Social and Human Services, AS

Purpose

The purpose of the Social and Human Services, AS 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 counselors, 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 to a bachelor’s degree program in human services, counseling, social work, psychology, gerontology, or other related fields.

Employment in social and human services is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. A growing elderly population and rising demand for social services are expected to drive demand. 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 Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 60 credit hours in the following areas: 15 credit hours of General Education Requirements, 30 credit hours of Program Requirements, and 15 credits of Specialty Track requirements. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. To complete the AS degree, students must choose one of the following specialty tracks:

1. Human Services Generalist Track - provides students with a broad foundation for work with diverse populations in a variety of human services environments, or supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the field of human services. Students concurrently earn the Human Services Generalist College Credit Certificate (CCC).
2. Addictions Track - provides students with academic training for work in the field of chemical dependency and substance abuse, or supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the field of addictions. Students concurrently earn the Addiction Services College Credit Certificate (CCC).
3. 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; or supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the field of youth services. Students concurrently earn the Youth Development Services College Credit Certificate (CCC).

Many courses in the Social and Human Services AS program are available fully online or in a blended format (occasional classroom attendance). This is an open enrollment program; upon admittance to the college, no additional application is required. The program can be completed in 4 semesters if the student begins in the Fall semester and attends classes on a full-time basis. Students may attend on a part-time basis but will take longer to complete the degree.

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 - Counseling Residency I and HUS 2843L - Counseling 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 that includes fingerprinting and drug screening. Health history and proof of immunizations may be required. Students may also be required to complete pre-residency trainings or other activities. Students must provide their own transportation to and from their assigned residency sites.

Certification Opportunities

The Social and Human Services AS 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 passing the exam, earning the AS degree in Social and Human Services, and obtaining supervised post-graduate human services work experience, students will be eligible to apply for the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP™) credential. Contact the Center for Credentialing & Education at http://www.cce-global.org/Credentialing/HSBCP or the program advisor for more information.

The Social and Human Services Program is a Florida Certification Board approved provider. Students who complete an AS degree in Social and Human Services (Addictions Track), or the Addiction Services College Credit Certificate (CCC) may meet training requirements for Florida board certification as a Certified Addiction Counselor. Students who complete any specialty track of the AS degree in Social and Human Services, the Addiction Services CCC, or the Human Services Generalist CCC may meet the training requirements for board certification as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist with the Florida Certification Board. Contact the Florida Certification Board at https://flcertificationboard.org/ for more information.

Bachelor’s Degree Options

The Social and Human Services Program has established pathways and articulation agreements that allow students pursuing the Social and Human Services AS degree or the Associate of Arts degree with one of the Social and Human Services College Credit Certificates to transfer directly into baccalaureate programs in related fields. 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 advisor to avoid taking excess credit hours and to assist with transfer to other institutions. Courses required for baccalaureate degrees are outlined in the Florida Shines Common Prerequisites Manual.

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions. Students must complete all prerequisites for a course prior to registering for it.

Graduation Requirements

Students must fulfill all requirements of their program to be eligible for graduation. Students must indicate their intention to attend commencement ceremony by completing the Commencement Form by the published deadline.