Oct 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Human Services/Pre-Social Work, Associate of Science


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The Human Service/Pre-Social Work program at RVCC is designed to provide students with a set of knowledge, skills, and values common to the Human Service and Social Work fields, preparing students for a career in the “helping professions.” Students will engage in self-awareness exercises, practice bio-psycho-social assessment within a systems framework, and think critically about social problems and policy issues, all within the broad context of a liberal arts foundation. Tiered certificate options within the program provide a pathway for students pursuing a professional credential, adopting a second career, or completing an undergraduate education.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for skilled human service workers and formally trained social workers is expected to increase faster than average as the population ages, mandated alternatives to costly institutionalization increase, and social, economic, and political factors continue to divide and constrain opportunities for many factions of society. This course of study prepares individuals to work in local government, private entities, and non-profit organizations across the service sector. Upon completion students can move into direct practice positions, continue their education to move into middle management positions, or seek advanced degrees and certifications to become licensed clinical social workers. Graduates work in substance abuse treatment, government assistance programs, mental health centers, residential programs, and private practice.


Students enrolled in Associate of Science degree programs who intend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities are strongly advised to discuss course selection with the Program Coordinator to facilitate full transfer of credits completed toward the degree.

Graduates are able to:

  • communicate effectively in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues in a professional manner.
  • synthesize and apply knowledge of human behavior, ecological assessment, and other multidisciplinary frameworks to engage, assess and intervene in a culturally diverse society.
  • recognize the extent to which a culture’s structure and values oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power.
  • evaluate and apply the social work code of ethics to complex social problems and interpersonal relationships.
  • apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights, at the individual and system levels.
  • demonstrate empathy, reflection, and supportive counseling techniques to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
     

Raritan Valley Community College Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs are designed to comply with the New Jersey Community Colleges General Education Foundation which supports transfer of courses to NJ Public four-year colleges and universities.  Students who intend to transfer to a NJ college or university can further improve the transfer of courses by using the Recommended Transfer Program (RTP) feature in NJTransfer.org.

Curriculum – A.S. Degree


Third Semester


Fourth Semester


  • Science (lab) 4 Credits 1,8
  • English Literature 3 Credits  1
  • Human Services Program Elective 3 Credits 4
  • Human Services Program Elective 3 Credits 4
  • Human Services Specialization Elective 3 Credits 5,6

Total Credits 60


 1 Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education  list. 

2 HIST 201 US History: Beginnings to 1877   is recommended for transfer to Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Rutgers University – Newark, and Ramapo College; Appreciation of the Arts General Education is recommended for transfer to Centenary College. 

3 Recommended for transfer into most Bachelor in Social Work programs.

4 Select a Human Services Program Electives from the following:
 Appreciation of the Arts General Education;
 Philosophy General Education; 
 ENGL 207 Global Patterns of Racism  or ANTH 202 Global Patterns of Racism 
 GEOG 101 Introduction to Physical Geography   or GEOG 104 Introduction to Human Geography   
 POLI 121 American Government and Politics  or POLI 231 International Relations 
 COMM 101 Speech  or COMM 201 Intercultural Communication 
 ECON 101 Macroeconomics 
 SOCI 201 Contemporary Social Problems ;  
 SOCI 202 Marriage and Family 
 SOCI 231 American Minority Relations ; or
 An additional Human Services Specialization Elective.  
 
Select your Human Services Program Elective based on your transfer college requirements.   See “hyperlink” on department web page for additional college transfer information.  Students are also encouraged to meet with the Human Services Program Coordinator or a transfer advisor/counselor to discuss options in their program.   

5 Select a Human Service Specialization Elective from the following: 
 HMNS 110 Introduction to Disabilities 
 HMNS 212 Community Resources and Case Management  ;
 HMNS 213 Advanced Counseling Skills  ;
 HMNS 220 Introduction to Gerontology ;  
 PSYC 211 Abnormal Psychology ;
 SOCI 202 Marriage and Family ;
 CRMJ 212 Juvenile Justice ;
 WGST 110 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies ;
 PSYC 222 Community Psychology ;
 HMNS 105 Introduction to Addiction 
 HMNS 208 Assessment and Treatment of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction ; or
 HMNS 291 Internship in Human Services II  

6 Upon presentation of original certificates to the Student Enrollment Center, academic credit may be awarded for the Human Services Program and Specialization Electives for (1) “Certificate of Competency in Child Protective Services,”  (2)  “Certificate of Competency in Mental Health Services” or (3) “Certificate of Competency in Disability Services”  signed by the Commissioner of Human Services and the President of the teaching community college OR “Certificate of Completion - New Jersey Career Path in Developmental Disabilities Direct Support Professional Levels 1 & 2” issued by The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities – UCEDD UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

7 Students who have previously completed COMP 102 Computer Literacy  may substitute this for SSCI 101 Technological Literacy Across Social Sciences .

8 For students transferring for a Bachelor in Social Work, BIOL 120 Human Biology  or BIOL 150 Plants, Humans & the Environment  is recommended.

 

 

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