This program will educate students to provide information, support, care and advocacy in a variety of human service settings. As part of the learning experience, students will be able to explore the human services generalist roles as they advocate and help individuals, families, and communities. Experience with human services agencies and clients will occur through class and internship opportunities.

The Human Services Associate degree program educates students to provide information, support, care and advocacy in a variety of human service settings.  As a part of the learning experience, students will be able to explore the human services generalist role as they advocate and help individuals, families and communities. Experience with human service agencies and clients will occur through class and internship experiences.

Completion of current Minnesota Human Services Background Check including fingerprints. If an applicant has been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense, he or she should investigate the impact that the charge or conviction may have on his or her chances of employment and the studen's chances to obtain federal, state and other higher education financial aid ( by Minnesota Statute 135A. 157). If the applicant refuses, or is disqualified as a result of the background study, the applicant will be unable to successfully complete the requirements of the program.


This degree has an articulation agreement to Metropolitan State University Mankato for their Human Services BS Program.

 

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2021 - 2022

  • Curriculum

    Program Courses: Science Foundation
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Course Subject: BIOL         Course Number:1130
    Course Title:Human Biology with a Lab      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This introductory level course provides students with a one semester overview of the structure and function of the human body. The course is open to all students: however, it does not fulfill the human anatomy and physiology requirement for those who are planning to pursue a career in the health sciences. This course has a laboratory experience and fulfills the requirements for MnTC Goal Area 3. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab)Prerequisite: ENGL 0990 or a 78 on the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension
    		Human Biology with a LabView-BIOL 1130n/a4
     
    Program Courses: Human Services Core Curriculum
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1100
    Course Title:Introduction to Human Services      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course introduces students to the field of Human Services. Course describes history, worker roles, and current career trends in the field. Students are required to participate in hands-on experience through service learning. Recommended completion of, or concurrent enrollment in EAP 1260: College Writing Skills Development plus EAP 1230: College Reading and Study Skills or above with a grade of C or better.
    		Introduction to Human ServicesView-HSER 1100n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1200
    Course Title:Multicultural Awareness in Human Services      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This class examines attitudes and enhances knowledge and skills that are necessary to work effectively with culturally diverse populations in the human services field. Students will explore their own and other's cultural identities, values, attitudes, and behaviors. Adjusting services to the multicultural needs of individuals who are served will be emphasized.Recommended completion of, or concurrent enrollment in EAP 1260: College Writing Skills Development plus EAP 1230: College Reading and Study Skills or above with a grade of C or better
    		Multicultural Awareness in Human ServicesView-HSER 1200n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1300
    Course Title:Crisis Assessment and Intervention      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:Presents basic concepts of crisis assessment, intervention, and referral. The application of strategies and techniques with a discussion of intervention, assessment, and referral models is included. An overview of interventions for specific crisis will be reviewed. An assessment model for making appropriate referrals is presented.
    		Crisis Assessment and InterventionView-HSER 1300n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1400
    Course Title:Basic Counseling Skills      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:Introduces basic counseling and interviewing skills. Students will learn and apply skills that range from basic attending and listening skills to chart documentation and treatment planning.
    		Basic Counseling SkillsView-HSER 1400n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1500
    Course Title:Group Processes       Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:Focuses on the development of communication skills and self-awareness important in the roles of group membership and leadership. Provides an understanding of the evolution and function of therapeutic groups. Emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills.Prerequisites: HSER 1100, HSER 1200 and HSER 1400
    		Group Processes View-HSER 1500n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1600
    Course Title:Loss and Grief      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:2

    Course Description:Review dynamics of loss and grief across the lifespan and how grief impacts families and children. Students will learn to identify, assess, and intervene in grief situations while exploring gender differences.The course will incorporate journal assignments and experiential activities designed in the healing of each persons grief journey.
    		Loss and GriefView-HSER 1600n/a2
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1700
    Course Title:Family Functions and Interactions      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:The course offers an introduction to family systems theory, normal and problematic family systems and family functioning concepts. The impact and effects of family on individual development is also explored. Students will examine family violence including the impact of chemical dependency, social and the psychological roots of violence.
    		Family Functions and InteractionsView-HSER 1700n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:2100
    Course Title:Human Services Seminar      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:1

    Course Description:The course provides an opportunity for human services students to create and implement projects for the development of personal knowledge and skill using a seminar approach. Students should be aware that a Minnesota Department of Human Services background study and fingerprinting is required.
    		Human Services SeminarView-HSER 2100n/a1
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:2101
    Course Title:Human Services Internship      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:6

