Course Outline: This course may be altered slightly as deemed needed by instructor. Students are
expected to keep up of reading assignments on their own and know the material. The material in the
reading may or may not be covered during the class time.

WEEK SECTIONS Description Assessments Lab/Practicum

1 Read Chapter Focus on Grounding; Review of Instructor and Perform massage

1-4 Basic Swedish Massage principles; Recipient on class member
review of draping techniques, and
safety protocol.
Shoulder Girdle. View Cadaver
DVD. Demonstration of posterior
techniques-SITS muscles.
2 Read Chapter Focus and Grounding; History Instructor and Perform massage
3&4 Intake and assessment of the client. Recipient on class member
Applying assessment to creating a
massage sequence for the client.
Shoulder Girdle Continued. Anterior
techniques-insertions of SITS,
pectoralis minor/major and bicep
tendon.
3 Begin Chapter Focus and Grounding; questions Instructor and Perform massage
5 and sharing; body mechanics. Recipient on class member
Shoulder Girdle Continued-View
DVD on nerves and blood vessels,
endangerment sites, ROM and
movement.
4 Read Chapter Focus and Grounding; questions Instructor and Perform massage
6,7,8 and sharing; review Recipient on class member
contraindications.
Shoulder Girdle Continued-
Functional Line. Quiz
5 Read Chapter Focus and Grounding; questions Instructor and Perform massage
9,10 and sharing; review whole body Recipient on class member
massage sequencing.
Pelvis-View Cadaver DVD—learn
deep six hip muscles.

6 Read Chapter Focus and Grounding; Introduction Instructor and Perform massage
11,12 to SOAP notes, practice writing Recipient on class member
SOAP notes, overview of
confidentiality laws.
Pelvis-Anterior and Posterior ROM.
Quiz
7 Chapter 5 Spine-View Cadaver DVD on spinal Instructor and Perform massage
cord and muscles. Recipient on class member
8 Mid-Term Focus and Grounding; Review and Instructor and Perform massage
Discussion. Recipient on class member
Mid-Term Handout and take home
due next session.
Spine-Lamina Groove. Quiz
9 Chapter 5 Focus and Grounding Instructor and Perform massage
Recipient on class member
Neck and Head techniques-View
Cadaver DVD on Head and Neck.
Endangerment sites.
10 Chapter 5 Focus and Grounding Instructor and Perform massage
Recipient on class member
Forearm and Hand techniques-view
cadaver DVD. Demonstration of
forearm and hand techniques.
11 Chapter 5 Focus and Grounding Instructor and Perform massage
Thigh and Hamstrings-view cadaver Recipient on class member
DVD, demo of techniques.

12 Chapter 5 Focus and Grounding Instructor and Perform massage

Recipient on class member
Knee-view cadaver DVD, demo of
techniques.
13 Chapter 5 Focus and Grounding Instructor and Perform massage
Leg and Foot-view cadaver DVD Recipient on class member
and demo of techniques.
14 First Aid Focus and Grounding Instructor and
Handbook Two hours First Aid and exam Recipient
15 CPR Focus and Grounding Instructor and
Handbook Two hours CPR and exam. Recipient
Hand out Final Exam-take home
due following week.

16 Final Exam Final Exam Lecture 1 hour/Class 1.5 Hour

Due Total 16 hours Practicum/Class
Total 24 hours
practice

Theory 17
Practice 24
First Aid/CPR 4
Total 45