Mission Statement
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 the areas of general human services and selected specialty areas.
The Human Services (HUS) curriculum is a two-year program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree. The program’s primary focus is work-preparedness and training for entry-level employment within a variety of helping professions. Students are introduced to foundational, interdisciplinary theories and coached in the use of generalist helping skills.
The program is grounded in the needs of students who plan to seek employment upon graduation. A student who wishes to transfer to a four-year college or university upon earning an A.A.S. in Human Services may do so; however, this goal is best communicated early in the student’s course of study to maximize the opportunity for individualized goal setting and advising.
Select coursework may provide extended learning for individuals who are already employed in the human services field. Students may choose to attend on a full-time or a part- time basis. For scheduling flexibility, many advanced courses are offered in a hybrid format. A class taught in a hybrid format is conducted partly in-class and partly online. To that end, students need basic technology skills and are encouraged to enroll in CSC 102: Microcomputer applications in the first semester.
The A.A.S. in the Human Services Degree Program prepares graduates for entry-level work in the following service areas*: early childhood day care, chemical dependency treatment, family assistance, gerontology, housing, crisis intervention, advocacy, working with the developmentally challenged, and many other subfields in the social services.
*Note: Additional education, training, or certification may be required to secure a specific job title or role within a particular service area
- Assist the HUS students to develop a range of individual skills that are required for the Human Services professions.
- Assist the HUS students to gain knowledge and an understanding of conceptual information used in the Human Services professions.
- Assist the HUS students to develop additional academic skills required for professional development in the Human Services field.
- Assist the HUS students in promoting awareness of a pluralistic society and an acceptance of a global view.
- Assist the HUS students in preparation for employment and/or transfer to a four-year program.