Prepares students to work in the broad and diverse field of human services, a profession developing in response to and in anticipation of the direction of human needs and human problems in the 21st century. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life for all of society. The associate’s degree curriculum provides a general background for work with children, families, and adults. Most professions in human services require academic work beyond the associate’s degree for continuing professional work and advancement. Individuals with an associate’s degree may be employed as case management aides, human services workers, residential managers, gerontology aides, special-education teacher aides, mental-health technicians, and social-service technicians. The program prepares each student through exposure to the most current thinking in the field, hands-on experience, and community networking.
Program Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of all courses in the program, students will be able to:
- understand and apply terminology used in today’s human services field, and interpret and communicate information when appropriate
- analyze the interaction of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies
- read and explain relevant literature in the field of human services
- describe and evaluate the ways in which data are collected and applied in the field of human services
- research and write a report utilizing the library, the Internet, informational interviews, and other sources
- develop critical thinking skills within the context of professional human services practice to solve problems, to apply learning and reasoning strategies, and to acquire and utilize information
- be knowledgeable about formal and informal assessment practices that reflect both the needs and strengths of disadvantaged people
- develop an understanding and awareness of cultural diversity
- identify causes, consequences, and solutions to inequality due to race, age, religion, and economics.
Guided Pathways Human Services Advisor: Nicole Mihelis
Program Coordinator and Faculty Advisor: Sabrina Adams-Roberts
| First Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course # | Title | Credits |
| CSS-101 | First Year Experience | 3 |
| ENG*101 | Composition (a) | 3 |
| HSE*101 | Introduction to Human Services (a) | 3 |
| PSY*111 | General Psychology I (a) | 3 |
| SOC*101 | Principles of Sociology (a) | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIO*115 | Human Biology (a) | 4 |
| SOC*103 | Social Problems (a) | 3 |
| SOC*210 | Sociology of the Family (a) | 3 |
| Directed Elective (b) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following courses: | ||
| ENG*103 | Compostion II (a) or | |
| Literature Elective (a)‡ | 3 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| COM*172 | Interpersonal Communication (a) | 3 |
| ECN*101 | Principles of Macroeconomics (a) | 3 |
| HSE*243 | Human Services Skills and Methods (a) | 3 |
| Directed Human Services Elective (a)(b) (from HSE*, PSY*201 or above, SOC*114/any 200-level SOC*, or a Foreign Language course) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following courses: | ||
| MAT*135 | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics (a) or | |
| MAT*165 | Elementary Statistics with Computer Applications (a) | 3-4 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| HSE*236 | Legal Issues In Human Services (a) | 3 |
| HSE*281 | Human Services Field Work I (a) | 3 |
| SOC*220 | Racial and Ethnic Diversity (a) | 3 |
| Directed Elective (a)(b) (from PSY*201/203/208/209/211/240/243/245, SOC*114) | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Elective (from ART*, COM*154, COM*167, DGA*, GRA*, NMC*, MUS*, THR*) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following courses: | ||
| HIS*202 | U.S. History II (a) or | |
| POL*111 | American Government (a) | 3 |
| Total | ||
| 61-65 | ||
(a) Prerequisite and/or co-requisite required.
(b) To be selected in consultation with faculty advisor based on student’s program of study.
‡ NOTE: Students transferring to CCSU should take Composition II (ENG*103)
STUDENTS: The Community Colleges are undergoing a merger with a plan to become Connecticut State Community College in fall 2023; please work closely with your advisor/program coordinator to select your courses accordingly. Get more details about this merger.