For related HMS programs, see Related Programs Listing .

Purpose: The Certificate in Human Services prepares students for entry-level employment in the helping fields where the primary focus is on human and social services and for the associate degree in human services. 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. This 34-credit curriculum provides an in-depth sequence of courses in human services and all course work overlaps with and is also a requirement for the associate degree program of study.

Occupational Objectives: Human Services Worker • Social Work Aide • Rehabilitation Aide • Intake Specialist • Eligibility Worker • Child Care Aide • Residential Assistant • Recreation Worker • Volunteer Coordinator

Admission Requirements: In addition to the requirements for general admission to the college, a personal interview with the program head is recommended. Placement tests in some areas may be required.

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. Instruction includes the theoretical concepts as well as the practical application to work situations. To get the most benefit from the program, students should work closely with their faculty advisor in planning their curriculum, field experiences, and the opportunity to continue and complete the Associate of Applied Science degree requirements in Human Services.

The student will spend a minimum of 225 hours working in a supervised internship in a social service setting, approved by the program head. 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, and/or a TB test, 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 program, students are awarded the Certificate in Human Services.

For more information about this program, visit the department webpage.