Spa Management Degrees: Online and Campus-Based Programs
Spa managers supervise business operations, wellness services, beauty treatments and customer relations at spas and resorts. You can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in spa management or a related area. Certificates are also available. Read on for more information on spa management program options.
What Does an Associate's Degree Program in Spa Management Entail?
<p>You can earn an associate's degree in spa management or in a related area like holistic healthcare. Some schools offer spa management as a concentration within a program in a related field, like holistic health. Associate's degree programs provide you with the business and esthetics knowledge necessary to work in a managerial capacity at health, beauty or wellness spas. Spa management programs at this level are typically on-campus-only offerings.
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<p>Entrepreneurial topics covered in spa management associate's degree programs may include spa design, marketing, customer service, human resources and computer applications. Courses discuss the legal and safety measures you'll need to take to provide spa services to clients. You'll also get a full education in spa treatment concepts and techniques, with courses in this area covering Ayurveda, nutrition, aromatherapy, stress management and hydrotherapy. You'll also learn about the fundamentals of massage therapy, including various massage techniques for the feet, hands and back.
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<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Program Levels</b></td><td> Associate's degree, bachelor's degree, certificate</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Associate's Degree Courses</b></td><td> Stress management, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, marketing, spa design</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Bachelor's Degree Courses</b></td><td> Operations management, finance, hospitality law, human nutrition, stress management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Certificate Courses</b></td><td> Spa services, brand marketing, esthetic treatments, retail management, alternative energy systems</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> Certificate programs may be found online; degree programs are not commonly offered online</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $56,670 (<i>for all lodging managers</i>) </td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td>12% decline (<i>for all lodging managers</i>) </td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---WhatDoesABachelorSDegreeProgramEntail">What Does A Bachelor's Degree Program Entail?</h3>
<p>Not many schools offer bachelor's degree programs in spa management itself. You can, however, major in such closely related areas as resort management or health and wellness and pursue a concentration in spa management. Spa management bachelor's degree programs are not generally offered online.
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<p>Bachelor's degree programs in resort management emphasize the business concepts important to managing a spa. These subjects include finance, accounting, tourism marketing, operations management and hospitality law. In a health and wellness program, your core courses may cover human nutrition, wellness program planning and stress management. Your spa management concentration will include studies on wellness and beauty treatments, customer service, risk management and nutritional cuisine planning. Many programs also require spa management internships.
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<h3 id="section---WhatAreMyOtherEducationalOptions">What Are My Other Educational Options?</h3>
<p>Academically speaking, spa management may frequently be considered an area of interest within the larger discipline of hospitality or resort management. Perhaps for this reason, certificate or diploma programs in spa management are often easier to come by than 2- or 4-year degrees, particularly for online students.
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<p>If you want specific credentials in spa management and a degree, you can supplement an associate's or bachelor's degree in a related area with a spa management certificate. Some schools even offer programs allowing you to transfer the credits earned from your spa management certificate toward a bachelor's degree. Topics commonly covered in spa management certificate programs include spa fitness and wellness services, retail management, brand marketing, esthetic treatments and alternative energy spa systems.
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<h3 id="section---HowDoOnlineProgramsWork">How Do Online Programs Work?</h3>
<p>Online certificate programs allow you to earn a spa management credential wherever you can access the Web. You'll complete all your course requirements virtually, generally through an interactive teaching and learning platform, such as Moodle. These course delivery systems allow you to access multimedia and written lecture notes, submit assignments, take exams and communicate with teachers and fellow students.</p>