Human Services/Pre-Social Work, Associate of Science

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Human Services is comprised of those fields involved in the prevention and remediation of social and personal problems of a diverse clientele. Human service professionals perform in a wide range of occupations and in a variety of settings including community health centers, community mental health centers, group homes and halfway houses, nursing homes and substance rehabilitation centers. They help individuals, families, or groups cope with problems such as homelessness, inadequate housing, serious illness, disabilities, unemployment, lack of job skills, financial mismanagement, unwanted pregnancy, or family disruptions.

The demand for skilled human service workers is expected to increase as the population ages, as mandated alternatives to costly hospitalization increase and as the concern for the developmentally challenged also increases. State and local governments, as well as national, state and local organizations and agencies, continue to be major employers. The Human Services/Pre-Social Work option provides students with an interdisciplinary knowledge base that includes theories of individual, group and societal development. These theories are applied toward the examination of social work practice, development and implementation of social welfare programs, public policy development and evaluation of intervention strategies. This associate degree option serves to meet the prerequisites of Bachelor’s of Social Work programs in New Jersey. While the program is designed for transfer, it is anticipated that students completing the degree will possess the requisite knowledge and skills for employment in a human services agency.

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 a variety of formats
analyze social science data related to human services
synthesize and apply interdisciplinary theories of individual, group and societal development
evaluate their understanding of their own culture and the culture of others so as to increase their abilities to function in an increasingly diverse world
evaluate and apply the social work code of ethics to complex social problems and interpersonal relationships

Curriculum - A.S. Degree

First Semester

ENGL 111 - English Composition I 3 Credits
SOCI 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits
HIST 202 - US History: 1877 to Present 3 Credits
HMNS 102 - Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare 3 Credits
HMNS 109 - Poverty & Society 3 Credits

Second Semester

ENGL 112 - English Composition II 3 Credits
MATH 110 - Statistics I 3 Credits
PSYC 103 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credits
HMNS 201 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 Credits
HMNS 205 - Interview and Counseling Skills 3 Credits

Third Semester

BIOL 150 - Plants, Humans & the Environment 4 Credits
HIST 201 - US History: Beginnings to 1877 3 Credits or
Appreciation of the Arts General Education 3 Credits ^1,2
HMNS 207 - Social Policy and Politics 3 Credits
Human Services Program Elective 3 Credits³
HMNS 290 - Internship in Human Services I 3 Credits

Fourth Semester

BIOL 120 - Human Biology 4 Credits
English Literature General Education 3 Credits ¹
Human Services Program Elective 3 Credits ³
Human Services Program Elective 3 Credits ³
Human Services Specialization Elective 3 Credits ^4,5
Technological Competency 0-4 Credits ⁶

Total Credits 62

¹ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education & Computer Science Electives List 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 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 102 Introduction to Cultural 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.

⁴ Select a Human Service Specialization Elective from the following:
HMNS 110 Introduction to Disabilities ;
HMNS 220 Introduction to Gerontology ;
HMNS 240 Introduction to Special Education ;
PSYC 211 Abnormal Psychology ;
SOCI 202 Marriage and Family ;
CRMJ 212 Juvenile Delinquency ;
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

⁵  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.

⁶Students must meet the technological competency requirement by either passing the technological competency test (no credit) or taking a technological competency general education course.