Human Services (A.S.)

The Human Services, A.S. program is designed to provide students with the foundational skills and concepts to meet human needs through an interdisciplinary approach to prevention and remediation of barriers to quality of life among diverse service populations. In addition to General Education requirements, the program is rooted in two primary skills, Case Management and Crisis Intervention and two primary employment paths, Social Work and Counseling. Students graduating from the Human Service, A.S. degree are prepared to enter the Human Services field in a number of entry level paraprofessional positions such as social-service technicians, case management aides, mental health technicians, gerontology aides, special-education teacher aides, and residential managers. In addition, graduates are able to make informed decisions about career paths, and are prepared to enter four-year college degrees in the field of behavioral health and the helping professions.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Human Services program is to provide quality education for knowledge acquisition and skill development in the areas of assessment, intervention, treatment, advocacy, and support, on behalf of individuals seeking human services. The program is committed to preparing undergraduate students to serve diverse populations as future human service providers and to facilitate personal and professional development through academic experiences that cultivate critical thinking skills, cultural competency, and the professional knowledge and skills required for professions in human services.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theoretical perspectives, legal and ethical principles of Human Service delivery, and a working knowledge of public and private entities that deliver human services, locally, statewide, and nationally.
2. Apply professional helping skills congruent with evidence-based, person-centered, and strength-based approaches to service delivery, with particular attention to Case Management and Crisis Intervention techniques.
3. Evaluate how cultural sensitivity can exist within systems of oppression/privilege as a foundation to success in the fields of social work and human services.
4. Compare and Contrast Social Work with the work of Counseling.
5. Utilize knowledge of service delivery, theory, and individual treatment philosophy to articulate a career plan.

Specializations, Tracks, or Options

There are two tracks available to graduate with the Human Services, A.S. degree. The two tracks are Counseling/Social Work and the Direct Support Professional.