Human Services, AS (HUMS-AS-HS)

CT State Community College Catalog 2023-2024 New students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2023 will begin as students of Connecticut State Community College under this catalog.  Continuing students from one of the 12 community colleges will be transitioned into a CT State program in this catalog as of the start of the Fall 2023 term. The policies, courses and programs described are applicable as of the Fall 2023 term and may be updated as circumstances require.

The Human Services program is designed to provide education and training for individuals seeking employment in various human service settings. The program is also designed to provide a basis for those who choose to continue their education in social work, early intervention and prevention, gerontology, mental health, home visitation, early childhood programming, addiction counseling, advocacy, social justice, and other related fields.

Opportunities in human services include working in group homes, social service agencies, youth recreational centers, educational settings, senior centers and assisted living programs. Human services is a broad field and students learn in courses which areas they would like to focus on for their careers.

This career program is designed to prepare students for diverse employment opportunities and competent performance in a variety of entry-level community, counseling-related, and social service minded organizations. Instruction is cross-disciplinary and designed for maximum transferability for those wishing to continue their studies to psychology, social work, education, or other helping professions. Emphasis is on the empirical and theoretical aspects of the social sciences and application through experiential learning including a practicum. This degree is interdisciplinary in nature and embraces the holistic approach. All majors must complete a minimum of three credits in an Human Services Field Work I. Finally, students may be required to complete a background check, drug screening, and proof of health (e.g., vaccinations) for field work and field work may involve travel which is at the student’s own expense, coordination, and planning.

In addition to the Human Services general degree, students can choose one of these options: 

• Human Services: Child, Family, and Community Studies, AS (CFCS-AS-HS)   
• Human Services: Gerontology, AS (GRTL-AS-HS)   
• Human Services: Mental Health, AS (MNHL-AS-HS)   
• Human Services: Human Services Management, AS (HSMG-AS-HS)   

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain and compare the theories pertaining to adjustment, learning theories, and development theories; and explain and compare treatment methods and intervention modalities theories.
• Explain and compare the etiological factors in psychopathology, including the biological, sociological, environmental, and psychological factors.
• Demonstrate the use of methods of research and reporting, using psychological, sociological, educational, therapeutic, and clinical terminology.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the personality and behavioral factors, both integrative (adaptive) and disintegrative (maladaptive) which contribute to individuals/clients’ coping skills dealing with stress, conflict, and hardship.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the normative developmental patterns and how this understanding impacts our understanding of abnormal behavior and clinical/treatment interventions.
• Integrate knowledge and skill in achieving competency in functional and responsive therapeutic abilities.
• Demonstrate skills in client needs assessment and in the provision of information and referral for client access to resources; and use appropriate human service practice skills within the context of providing human services.
• Demonstrate an awareness of self as a change agent.
• Analyze the impact of collaborative social service systems.
• Explain the history and development of human services in the United States.
• Demonstrate knowledge of social welfare as a system designed to serve people, groups, community and society.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the language, terminology, theories, models, techniques, interventions, and strategies applicable to human services.
• Explain interventions, techniques, and strategies for assisting individuals, families, groups, organizations,and communities.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of discrimination, racism, micro/macroaggressions, inequities, and oppression on individuals and society.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of results-based accountability in a disciplined way of thinking and acting to improve entrenched, complex, and current social problems.