Master's degree program "SPA CULTURE, HYDRO, LYTHO AND THALASSO PRACTISES"

Master degree program (2 years):

Spa culture, hydro, lytho and Thalasso practices

I. Argumentation of the need for such specialists

The Master degree program provides students with degree "Professional Bachelor" vocational "Healthcare Services" to access higher qualification degree "Master" (in 3 + 2 yrs. scheme), with the aim of their effective implementation on the labor market. All students graduated from medical colleges (3 years of education after the secondary school) are admitted.

In the first year, the program offers training with an emphasis in the field of physical culture and popular sports in general block of theoretical and specialized (theoretical and practical) disciplines (classes), elective and optional courses, internship and professional practice succeeded by complex exam (60 credits). Olympic and non-Olympic sports, preferred in the Recreative (leisure practice) industry, have been selected.

The second year training continues in the curriculum and syllabus of the Master's program "SPAÂ culture, hydro, lytho and Thalasso practices" (60 credits). Masters specialists acquire interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and specialized scientific training on the problems of modern SPA culture, hydro, lytho (crystal & stone) and Thalasso effects to the human body and health.

The "Wellness&SPA culture" specialty supports Article 14 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Citizen (access to desired education for students with a Bachelor's degree) and cares for quality of life through health prevention and health improvement, healthy citizens in urban and vacation environments. Master's program graduates receive manager level of competences, but not a new professional qualification field.

Produced master executives serve national and regional SPA business interests, which is in acute need of a workforce trained in specialized Wellness, SPA and Thalasso programs.

II. Professional Standard

II.1. Area and scope of knowledge

The essence of education in the first year is aimed at assimilation of knowledge for "Professional Bachelor" students of medical colleges. Thus, they acquire the right to access Master's degree in the specialty "SPA culture, hydro, lytho and Thalasso practices". After the completion of the first year of grading, specialized knowledge and professional skills in the field of Recreative motor culture and leisure time sport are acquired as follows:

• Pedagogical, psychological and management aspects of physical culture and sport;
• Anatomical, physiological and health characteristics of the human body and the influence of motor programs and Recreative sports activities;
• Biomechanics of human movements and biochemical changes occurring in practicing certain Recreative sports disciplines;
• The theory and methodology of sports training (classes) and physical education in a general methodological aspect and the peculiarities of their application in popular Recreative sports;
• Elective disciplines aimed at expanding and complementing knowledge in motor activities.

After completing the second year of Masters training specialists acquire interdisciplinary knowledge and specialized scientific training on the problems of modern Wellness, SPA (hydro), lytho and Thalasso impacts as follows:

• knowledge of the medico-biological, psychological and pedagogical disciplines aimed at studying and managing aquatic activities, SPA practices and health-functional prophylaxis in aquatic and Thalasso environment;
• knowledge about the theory of modern SPA culture and the methodology for individual diagnostics in different forms of hydro, lytho and Thalasso practices;
• knowledge of the means and methods of impact and control of SPA practices, lytho and thalassic techniques and therapies or hydro-activities;
• knowledge of conducting independent scientific research, application of scientific control over SPA factors, duration and intensity of lytho and Thalasso or hydro impacts;
• fluency in at least one foreign language and free use of specialized terminology.

II.2. Area and scope of skills

         After completing the first year of the two-year program, students have the following skills and competencies:

Professional skills:

• To plan, organize and analyze driving programs and recreational or entertainment activities in the studied Olympic and Non-Olympic sports, working with different age groups;
• Properly select the methods of preparation, volume and intensity of workload, consistent with age-gender and health specifics of practitioners;
• Organize, plan and perform customer health control, evaluate and optimize the regime in the driving programs they apply;
• Organize and conduct sports festivals and mass forums, professional Expo or Demo events and apply relaxing Recreative methodologies;
• Provide adequate first aid in sports trauma and subsequent recovery.

Personal competences:

• To present in a clear and understandable form programs and products to specialized and non-specialized targets and stakeholders;
• Collect and interpret information necessary for organizing and conducting various sports events and modeling programs;
• Interpret and apply specialized sports terminology and methodologies, which are applicable in the field of Recreative sports in the leisure industry.

The second year of training provides the following professional skills and competences to students:

Professional skills:

·        Transfer of good practices for effective management of Thalasso methodologies in the aquatic environment;

·         Individual diagnosis and application of effective SPA and eastern impacts in accordance with functional status;

·         Acquainting with the world achievements in the SPA culture through information exchange in the global electronic network and their application in the Bulgarian practice;

·        Conducting research and applied research and processing results using modern information technologies;

·        Continuous improvement of theoretical and practical professional qualification, participation in scientific forums for exchange of experience and distribution of SPA culture through the networks of National, Balkan, European and world SPA associations.

Personal competences:

·        To make decisions regarding the health status of the client;

·        Follow the code of ethics when communicating with clients;

·        Ability to work in team;

·        Skills for organizing, managing and controlling specific Wellness, SPA and Thalasso activities and events.

III.Professional development of staff

Graduates of two-year Master's program "SPA culture, eastern and aqua practices" have the opportunity to work as managers and executives or representatives in expert boards of various professional fields:

• SPA complexes and resorts;
• SPA and Thalassic centres;
• Hospitality business;
• Thermal and lytho centres;
• Summer and winter Niche tourist resorts;
• Cruise water transport;
• Company Brand for recreation and Niche tourism;
• Recovery centres for elite athletes;
• Recreational, Medical Wellness or rehabilitation Med SPA, Thalassic and lytho centers;

The graduate may work as professional like: Manager, Executive Director,Thalaso-Manager, Thalasso-Expert, Thalaso-Analyst, Thalaso-Methodist, Med SPA etc.