Human Services, A.S.

The Associate in Science in Human Services program prepares students for entry-level positions in the human services field or to pursue a baccalaureate degree. It is also an excellent program for people who are working in the human services field without a degree who seek advancement opportunities in their chosen career that require an associate degree.

The program is designed to help students develop the core competencies required for professionals in many human services organizations, including conducting intakes, performing assessments, interviewing, counseling, and case management. These and other courses, including electives, provide a foundation for students to be successful in a wide array of human service professions.

The culminating courses for students in the Associate in Science in Human Services program are two 90-hour internships where they will apply their learning at a local human service organization. These are in-depth experiences that are based on specific learning objectives developed in collaboration with the student, faculty and the cooperating human service organization. With our extensive connections to the regional human service community, we seek to help students obtain internship experiences with organizations that offer the services that they would ultimately like to provide during their careers.

Students completing an Associate in Science in Human Services may choose to continue their studies in a range of baccalaureate programs including Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Rehabilitation, Counseling, Youth Development, Gerontology, Criminal Justice, Recreation Therapy, and Education, among many others.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

1. Practice ethical standards consistent with the human services field.
2. Explain how the history of human services shapes current policies and practices and provides a lens for predicting future trends.
3. Apply professional helping skills congruent with evidence-based, person-centered, and strength-based approaches to service delivery.
4. Employ macro-practice skills necessary for successful community organization and advocacy.
5. Employ critical thinking skills required to be an effective human services professional.
6. Apply written and verbal communication skills necessary for effective functioning as a human services professional.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all the general Associate graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. In addition, students must complete all Human Services core courses and PHIL 105  with a minimum grade of “C” in each course and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3.