Social and Human Services, AS

The Social and Human Services degree program prepares students to work in the fields of counseling and human services, social work and rehabilitation, mental health and administration. The primary purpose of the Human Service Practitioner is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible. A strong desire to help others is an important consideration for a career as a Human Services professional.

The field of Human Services is currently ranked as one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. Current occupational employment and wages data for Human Services are published by the UnitedStates Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at:  www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211093.htm

Attendance and Enrollment

Many courses in the program are available fully online (no classroom attendance) or offered in a blended format (occasional classroom attendance). However, there are select courses that require scheduled classroom attendance. The Social and Human Services Program Students is an open enrollment program and no additional application is required.

Curriculum

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills. The program provides a foundation preparing individuals for further education and careers in the Human Services career cluster. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses include General Education (16 credits), Social and Human Services Core (27 credits), Specialty Track including Residency (17 credits), for a total of 60 credits. Students may choose from one of the following specialty tracks:

1. Human Services Generalist Track

2. Addictions Track

3. Youth Development Track

Residency Experiences

In the final semester of the program, students will complete a total of 250 hours in a Social and Human Services setting. Residency I and II will provide an environment and context to integrate the knowledge, theory, skills and behaviors of the profession. 

Please note that some settings may require a criminal background check to include fingerprinting and drug screening. Health history and proof of immunizations may also be required. Students must provide their own transportation to and from their assigned residency sites.

Accreditation

The Human Services Program AS degree is not currently accredited by The Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE); however, students will be eligible to sit for the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP™) examination after the completion of the AS program and 3 years of work experience with a minimum of 4,500 hours.

Bachelor’s Degree Options

Students who are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related major (such as Social Work, Behavioral Healthcare, Child and Youth Studies, or Psychology) should considerconsult with the program director very early to avoid taking excess credit hours and to assist with transfer to other institutions. There are particular courses that are required for the bachelor’s degree. These courses are outlined in the FloridaShines Common Prerequisites Manuals located at https://dlss.flvc.org/manuals/common-prerequisite-manuals .

Social and Human Services, As Degree Program of Study