For HMS related programs, see Related Programs Listing .

Purpose: The two-year associate degree in Human Services is designed to give the student a foundation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for entry into a wide variety of human service occupations.

Occupational Objectives: Child Care Worker • Counselor in a Residential Facility • Developmental Disabilities Aide • Eligibility Worker • Group Work Aide • Recreation Aide • Rehabilitation Aide • School Community Representative • Social Service Aide •Social Services in Geriatric Facility • Social Work Technician

Admission Requirements: The student must meet the entrance requirements established by the college. Students lacking mathematics and English skills will be required to enroll in developmental courses. A personal interview with the program head is recommended to discuss both program and occupational requirements.

Program Requirements: The Human Services program is about people working with people. The program is designed to provide about one-third of its requirements in general education and the remainder in human services related courses. To get the most benefit from the program, students should work closely with their faculty advisor in planning their curriculum and their field experiences. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college after completing the Associate of Applied Science degree requirements in Human Services should inform their academic advisor at the beginning of studies to determine the appropriate courses to meet transfer requirements.

The student will spend a minimum of 450 hours working in a supervised internship in a social service agency. Application for internship should be made the semester prior to placement. Students should note that agencies may require a criminal background report and/or a child abuse central registry search as a prerequisite to beginning the internship experience. An agency may deny participation for findings on the reports. Affiliation agreements prevent the placement of a student who is denied internship participation at one facility into an internship agreement at another agency. Inability to meet the internship requirements prevents the student from satisfactorily achieving the course objectives resulting in failure of the course.

Students will be required to go through an oral interview at the conclusion of the program for assessment purposes. Upon satisfactory completion of the four-semester program, the student will be awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree in Human Services.