Master of Science training in osteopathy

Master of Science in Osteopathy

More and more, academic qualifications are the key to professional success! With a part-time or full-time training at the International Academy of Osteopathy (IAO) your career will get a new start. The IAO offers the possibility to obtain a recognized Master of Science in Osteopathy at the renowned University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (fhg) in Innsbruck. The master’s degree is accredited, since it complies with the Bologna Process. This is unique in the Benelux and in most other European countries! Exceptions are the UK, for example, where the Master of Science in Osteopathy is accredited as well. The title of MSC.Ost. may therefore be used in all European countries and is recognised worldwide.

The Master of Science in Osteopathy is a recognized European academic degree and gives the opportunity to obtain a PhD afterwards. The training at the IAO is ISO certificated by the European quality standard ISO 9001 (Osteopathic Training and Education) and is recognized by international professional associations – including the American umbrella organizations American Academy of Osteopathy (A.A.O.) and the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA).

General practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists can complete the Master Programme, during or after their part-time IAO training. Students who finished secondary education and who want to take up osteopathic medicine start with the 4-year fulltime training, completed with the Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy, before taking up the remaining master modules.

Recognition and Credits

• The Master Programme is approved by the Austrian “Fachhochschulrat” (FHR) and is organized in a co-operation between IAO and the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (fhg).
• The IAO is one of the first osteopathic schools in Europe where, thanks to the collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (fhg), a Master of Science in Osteopathy can be obtained within the standards of the Bologna process (120 ECTS) and fully consistent with the “Benchmarks for Training in Osteopathy”, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation.
• The delivered master is in accordance with the Flemish DECREE OF APRIL 4, 2003 CONCERNING THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION (published in the Belgian “Staatsblad” on July 14, 2003). In article 25, §6 of this decree you can read very clearly: “The person granted a degree of bachelor, master or doctor (doctor of philosophy, abbreviated PhD or dr) on the basis of an exam at an institution for higher education established outside the Flemish Community, and authorized to bear this degree as a title in the concerned country is also authorized to bear this degree as a titel inside the Flemish Community, in the same way as in the concerned country, mentioning the institution for higher education granting the degree.”
• With the MSc.Ost. degree, the graduate can start the PhD programme.

Program and data

General overview

The Master Programme (120 ECTS) consists of 4 semesters, spread out over 5 years:

• Semester 1: the DO part. It consists of 45 modules of 3 days spread out over 5 years. So 9 modules of 3 days are organised per academic year. Those who pass both the theoretical and the practical test obtain the DO diploma. For fulltime students this means that the 4 year training is completed with both the Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy and the DO diploma.
• Semester 2, 3 & 4: the 8 Supplementary Master Modules (SMM) organised as follows:
  - Semester 2: consists of 4 modules that can be followed from the fourth year of the DO programme.
  - Semester 3: consists of 2 modules that can be followed from the fifth year of the DO programme.
  - Semester 4: consists of 2 modules that can be followed from the fifth year of the DO programme.

General overview Master Programme: DO Programme with 8 Supplementary Master Modules (SMM):

Master Programme (4 semesters) spread out over 5 years:

• There is also the possibility for students to take the 8 supplementary master modules afterwards, instead of starting during the fourth year of the DO training. More and more osteopaths who obtained their DO years ago, register for these 8 supplementary master modules. These two tables illustrate this possibility:

Master Programme (4 semesters) spread out over 6 years:

Master Programme (4 semesters) spread out over several years:

In March 2011 more than 108 students registered for the supplementary master modules! A success!

In March 2012 the supplementary master modules are organised again in Berlin, Neuss and Innsbruck (in German), and in Ghent (in Dutch).

The dates for the supplementary master modules 2012:

Curriculum: a close look at the 8 Supplementary Master Modules:

Supplementary Master Module 1: Integration 3

Osteopaths have a perfect functional view on the human anatomy. Testing the mobility, examining mechanical and neurological relations, manipulation and mobilisation of joints are techniques we all have mastered.
However, osteopaths have to be aware of the functional disorders in the human physiologic processes being often at the basis of musculoskeletal and other complaints.
How to deal with this as an osteopath is the main theme and purpose of this postgraduate training in two modules.

Practical examples

How do we deal with a high blood pressure in a structured way?
How can we optimize the function of the thyroid gland, preventive as well as curative?
What is a structured approach for asthma?
Bed-wetting of children: can the osteopath have an influence?
How can we influence diabetes type II?

Scheme of the module

Short review per visceral region of the physiological processes.
Which different parts of the physiological processes can be influenced by the osteopath?
Practising treatment in case of dysfunction of different physiological processes.
How and when is the osteopathic approach complementary and do we appeal to the classic medicine?
The teacher proceeds on the basis of the integrative learning process with a collective executed evaluation via multiple choice questions.
The syllabus contains the different treating schemes in PowerPoint as well as the evaluation schemes used in practice and the patients information material.

