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.

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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.