Overview

Students who graduate with an associate degree in Human Services can transfer to a four-year degree program in the same or related program of study. This associate degree is also intended to provide students an opportunity to attain the knowledge and skills necessary for potential employment in various agencies, institutions, and organizations and to widen opportunities for advancement of currently employed students.

Students who study Human Services are dedicated to providing services to individuals and families in need of assistance. The goal of human services work is to enhance the quality of life for those who are served. The pioneers of human services education programs believed that the answer to workforce needs was not to train another group of specialized professionals but develop a new type of worker - the "generalist."

Generalists in Human Services receive core educational courses in the liberal arts, social sciences - particularly sociology and psychology - and humanities. They also learn a wide range of interventions and skills that can be adapted to specific populations in different service settings, such as residential treatment facilities, correctional facilities, group homes, halfway houses, youth services agencies, mental health facilities, and substance abuse treatment programs. The generalist skills include: interviewing, observing and recording pertinent information, implementing treatment plans, advocating for clients, conducting group sessions, and mobilizing community resources.

Some of the roles performed by Human Services workers are: counselor to those who need support, broker to help people access community services, teacher of daily living skills, advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves, mediator between clients and agencies, and caregiver to children, elders and disabled adults.

A major component to all Human Services education is experiential learning - learning by doing. Thus, the Human Services program provides extensive field-based observations and experiences each semester. Students also participate in several internships in a variety of community agencies and treatment facilities. The field work experiences allow students to integrate and apply classroom social service theory under the supervision of qualified professionals. All field work placements must be approved by the Program Director.

Program Objectives

• To describe the historical and social contexts of human service.
• To describe the individual, social, economic and cultural conditions which promote or limit people's optimal functioning.
• To describe the types of deviation from optimal functioning in major life settings.
• To analyze the specific needs of clients who deviate from optimal functioning in one or more life areas.
• To identify and select the appropriate intervention to promote growth and goal attainment for that client.
• To demonstrate the ability to implement and assess interventions.
• To demonstrate active listening skills.
• To demonstrate basic case management skills.
• To demonstrate case-appropriate problem-solving techniques.
• To demonstrate consistent standards in selecting and implementing interventions congruent with one's self, one's client, the employing agency and the human services profession.

Application Requirements

Acceptance into the Human Services  program is dependent upon the following entrance requirements:

• Completed Harcum College application
• Official high school transcript
• SAT scores (required for students under age 24 only)
• Official college transcript(s), if applicable
• Letter of recommendation or personal essay
• TOEFL scores are required for students for whom English is a second language
• An interview is recommended

Course Sequence

First Semester

ENG 101	Composition I	3 cr.
MAT 113	College Math	3 cr.
PSY 111	Intro to Psychology	3 cr.
SOC 109	Principles of Sociology	3 cr.
HSC 101	Intro to Human Welfare Services	3 cr.
IDS 101	Harcum 101	1 cr.
		16 cr.

ENG 102	Composition II	3 cr.
SOC 110	Social Problems	3 cr.
PSY 253	Abnormal Psychology	3 cr.
PSY 156	Human Development	3 cr.
HSC 102	Case Management: Field Observations	4 cr.
CIS 106	World Wide Web	1 cr.
		16 cr.

Third Semester

BIO 204	Nutrition	3 cr.
PSY 112	Psychology of Personality & Adjust.	3 cr.
SOC	Geriatric Sociology	3 cr.
SOC 275	Marriage and the Family	3 cr.
HSC 201	Intervention Skills & Strat.:Field Wrk.	4 cr.
PED	Physical Education	1 cr.
		17 cr.

Fourth Semester

PSY 260	Intro. to Clinical Psychology	3 cr.
HUM 201	Ethical Issues in Professional Life	3 cr.
SOC 211	Minority Groups	3 cr.
HSC 202	Clinical Internship	6 cr.
PED	Physical Education	1 cr.
		16 cr.

Total number of credits: 66

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