Associate in Arts in Human Services

Program Overview

Return to the John S. Watson School of Public Service Homepage

The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Human Services is a 60-credit program designed for adults seeking a career, or currently working, in the human services field.

Credit Distribution

I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.  To plan your program please contact an academic advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010	Writing for Success	3
ENC-1020	Writing for Success II	3
COM-2090	Public Speaking	3
MAT-1050	Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics	3
SOS-1100	Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today	3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-3220	Cultural Diversity in the United States	3
ETH-2200	Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership	3
POS-1100	American Government	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

PSY-1010	Introduction to Psychology	3
SOC-1010	Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology	3

PSY-1010 and SOC-1010 are required.

Select three featured courses:

ANT-1010	Introduction to Anthropology	3
HIS-2100	American Civil Rights Movement	3
SOC-2100	Marriage and the Family	3
SOC-2420	Juvenile Delinquency	3
SOC-2910	Criminology	3

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

EAS-1010	General Earth Science	3
BIO-2080	The Science of Nutrition	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Scientific Knowledge.

II. Areas of Study Requirements (15 Credits)

Theoretical Foundation Courses (3 Credits)

Theoretical Foundation courses include those pertaining to theory, knowledge, and skills of the human services profession.

Intervention Courses (3 Credits)

Intervention courses include those that emphasize theory and knowledge bases for interventions and criteria for selection of appropriate interventions.

Client Population Courses (3 Credits)

Client Population courses include those which emphasize the range of populations served and needs addressed by human services professionals. 

Area of Study Elective (6 Credits)

Total Credit Hours: 60

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Human Services will have the ability to:

• define key concepts in the area of study;
• identify theories of professional practice;
• explain the specific skills, techniques, and agencies necessary to serve client populations; and
• explain cultural diversity as it relates to the field of human services.