The Human Service Associate Degree Program has a dual mission. It prepares students for entry-level career positions in a wide variety of human service occupations and it provides the first two years of a course of study that will prepare the student for transfer to a four-year program in human services. Students may select from suggested electives that will facilitate transfer to a baccalaureate program or focus on five career interest areas: generalist, mental health, addictions, gerontology or developmental disabilities. To assure that courses selected will be applicable to educational goals, students are encouraged to meet with human service program faculty early in their studies.
Focus on Competencies
Human service generalists are trained in a wide variety of helping interventions in order to provide direct services to individuals or groups with a diversity of needs. Human Services courses are designed to address core knowledge and competencies. The National Skills Standards Board has identified a set of core skills for entry-level, direct support human service workers.
Graduating students will demonstrate knowledge and/or skills in these 12 identified competency areas:
- Participant empowerment
- Community and service networking
- Education, training and self-development
- Crisis intervention
- Communication
- Facilitation of services
- Advocacy
- Organizational participation
- Assessment
- Community living skills and supports
- Vocational, education and career supports
- Documentation
Curriculum
Semester 1
English Composition & Literature I
Introduction to Human Services
The Helping Relationship: Human Services Delivery
Introduction to Psychology
Introductory Sociology (Principles)
Semester 2
English Composition & Literature II
Introduction to Aging
Group Process for Human Services
Community Service: Delivering Human Services
Introduction to Counseling
Semester 3
Cultural Competence for Human Service Workers
Legal Concepts & Ethics in Human Services
Chemical Dependency
Speech Communication Skills
Human Services Practicum I
Semester 4
Human Services Practicum II
Elective
Elective
Liberal Arts Elective
Mathematics or Science Elective