Required preparation

Due to the intensity of this training we ask the participants to prepare themselves by rereading the human physiology.

Supplementary Master Module 2: Integration 4

Until recently the connective tissue was seen as a separating tissue between parenchym and organs.
In the scientific literature more and more studies appear concerning the research of the importance of the connective tissue and its regulating role.
In osteopathy, knowledge of the function of the connective tissue is a basis in order to be able to explain the influence of some techniques on the body.
Homeostasis, Basic Bio Regulation system, blockade, hemodynamic... are terms of the functional medicine that illustrate the physiology of the connective tissue.

Scheme of the module

A general survey of the human fascial system, anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.
Connection between the different fascial systems, anatomical, mechanical, vascular as well as physiological.
Set up a fascial examining scheme and systematic implementation of an osteopathic fascial treatment.

Program

Micro-anatomy of the connective tissue

Components of the connective tissue
Histological differentiation in different types of connective tissue

Macro-anatomy of the connective tissue

In order to set up a significant functional explanation of the connective tissue in the human body, a basic knowledge of embryology is required.

Innervation and control of the connective tissue

Sensibility and motricity of the connective tissue
Parasympatic innervation
Orthosympatic innervation
Hormonal influences

Connective tissue in connection with...

the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
the axial musculoskeletal system
the visceral system
the peripheral musculoskeletal system

Therapeutic start

Pressure and draining techniques
Traction- and extension techniques
Speed of techniques
Positioning of the connective tissue
Mobilisation of the connective tissue
Manipulation of the connective tissue

Supplementary Master Modules 3-8

The several themes are spread among the modules 3 – 8.

Theme: European Right and the health sector, rights of patients, mobility of professions in Europe, rights and duties of the osteopath. Application areas specific to the profession.

Theme: Research:

• Theoretical basis for scientific research
• Development, organisation and design of a scientific study
• Data management and reproduction
• Implementation of a scientific study
• Applied statistics 1
• Converting a research project
• Applied statistics 2
• Ethics, dataprotection, subsidy, publication

Theme: study and methodology, didactics, group dynamics and group processes.

Master thesis

All data concerning the master thesis are in the document “Guidelines Master thesis”. When subscribing you will receive this document.

The Master thesis also leads to the DO diploma.
The Master thesis is written during the third and fourth semester.

Location

The Complementary Master Modules are offered in:
Ghent: Campus Klein Dokkaai 3-5, B-9000 Gent.
Berlin: Holiday Inn Berlin City East, Landsberger Allee 203, D-13055 Berlin.
Innsbruck: AZW, Innrain 98, A-6020 Innsbruck.
Neuss: Commundo Tagungshotel, Humboldtstraße 2, D-41468 Neuss.

Language

Ghent: Dutch
Berlin, Neuss and Innsbruck: German

Entry requirements

To be admitted to the complementary master modules you should have:

• a diploma in physiotherapy or
• a diploma in medicine or
• a BSc.Ost. or
• an equivalent of one of the above-mentioned diplomas (equivalent can be requested at the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, fhg)
• AND
• an attestation of the IAO for being at least in the 4th year of the IAO training and for having passed the exams of the 3rd year. (IAO students and graduates can participate in the complementary master modules from the 4th year of the IAO Master training.)

Exemptions

The general academic rules concerning exemptions are applied. Requests can be addressed to the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (fhg).

Enrolment

• To enrol for the Complementary Master Modules you should visit the website of the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (fhg).
• For the modules Integration 3 en Integration 4 from semester 2 you enrol at the IAO Gent.
• Deadline enrolment: 15 december 2011. Unfortunately it's no longer possible to enrol for Berlin.

Number of participants

Innsbruck: min.16.
Ghent: min.18.
Berlin: min.18.
Neuss: min. 18.
If the minimum number of participants isn’t reached the course will not take place.

Diploma ceremony

The academic degrees will be granted during the official diploma ceremony in Innsbruck . The date will be communicated later.

Fee

• Complementary Master Module 1 (Integration 3): 491 € to transfer on the IAO-account when subscribing for the module Integration 3
• Complementary Master Module 2 (Integration 4): 491 € to transfer on the IAO-account when subscribing for the module Integration 4
• Semester 1: included in the IAO programme: no extra fees
• Semester 2 (payment via University of Applied Sciences Tyrol): 2.250 €
• Semester 3 (payment via University of Applied Sciences Tyrol): 2.250 €
• Semester 4 (payment via University of Applied Sciences Tyrol): 2.250 €