Program Description

The AS Human Services program prepares students for career pathways in a variety of human services fields of practice. It provides students with the academic foundation to transfer to four-year colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY) and other colleges to pursue a variety of bachelor’s degree options in the helping professions.

Human Services students are required to complete two semesters of Human Services fieldwork internships which provide supervised experiential learning opportunities applied to real work situations.  Students learn to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom and test career choices in the real world. To further support student preparedness for entry-level human service employment, the AS curriculum embeds the Family Development Certificate as a stackable credit option towards one semester of the fieldwork requirement. Students with past or current employment histories in human services work will have the opportunity to apply for prior learning credits towards one semester of the fieldwork component of the degree program.

Program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment opportunities such as mental health aides, group residence workers, neighborhood outreach workers, case work assistants, geriatric counselors, assistant probation officers, and more.  Employment opportunities are found in the public and private levels of the human services delivery system, including day care, mental health, social services, older adult care, individuals with disabilities, residential treatment services, group and community work.

Graduates are prepared to pursue further education at senior colleges leading to a baccalaureate degree in several professional and disciplinary areas including social work, gerontology, juvenile justice, psychology, sociology, education, and counseling. The AS degree articulates with Lehman College. Students are encouraged to visit the Transfer Planning web site for more information.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Human Services program requirements, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic intervention process skills, which include the beginning ability to establish empathic relationships while providing direct service to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
2. Demonstrate generalist planning skills, which include the ability to analyze client needs, develop and implement a treatment plan, and determine the effectiveness of service.
3. Demonstrate information management skills, which include the ability to gather and assess client data, prepare and maintain adequate service records, and utilize resources in order to address client needs.
4. Demonstrate self-awareness and self-assessment skills, which include techniques that promote ongoing personal and professional development necessary to be an effective and non-judgmental human service worker.

Click here to download the Degree Map.

Human Services Curriculum

Required Core

1. English Composition (6 Credits)
2. Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits)
3. Life and Physical Sciences (3 Credits)

Subtotal: 12

Flexible Core

1. World Cultures and Global Issues (3 Credits)¹
2. US Experience and Diversity (3 Credits)²
3. Creative Expression(3 Credits)³
4. Individual and Society (3 Credits)⁴
5. Scientific World (3 Credits)
6. Choose one additional course from Flex Areas A-E (3 Credits)⁵

Subtotal: 18

Notes:

¹ It is recommended that students complete HIS 10 History of the Modern World OR HIS 11 Introduction to the Modern World (3 Credits) in Flexible Core A.

² It is recommended that students complete POL 11 American National Government in Flexible Core B. In this case, a student would have three additional free elective credits.

³ It is recommended that students complete ART 11 Introduction to Art History OR ART 12 Introduction to Art History: Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East OR MUS 11 Introduction to Music OR MUS 12 Introduction to Music: A Multi-Cultural Survey of World Music in Flexible Core C.

⁴ It is recommended that students complete COMM 11 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication in Flexible Core D.

⁵ It is recommended that students complete SOC 11 Sociology as the additional flexible core choice.

Major Requirements

• FYS 11 First Year Seminar (1 Credit)⁶
• HLT 91 Critical Issues in Health (2 Credits)
• HSC 10 Human Services and Social Welfare Institutions (0-3 Credits)
• HSC 12 Human Services Skills and Methods (3 Credits)
• HSC 91 Fieldwork and Seminar in Human Services I (3 Credits)
• HSC 92 Fieldwork and Seminar in Human Services II (3 Credits)^{7, 8}
• PSY 11 Introduction to Psychology (0-3 Credits)⁹
• PSY 40 Life Span Development (3 Credits)
• SOC 35 Introduction to Social Work (3 Credits)
• POL 11 American National Government (0-3 Credits)⁹

Free Electives   (0-9 Credits)⁹

Choose one of the following restricted electives⁹:

• HSC 11 Case Management for Specialized Populations (3 Credits)⁸
• SOC 37 Social Inequity (3 Credits)
• PSY 31 Abnormal Psychology (3 Credits)
• PSY 41 Psychology of Infancy and Childhood (3 Credits)

Subtotal: 30

Notes:

⁶ Students must take FYS 11 prior to earning 24 equated or degree credits. Students who have earned 24 or more equated or degree credits are permitted to use the one credit as a free elective. It is highly recommended that students take FYS 11 in their first or second semester.

⁷ Students with work experience in human services may receive life experience credit for this course. Please contact the Human Services program coordinator.

⁸ Students may receive credit for these courses based on a completed Family Development Certificate (FDC). The FDC may be completed either before starting the AS Human Services program or while enrolled. Please contact the Human Services program coordinator

⁹ Students who complete major requirements in the core area (e.g., POL 11), will need free electives to reach 60 credits. It is recommended that students choose additional courses from the Restricted Electives area.