    Course Description:This course is a capstone off campus experiential-learning component for the Human Services program. Students will spend 240 hours at a human services internship site to have the opportunity to gain experience, enhance their knowledge and further develop skills learned in the program. Students should be aware that a Minnesota Department of Human Services background study and fingerprinting is required.Prerequisites: HSER 1100, HSER 1400, and HSER 1500
    		Human Services InternshipView-HSER 2101n/a6
     
    Program Electives: Human Services Electives
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    3 credits from HSER1800, HSER1900
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1800
    Course Title:Mental Disorders Through the Life Span      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:The course introduces an overview of the range of mental disorders throughout the lifespan including those impacting children and the elderly. Students will learn to identify signs and symptoms of each disorder in addition to learning basic skills and therapeutic treatments that effectively help individuals who have mental disorders. Recommendation of completion of or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 1160.
    		Mental Disorders Through the Life Span orView-HSER 1800n/a3
    Course Subject: HSER         Course Number:1900
    Course Title:Current Human Services Topics      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course examines current topics and issues specific to the field of Human Services. Students will take an active role in the research and presentation of topics in the course.
    		Current Human Services TopicsView-HSER 1900n/a3
     
    General Education Courses
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1310
    Course Title:Intercultural Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:The influence of culture is an especially important and sensitive issue facing us today. A person's culture strongly influences his/her identity, beliefs, expectations, and communication style. This course explores communication across culture as defined by nationality, gender, and ethnicity while concentrating on effective use of communication in all of these areas.
    		Intercultural CommunicationView-COMM 1310n/a3
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1202
    Course Title:College Writing II      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:2

    Course Description:This class focuses on the research process, textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, rhetorical strategies for argument and persuasion, and successful integration of sources into a longer academic paper utilizing MLA (or other, as appropriate) documentation format. The class may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or topical in content, as noted on the class registration site.
    		College Writing IIView-ENGL 1202n/a2
    Course Subject: PHIL         Course Number:1220
    Course Title:Health Care Ethics      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course looks at the underlying assumptions that affect beliefs, practices, and policies in contemporary health care.Emphasis will be placed on understanding of the ethical principles and theories related to health care. A wide variety of health care issues and the challenges they present will be studied. Critical thinking skills will be emphasized in determining the best course of action for making ethical decisions in the health care field.
    		Health Care EthicsView-PHIL 1220n/a3
    Course Subject: PSYC         Course Number:1160
    Course Title:Introduction to Psychology      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This course provides an in-depth introduction to psychology. Topics may include history of psychology; research methods; physiological psychology; sensation and perception; consciousness; learning; memory; cognition; motivation; emotion; personality; stress, health and coping; abnormal behavior, therapy; social psychology; human development; sexuality; and gender. Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to determine if this is the appropriate course for their degree/program. You must meet perquisites or obtain instructor permission to take this course.
    		Introduction to PsychologyView-PSYC 1160n/a4
    Course Subject: SOC         Course Number:1110
    Course Title:Introduction to Sociology      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course is a study of social and cultural aspects of human behavior. Topics include society and culture, roles and norms, groups and organizations, deviance, inequality, social and cultural change, and research methods.
    		Introduction to SociologyView-SOC 1110n/a3
    College Writing I
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1200
    Course Title:Gateway College Writing      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
    		Gateway College Writing orView-ENGL 1200n/a4
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1201
    Course Title:College Writing I      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
    		College Writing IView-ENGL 1201n/a4
     
