Human Services, A.A.S.

Program Description

The Human Services Program provides students with training in both theory and practice required to work in the broad and growing field of human services, which includes assisting professionals in social work, mental health, counseling, rehabilitation, nursing, and gerontology. Two structured internships give students direct experience in applied work settings. After completing this program, students will be qualified to work as paraprofessionals helping people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, chemical dependency, physical limitations, and other challenges. Students also may choose to continue their education by entering bachelor’s degree programs in human services or social work.

Graduates of the Human Services A.A.S. will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in human services
• Interact professionally with people from diverse backgrounds
• Apply human services principles to personal, social, and organizational issues
• Use appropriate computer technology to complete relevant projects and assignments
• Demonstrate social responsibility, civic engagement, and advocacy through participation in community and human service organizations and activities
• Describe the process of screening, examining, evaluating, and diagnosing individuals with impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, physical dysfunction, and health and explain the importance and function of each step in the process
• Describe ethical standards outlined by the National Organization for Human Services and the Council for Standards in Human Service Education and apply them to hypothetical situations

General Education Courses

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

Sequence of Study - Human Services A.A.S.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not  include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience 1 Credit (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing 3 Credits (English General Education Requirement)
• PSY-1010 General Psychology 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Requirement)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits (Program Requirement)

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• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Requirement) or
• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Requirement)

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• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics 3 Credits (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• HUS-1010 Introduction to Human Services 3 Credits (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas 3 Credits (English General Education Requirement)
• HUS-1020 Professional Ethics in Human Services 1 Credit (Program Requirement)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition 3 Credits (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography 3 Credits (Science No Lab General Education Elective)

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• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology 3 Credits (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)
• PSY-2070 Human Growth and Development 3 Credits (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• HUS-2020 Group and Family Counseling Skills 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• PSY-2120 Drugs and Behavior 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• HUS-2200 Developmental Disabilities 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• HUS-2010 Counseling, Assessment, and Behavior Modification Techniques 3 Credits (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• HUS-2810 Human Services Internship I 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image 1 Credit (Program Requirement)
• PSY-2080 Abnormal Psychology 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• HUS-2300 Chemical Dependency Counseling 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• HUS-2400 Therapeutic Recreation 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• HUS-2820 Human Services Internship II 3 Credits (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.