Human Services, Associate in Science

Courses and Requirements

This associate in science degree program in Human Services is designed to give students a solid foundation in the principles, theories and skills needed to provide services as a Human Service Practitioner. Graduates have the essential skills to work in a range of settings with both adults and children with mental illness, developmental disability and/or substance abuse. The program prepares graduates to promote and respect the dignity of all individuals and to be sensitive to cultural diversity. Supervised clinical experiences are integral to the program and afford opportunity to grow as a person and as a professional. The program contains the National Community Support Skill Standards and is accredited by the Council for Standard in Human Service Education. A minimum of 63 credit hours are required for graduation.

Courses with an “HUS” prefix are generally restricted to students enrolled in the Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counseling Certificate, the Community Support Human Services Practitioner Certificate, the Direct Support Certificate or the Human Services Associate Degree. HUS 101, the introductory course, is open to any NECC student who meets the proficiency requirements. HUS 171, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is open to students with a major in criminal justice, as well as those students in the human services programs. Any requests for exceptions to this policy need to be addressed to the course instructor or Program Coordinator.

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all HUS courses in order to graduate.

Starting in the fall of 2014, any student enrolled in an associate degree program who is new to NECC and has no academic history at the college, must take at least one course designated as intensive in each of NECC’s six core academic skills in order to graduate. In most cases, the program’s core required courses include these intensive courses. Plan to see an advisor for more complete information about this graduation requirement.

Additional Admissions Criteria

Enrollment Services will provide additional admissions criteria for this program. All admission criteria is available on the NECC website (PDF).

CORI/CHRI/SORI

Students interested in participation in this academic program may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. For more information, visit the CORI/CHRI/SORI page on the NECC website.

Northern Essex Community College is committed to the success of every student. Students with legal issues in their background will meet with a committee as part of the CORI/CHRI/SORI process and will receive guidance and counseling throughout the review of their records. NECC personnel make every effort to help students prepare for their careers in their chosen field. Students are encouraged to seek assistance and support.

Requirements

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
ART100Introduction to the Creative Experience

3

BIO101Human Biology

3

Science Technology Intensive

BIO111Introductory Biology I

4

Quantitative Reason Intensive

Science Technology Intensive

ENG101English Composition I

3

ENG102English Composition II

3

GOV101American Government & Politics

3

HUS101Introduction to Human Services

3

HUS103Community Resources and Client Populations

3

HUS170Modalities of Treatment

3

HUS201Group Dynamics

3

HUS202Behavior Management Principles & Techniques

3

HUS250Seminar in Human Services

3

Information Literacy Intensive

Written Communication Intensive

PSY101Introduction to Psychology

3

PSY207Abnormal Psychology

3

Select ONE of the following (4 credits)

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
HUS291Human Services Practicum II

4

Public Presentation Intensive

HUS192HUS Practicum II in Alcohol/Drug Abuse Services

4

Public Presentation Intensive

BIO101: Transferring students may need to also take BIO102 lab

Courses with Prerequisites: ENG102, HUS103, HUS170, HUS190, HUS191HUS201, HUS202, HUS250, HUS291, HUS292, PSY207

Courses with Co-requisites: HUS103, HUS250

CORI/SORI/CHRI courses: HUS190, HUS191, HUS291, HUS292

Select ONE of the following (4 credits)

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
HUS190Human Services Practicum I

4

HUS191HUS Practicum I in Alcohol/Drug Abuse Services

4

Electives

Computer Elective CIS101-299 3-4
Sociology Elective    3
Program Elective ANT101, GEO101, GOV102, HIS121, HIS122, LIT271, LIT272, SPN111, SPN112, SPN201 or any other course approved as Global Awareness Intensive.  3
Free Elective Those students intending to transfer to a 4-year program will benefit from speaking to an academic advisor in regard to elective choices.  3
Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Program Notes

Students are prepared to work as generalists and to address issues related to mental illness,  intellectual disability, substance abuse, child welfare and homelessness among others. Practicum courses give students the opportunity to gain experience in the field and to integrate that work experience with their academic learning.

Recommended Course Sequence Human Services Associate Degree

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)

Year 1

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
Fall
Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
BIO101Human Biology

3

Science Technology Intensive

CIS101-299Computer Science Elective

3-4

ENG101English Composition I

3

HUS101Introduction to Human Services

3

HUS103Community Resources and Client Populations

3

Spring
Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
BIO111Introductory Biology I

4

Quantitative Reason Intensive

Science Technology Intensive

ENG102English Composition II

3

HUS170Modalities of Treatment

3

PSY101Introduction to Psychology

3

Program Elective

3

Year 2

Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
Fall
Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
GOV101American Government & Politics

3

 

HUS190Human Services Practicum I

4

OR

HUS191HUS Practicum I in Alcohol/Drug Abuse Services

4

 

HUS201Group Dynamics

3

PSY207Abnormal Psychology

3

Free Elective

3

Spring
Course NumberTitleCreditsCore Academic Skill(s) Intensive Designation(s)
ART100Introduction to the Creative Experience

3

HUS202Behavior Management Principles & Techniques

3

HUS250Seminar in Human Services

3

Information Literacy Intensive

Written Communication Intensive

 

HUS291Human Services Practicum II

4

Public Presentation Intensive

OR

HUS192HUS Practicum II in Alcohol/Drug Abuse Services

4

Public Presentation Intensive

 

Sociology Elective

3