The Associate degree human service professional is recognized as an important member of a team of professionals working to assist persons with a variety of disabilities or problems. Employment opportunities exist in various settings in both public and private sectors. Specific roles vary from agency to agency and are as broad as human needs are.
The successful student will be a caring individual who will acquire the skills necessary to provide services or opportunities to a variety of persons in many different situations. Work settings include: mental health centers, developmental disability agencies, drug and alcohol programs, public schools, domestic violence shelters, juvenile and adult correction facilities, nursing homes, social welfare agencies, and the like.
In addition to the technical courses in this program, the student will have opportunities to learn and apply the learned skills in actual situations through two scheduled practicums and a directed practice for a total of 495 hours of hands‐on experiences. Graduates of the Human Services program qualify to apply to the Ohio Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapists Board to become Social Worker Assistants.
An acceptable Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) report is required in order to begin the practicum sequence. Various practicum sites have specific background check requirements. Individuals with a felony and/or domestic violence conviction may not be permitted to complete practicum experiences at some specific sites. There is no waiting list to enter into the program and enrollment is not limited to a particular number of students.
The Human Services Department publishes a student handbook which delineates specific department/program policies that are not explained in the general catalog. The specific policies as described in the department’s student handbook take precedence over any general policy outlined in the College catalog. A copy of the handbook is available for review in the Admissions Office. A minimum grade of C‐ is required in all courses in order to receive a certificate of registration to practice as a Social Work Assistant. The Associate of Applied Science degree is awarded for the completion of this program.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Graduates of the program will be proficient in the helping process at the micro, mezzo and macro levels with Human Services.
- Graduates will demonstrate professional attitudes, behaviors and ethics.
- Graduates will have effective written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
