For HMS related programs, see Related Programs Listing .

Purpose: The Associate of Applied Science in Human Services is designed to prepare highly skilled graduates for employment in a wide variety of human services settings, to update and enrich the capacities of those persons presently employed in the human services field, and to prepare students for transfer to a bachelor degree program in human services, social work, psychology, counseling, sociology, or other related field. Graduates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for professional work in community service agencies and organizations and informed by the National Organization for Human Services.

Occupational Objectives: Human Services Assistant • Social Work Assistant • Mental Health Aide • Life Skills Counselor • Gerontology Aide • Crisis Intervention Assistant • Family Services Provider • Case Management Aide • Program Coordinator • Community Outreach Worker • Benefits Specialist • Child Care Assistant • Disabilities Aide • Rehabilitation Aide

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

For more information about this program visit the department webpage.