Human Services Practitioner (HS)

The Human Services Practitioner Program provides the academic work and field experience for successful careers in human services, as well as a strong foundation for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. This program is unique in that students may choose to specialize in either Mental Health or Gerontology. Students are encouraged to build upon their unique abilities to work collaboratively with individuals, families, and agencies. The program fosters the development of the skills necessary for practitioners in human services through active learning strategies, clinical field placements, community research projects, and case studies. Upon graduation students are qualified for entry level positions such as mental health counselor, residential case manager, outreach worker, gerontology assistant, crisis intervention worker, life skills counselor, family advocate, and community organizer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that human service careers are among the fastest growing occupations in the United States.

The following certificates may be applied to the Human Services Practitioner Associate Degree Program: Mental Health Certificate, Gerontology Certificate, Gerontology Activities Specialist, Youth Worker Certificate, Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate, Family Development Credential.

Since the program involves a field placement(s) working with vulnerable populations, students are required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and/or Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. Depending on the contents of a student's CORI and/or SORI, placement may be denied. Students who are unable to participate in the field placement(s) will not meet program requirements.

Course See Note  Course Title Credits   CMP101   Composition 1 (OL, CT) 3   HUS101   The Human Services Worker 3   MEH105   Introduction to Mental Health Work 3   PSY102   Introductory (General) Psychology (OL) 3   PSY112   Introduction to Gerontology 3       IDS205   Community Problems and Social Issues (OL) 3   or  SWG203   Advocacy for Elders (OL)     CMP104-150   Composition 2 Elective (OL, CT) 3   HUS102   Helping Skills in Human Services 3   HUS130 1 Life Changes & Crisis: Adaptation & Intervention 3   HUS137   Field Placement 1: Human Services Practitioner 3   BIO108 2 The Body in Health and Disease 3   HUS104   The Field of Human Services: An Overview 3   HUS132 3 Group Dynamics and Techniques 3   LA-ELECTIVE   Liberal Arts Elective(s) (OL) 3   PSY210   Abnormal Psychology 3       MEH206   Advanced Helping Skills     or  SWG104   Nutritional and Health Aspects of Aging 3   HUS108   Pharmacology for Human Services 3   HUS138   Field Place & Seminar 2: Human Services Practitioner 3   HUS139   Field Place & Seminar 3: Human Services Practitioner 3   OPN-ELECTIVE   Open Elective(s) (OL) 3

Notes  1 MEH104 Life Crisis: Theories & Intervention, and SWG208 Life Change & Adaptation in Life may be substituted for HUS130 Life changes & Crisis: Adaptation & Intervention  2 BIO103 and BIO104 may be substituted for BIO108.  3 SWG102 Intervention Techniques and Program Planning may be substituted for HUS132 Group Dynamics and Techniques.

Program Information  • The Mental Health Certificate, Gerontology Certificate, Gerontology Activities Specialist, Youth Worker Certificate, Family Development credential and Certified Nursing credential may be applied to the Human Services Practitioner Associate Degree program.

Admissions Information  • Contact Student Support Center for information on State College and University Joint Admissions.