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Human Services: General

Award Type: Associate in Science

The associate degree program is for students preparing for or advancing their careers in social services. Students may go to work in a social services agency upon completing the associate degree, or they may use it as a foundation for further study. The general course of study offers future career flexibility because graduates are not committed to a specialty area (such as addiction studies).

The graduate of the Associate in Science in Human Services: General will:

• Possess knowledge and skills that will enable them to competently and ethically carry out the duties and responsibilities of jobs in the general human or social service field. The knowledge and skills that they will possess fall under the following three rubrics: (1) Interpersonal Helping Skills; (2) Ethics and Boundaries; and (3) Documentation.
• Interpersonal Helping Skills: Graduates will possess interpersonal skills required to engage empathically with clients, develop safe and trusting relationships with them, assess their strengths and problems, and recommend appropriate interventions and/or referrals. They will demonstrate the ability to manifest the core conditions of helping relationships, including empathy, nonpossessive warmth, genuineness and congruence. They will recognize the importance of the family and societal contexts in which their clients live and utilize this information in providing helping services.
• Ethics and Boundaries: Graduates will be familiar with a professional association’s code of ethics and demonstrate the ability to behave in accord with it. They will be able to define appropriate professional relationship boundaries and detect when these boundaries are crossed or violated. They will be able to maintain client confidentiality and know the conditions under which confidentiality must be broached. They will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of culturally competent practice.
• Documentation: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to create and maintain appropriate client documentation, including intake notes, service or treatment plans, progress notes, discharge notes and other documentation such as informed consent and release of information forms.

Program Requirements

A major of 28 units is required for the associate in science degree.

Required core courses (22 units):

Course Number	Course Title	Units
FCS 131	Life Management	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 101	Introduction to Human Services: Becoming a Helping Professional	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 102	Case Management Skills	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 103	Basic Counseling Skills	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 120	Human Services (General) Practicum	2.000 - 0.000 units
	or
HUSV 170	Concurrent Human Services Practicum	2.000 - 4.000 units
HUSV 121	Human Services (General) Practicum Seminar	2.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 106	Family Systems, Addiction & Trauma	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 108	Crisis Intervention Skills	3.000 - 0.000 units

Plus a minimum of 6 units selected from the following:

Course Number	Course Title	Units
HUSV 104	Group Dynamics	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 107	Serving Culturally Diverse Clients	3.000 - 0.000 units
HUSV 110	Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Addiction	3.000 - 0.000 units
	or
SOC 106	Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Addiction	3.000 - 0.000 units
	or
PSY 106	Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Addiction	3.000 - 0.000 units
PSY 112	Human Sexuality	3.000 - 0.000 units
PSY 118	Human Development - Lifespan	3.000 - 0.000 units