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Somatic Bodywork

Types of Degrees Somatic Bodywork Majors Are Earning

Those studying Somatic Bodywork can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	6
Master’s Degree	22

What Somatic Bodywork Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Somatic Bodywork build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Somatic Bodywork graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Somatic Bodywork emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Somatic Bodywork program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Somatic Bodywork careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Somatic Bodywork graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Somatic Bodywork professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Desire2Learn LMS software	Computer based training software	—
Dental software	Medical software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Learning management system LMS	Computer based training software	—
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
iParadigms Turnitin	Information retrieval or search software	—
TechSmith Snagit	Graphics or photo imaging software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Somatic Bodywork graduates include:

• Dietitian Teacher
• Speech Pathology Teacher
• Anesthesiology Teacher
• Pharmacology Teacher
• Radiology Teacher
• Pharmacy Teacher
• Recreation Therapy Aides Teacher
• Obstetrics Teacher
• Medical Assistant Instructor
• Orthopedics Teacher
• Clinical Instructor
• Prosthetic Aides Teacher
• Infant Care Teacher
• Gastroenterology Professor
• Surgical Aides Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Somatic Bodywork graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	31.5%
Master’s degree	21.3%
Doctoral degree	14.7%
Post-doctoral training	11.3%
Bachelor’s degree	9.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.5%
Some college courses	3.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.6%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Somatic Bodywork?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 67.9% of Somatic Bodywork degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	19	67.9%
Men	9	32.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Somatic Bodywork graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	23	82.1%
Asian	1	3.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1	3.6%
Race Unknown	1	3.6%
International Students	2	7.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Somatic Bodywork Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Somatic Bodywork graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$20,348
4 years	$22,219
5 years	$24,335

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $24,335 — roughly 20% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Somatic Bodywork Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Somatic Bodywork graduates earn a median of $22,219 four years after completion — about 42% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services	51.35
Asian Bodywork Therapy	51.3502
Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage	51.3501
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services, Other	51.3599
Advanced General Dentistry	51.0502
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Other	51.0599
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other	51.0999

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.