Social and Human Services, AS

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Mission

The mission of the Social and Human Services Program is to provide the highest quality education to future and current Human Service Professionals by providing a learning environment that supports the development of culturally competent, compassionate and accountable professionals. Our program prepares graduates who are dedicated to the autonomy, dignity, and diversity of the people they serve.

Graduates of the Program are prepared to work under the supervision of social workers, psychologists, sociologists and other professionals. They may work at hospitals, mental health clinics, residential facilities or community service agencies, serving in many roles that make a positive impact in any community. Additionally, graduates can continue on to a bachelor degree program in human services, social work, psychology, gerontology or other related fields.

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

Program Highlights

Many courses in the Social and Human Services Program are available fully online (no classroom attendance) or offered in a blended format (occasional classroom attendance). The Program is an open enrollment degree; no additional application is required. The Program can be completed in 4 semesters or 2 years if the students attend classes on a full-time basis. Or, students may take longer to complete the degree and attend on a part-time basis.

All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Courses include General Education (16 credits), Social and Human Services Core (29 credits) and Specialty Track (15 credits) for a total of 60 credits. Students may choose from one of the following specialty tracks:

Human Services Generalist Track - provides students with a broad foundation for work with diverse populations in a variety of human services environments
Addictions Track - provides students with the academic training necessary for state certification related to chemical dependency and substance abuse
Youth Development Track - provides students with the knowledge and skills for working in child, family and youth service occupations in community, school, residential and group environments

Residency Experiences

In the final semester of the program, students will complete a total of 250 hours in a Social and Human Services setting related to their specialty track. HUS 2842L Residency I and HUS 2843L Residency II will provide an environment and context to integrate the knowledge, theory, skills and behaviors of the profession. During the Residency experiences, students will progress from observation to directly supervised client contact to indirectly supervised client contact.

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.

Program Distinctions

The Social and Human Services Program is a member of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) and supports the work of the Council in setting national standards for human service education. This distinction allows students to sit for the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner Examination (HS-BCPE™) prior to completing the Program. After earning the AS degree in Social and Human Services and obtaining 350 hours of post-graduate human services work experience, students will be eligible to apply for the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP™) credential.

The Social and Human Services Program is a Florida Certification Board approved provider. Students who complete the College Credit Certificate (CCC) in Addiction Services or an AS degree in Social and Human Services (Addictions Track) will simultaneously complete the training requirements for the following certifications with the Florida Certification Board or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC):

Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT)
Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS)
Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS)
Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
IC&RC Prevention Specialist (PS)
Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)
IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counseling (ADC)

NOTE: Students who hold a baccalaureate degree or higher may obtain academic training in the Social and Human Services Program to earn additional certifications, such as the Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). Contact the Program for more details.

Bachelor’s Degree Options

Students who are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related major (such as Social Work, Behavioral Health Care, Child and Youth Studies, or Psychology) should consult 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. Additionally, the Social and Human Services Program has established articulation agreements that allow students to transfer directly into Bachelor’s degree programs in related fields. Contact the Program for more details.