    MnTC Electives
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    7 credits from MnTC Goal Areas 4, 6 or 10: ANTH1020(3), ANTH1130(3), ARBC1030(3), ART1010(1), ART1020(1), ART 1050(3), ART1040(3), ART1101(3), ART1102(3), ART1160(3), ART1170(3), ART1270(3), ART1301(3), ART1302(3), ART1310(3), ART1320(3), ART1340(3), ART1341(3), ART1361(3), ART1362(3), ART1401(3), ART1402(3), ART1601(3), ART1602(3), ART1650(3), ART1770(3), ART1810(1), ART1820(2), ART2180(3), ART2190(3), ART2300(2), ART2611(3), ART2612(3), ART2640(3), ART2740(1), ART2750(1), ART2780(1), ART2781(1), ART2782(1), ART2800(1), ART2820(1), ART2860(1), ART2900(1), ART2970(1), BIOL1030(4), BIOL1160(4), BIOL1200(4), BIOL1600(1), BIOL1610(1), CHEM1000(4), CHEM1010(4), ENGL1150(3), ENGL1250(2), ENGL1400(3), ENGL1450(3), ENGL1900(3), ENGL1950(3), ENGL2010(3), ENGL2020(3), ENGL2030(3), ENGL2150(3), ENGL2250(3), ENGL2270(3), ENGL2300(3), ENGL2310(3), ENGL2320(3), ENGL2330(3), ENGL2340(3), ENGL2350(3), ENGL2360(3), ENGL2370(3), ENGL2380(3), ENGL2390(3), ENGL2410(3), ENGL2450(3), ENGL2460(3), ENGL2540(3), ENGL2550(3), ENGL2560(3), ENGL2570(3), ENGL2580(3), ENGL2590(3), ENGL2900(3), ENGL2950(3), GCST1030(3), GCST1040(3), GCST1978(3), GCST2250(3), GCST2410(3), GEOG1010(3), GEOG1190(3), GEOL1010(2), GEOL1020(2), GEOL1030(2), GEOL1040(2), GEOL1120(4), GEOL1150(4), GEOL1160(4), GEOL1850(3), GEOL1851(1), GERM1030(3), INTD1030(3), INTD1040(3), MATH1010(3), MATH1031(3), MATH1032(3), MATH1080(3), MATH1090(4), MATH1130(3), MATH1140(3), MATH1150(3), MATH1160(4), MATH1170(4), MATH1180(5), MATH1190(5), MATH1200(3), MATH1221(5), MATH1222(5), MATH2010(3), MATH2220(5), MATH2300(4), MATH2400(4), MUSC1130(1), MUSC1160(1), MUSC1170(1), MUSC1180(1), MUSC1200(3), MUSC1220(3), MUSC1241(3), MUSC1242(3), MUSC1300(3), MUSC1320(1), MUSC1350(3), MUSC1370(3), MUSC1500(2), MUSC1501(2), MUSC1502(2), MUSC1510(1), MUSC1560(1), MUSC1600(2), MUSC1610(1), MUSC1800(2), MUSC1801(2), MUSC1802(2), MUSC1810(1), MUSC1830(1), MUSC1850(1), MUSC1860(1), MUSC1870(1), MUSC2010(2), MUSC2170(3), MUSC2180(3), MUSC2241(3), MUSC2242(3), MUSC2970(1), NSCI1110(4), PHIL1010(3), PHIL1020(3), PHIL1030(3), PHIL1040(3), PHIL1050(3), PHIL1060(3), PHIL1080(3), PHIL1120(3), PHIL1200(3), PHIL1220(3), PHIL1230(3), PSYC1220(3), SPAN1030(3), SPAN2201(5), SPAN2202(5), TFT1200(3), TFT1210(3), TFT1250(3), TFT1260(3), TFT1270(3), TFT1280(3), TFT1310(3), TFT1320(3), TFT1350(3), TFT1500(3), TFT1510(3), TFT1520(3), TFT1531(3), TFT1532(3), TFT1540(3), TFT1600(1), TFT1610(1), TFT2010(3), TFT2500(3), TFT2950(1)
     
    NHCC Residency and GPA
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    15 Credits must be earned at NHCC
     
    Electives
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Additional credits, if needed, to reach 60 credits
     
                                   Total Credits Required60
    Notes:

  • Career Opportunities

    Information on careers, including salary and employment outlook data, is available on the iseek and Bureau of Labor Statistics websites: www.iseek.org and www.bls.gov.

  • Transfer Information

    ​If you are planning on transferring to another institution, follow the guidelines available on our transfer resources web page to help you plan the process: Transfer Information

  • Degree Information

    The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree is intended for students whose primary goal is to complete the credentials for a specific career and/or prepare for transfer to complete a bachelors degree at a college or university with whom North Hennepin Community College has an articulation agreement. The A.S. degree provides a balance of general education courses and the required scientific, professional or technical courses in the degree program.

    A student shall:

    • Earn a minimum of 60 semester credits as required in the program, with a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above in courses taken at North Hennepin Community College. Specific programs may have additional requirements or a higher minimum grade point average.
    • Earn a minimum of 15 semester credits at North Hennepin Community College. A student must complete at least 50% of career specific courses at North Hennepin Community College.
    • Earn 30 credits in at least 6 Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goal areas.
    • Earn 30 professional/technical credits.
    • Have four years to complete the graduation requirements as published in the catalog in effect at the time of their initial enrollment. Students taking more than four years to complete their graduation requirements may follow any catalog published during the fouryear period preceding their graduation.

    Completion of an A.S. degree fulfills the Goal Area 2 requirement of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).

    Developmental Courses Some students may need preparatory course(s) in Math and/or English. Courses numbered below 1000 will not apply toward a degree.

    Equal Opportunity Employer and Disability Access Information North Hennepin Community College is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and an equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 7634930555 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 18006273529.

  • Accreditation

    North Hennepin Community College is accredited by the:
    Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
    30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
    Chicago, IL 60602-2504
    1-800-621-7440