Human Services A.A.S.
The Human Services (HUS) Program offers a career-track degree that is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment within a variety of helping professions. This curriculum provides an academic and experiential foundation for skill development. Core studies provide the student with opportunity to practice an essential set of generalist helping skills. Areas of focus include: knowledge and practice of empathic listening, client interviewing and problem solving, advocating for clients within organizational structures, responding in crisis, and attending to multicultural perspectives in case management. In their final semester, students enroll in a sixteen-hour a week internship that serves as a capstone to their studies. Internships in early childhood, family assistance, chemical dependency intervention, and gerontology are just a few of the areas where HUS students have successfully demonstrated professional skill.
The mission of the Human Services Program is to prepare competent entry-level professionals for employment in the helping professions and/or transfer to baccalaureate programs in Human Services or related fields. The program provides students with theory and practice in general human services and selected specialty areas.
The program will assist Human Services majors to:
- Develop a range of individual skills that are required for the Human Services professions.
- Demonstrate a proficiency in the skills of: General helping, communication, listening, giving and receiving feedback, confrontation, interviewing and assessment, basic individual and group counseling, documentation, conducting educational presentations, computer/technology, handling a client crisis, case management, ethical behavior, problem-solving, networking/referral, and finding an internship and employment.
- Gain knowledge and an understanding of conceptual information used in the Human Services professions.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and understand the knowledge areas of : Roles/Functions/ Characteristics of a Human Services Professional, Confidentiality/Mandated Reporting/State Laws, History of the Profession, Standards, Codes of Ethics, theories, diversity/cultural issues, agency operations, supervision, leadership, ethical decision making, professional development, resources, resumé/cover letter development, interviewing.
- Develop additional academic skills required for professional development in the Human Services field.
- Demonstrate information literacy through the use of technology and research tools. Prepare and present well-developed informational programs using technology.
- Promote an awareness of a pluralistic society and an acceptance of a global view.
- Demonstrate an awareness of human differences to include economic, social, familial, and environmental concerns.
- Prepare the student for employment and/or transfer to a four-year program.
Discipline Category Descriptions
Minimum Degree Requirements (64 credits)
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English (6 credits)
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| ENG 101 | English Composition |
| ENG 235 | Technical Writing |
Humanities (3 Credits)
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| COM 101 | Public Speaking |
Human Services (33 Credits)
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| HUS 101 | Introduction to Human Services |
| HUS 105 | Introduction to Basic Counseling Skills |
| HUS 160 | Human Services Organizations |
| HUS 200 | Case Management & Crisis Intervention |
| HUS 206 | Introduction to Working with Groups |
| HUS 283 HUS 284 |
Internship & Seminar or Internship & Seminar for CASAC |
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--------> |
Human Services electives (12 credits) Select from the following: ASL101, ASL102, BUS110, CRI103, CRI206, FCS101, FRE101, FRE102, HSM111, HSM211, HUS108, HUS110, HUS175, PSY230, PSY247, SOC209, SOC212, SPA101, SPA102 |
Math (3 Credits) |
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| --------> | Mathematics Gen. Ed. Course |
Science (4 Credits) |
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| BIO 100 | Human Biology |
Social Science (9 Credits) |
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| PSC 240 | State & Local Government |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology |
Social Science or Human Services (3 Credits) |
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| --------> HUS 210 |
PSY/SOC elective above 200 or Identification, Diagnosis, & Treatment Planning |
Info. Management (3 Credits) |
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| CSC 102 | Introduction to Microcomputer Applications |
Students who earn a Human Services degree are prepared for entry-level work in a variety of helping professions.
Some popular career options are:
- Teacher's Aide
- Mental Health Aide
- Childcare Worker
- Residence Counselor
- Rehabilitation Aide
Students may earn the Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate along with the Human Services A.A.S. degree by taking some specialized coursework.