The International Professional School of Bodywork’s Master of Arts degree in Somatics program expands our comprehensive program in Holism and will usher in a new era of professionalism in Somatic Education and the field of Somatic Massage and Bodywork.  This program is the first of its kind.

Programmatic Objectives:

1. 1.To introduce practitioners to a new era of professionalism in Somatic Education and the field of Somatic Massage and Bodywork.
   

2. 2.To challenge practitioners toward scholarly mastery in somatics with the ability to make original contributions to the field through research, comparative studies of integrative and allopathic medicine, and a written thesis that is of publishable quality.
   

3. 3.To provide students an opportunity to develop a depth and breadth of knowledge through self-directed learning experiences and research projects. 
   

4. 4.To provide formal research and methodologies for teaching and evaluating massage therapy knowledge and hands-on skills. 
   

5. 5.To prepare graduates to teach researched somatic learning methods in a variety of academic settings.
   

Somatic Characteristics as defined by IPSB can be grouped into areas of study rather than defined by a limiting boundary.  The three essential characteristics of the somatic viewpoint are: there is a trust in essential body wisdom; personal experience is honored; and awareness is a tool.  There are five elements for dialogue that continue to emerge; the body’s wisdom, sensory input, movement, energy, and consciousness or spirit.  

Somatic Studies allow the student to focus on an area of interest within the field.  These studies include an overview of the principles within the numerous somatic bodywork techniques.   The students develop a depth and breadth of knowledge in a different way than ever before.  The wide range of individualized study may vary from comparative studies to an in-depth study of techniques and their benefits.

Somatic Education trains people to become somatic educators for individual clients or for groups.   The distinction will be determined from previous experience and the study undertaken.   This area will provide formal research and methodologies most effective for teaching and evaluating massage therapy knowledge and hands-on skills.  We anticipate our graduates will teach excellent, researched somatic learning methods in massage and chiropractic schools, and even some universities.

This program offers a Master of Arts degree in Somatics which reflects advanced specialization and scholarly achievement, comprehensive study in some aspect of the field of bodywork, and a Master’s level thesis or research project. The coursework for this graduate degree is consistent with the requirements for any formal graduate program. Courses require critical analysis and dialogue, a professional application of specialized knowledge, independent study, and research.

The program includes seminar topics in somatics, research studies and methodologies, self-directed study projects, and a thesis or research project. The objective of the Master of Arts degree is to qualify students with a scholarly mastery in Somatics to make original contributions to the field by conducting research, by creating comparative studies of alternative and allopathic medicine, and by completing a written thesis that is of publishable quality.

The student is expected to enter the program with an appropriate academic background and embodied knowledge of techniques within the field.  Critical thinking and writing skills are necessary for successful program completion.

Possession of an IPSB Bachelor's degree or an equivalent Bachelor’s degree from a state approved institution with a minimum of 750 hours of bodywork training shall be required for admission into the Master’s degree program.  Not more than 9 quarter credit units may be transferred from another institution toward the Master’s degree.  The Master of Arts in Somatics is designed to be completed within 6 quarters for full-time students (9 credits per quarter), over the course of two calendar years.  Classes may not be offered in a part-time format.

Associate of Science in Holistic Health

DEGREE PROGRAM COURSE REQUIREMENTS

710 CLOCK HOURS / 53.50 CREDITS

Prerequisites:

A Bachelor’s Degree and 750 hours of bodywork training from an approved institution. Dynamics of Personal Learning Introduction and Dialogue Methods Introduction.

Required Courses

602-606 Learning Forum

622-628 Somatic Seminars

630-640 Self Directed Explorations

642-646 Research Methodology

690 Thesis, Project, or Dissertation

1. Course Descriptions