Human Services, Pre-Social Work Specialization, AAS

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PURPOSE: This two-year degree prepares students for jobs in human services. Graduates will be prepared to work in the fields of mental health and social services. This specialization is intended for students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work.

CREDENTIALS: An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is a major in a career-technical area that takes two years for full-time students to complete. Although the purpose of an AAS degree is to gain skills for employment, some transfer institutions may accept some or all of the courses from an AAS major.

TRANSFER INFORMATION: This program is designed for transfer. Students should consult with their advisors to ensure that they select general electives that best prepare them for the specific requirements of their intended transfer college or university programs of study. More information can also be found at www.brightpoint.edu/academics/transfer/

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Students must meet Brightpoint admission requirements. New students should work with their New Student Navigator to get ready for their first semester. They can also email getstarted@brightpoint.edu for assistance. Continuing students should work with their faculty advisor on academic planning and graduation requirements.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: By the completion of this program, students will be expected to demonstrate an intermediate level of competency in the following skills:

Exhibit knowledge of human services theory, vocabulary, and skills needed in the field.
Identify the purpose of human services and its ongoing role in working with individuals, families, groups, communities and society.
Integrate human services theory and skills into practice.
Demonstrate the skills needed to function as a human services professional. These include communication and listening skills, problem-solving, goal-setting, and implementation of strategies and evaluation techniques to interact with a variety of clients.
Demonstrate the ability to work in a multicultural context and identify the importance of diversity in human service practice.
Recognize the importance of social justice and how systemic and structural oppression impacts individuals, families, and communities.
Identify oneself as a tool in empowering individuals, families, and communities and recognize the importance of self awareness within the human service profession
Define the NASW Code of Ethics values and recognize their importance in social work practice.

Required Courses

SDV 100 - College Success Skills 1 credit
ENG 111 - College Composition I 3 credits
MTH 154 - Quantitative Reasoning 3 credits
HMS 100 - Introduction to Human Services 3 credits
PSY 200 - Principles of Psychology 3 credits
ENG 112 - College Composition II 3 credits
BIO 101 - General Biology I 4 credits
MEN 101 - Mental Health Skill Training I 3 credits
HMS 251 - Substance Abuse I 3 credits
PSY 230 - Developmental Psychology 3 credits
MEN 102 - Mental Health Skill Training II 3 credits
PHI 220 - Ethics and Society 3 credits
SOC 200 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
SOC 211 - Cultural Anthropology 3 credits

History

Choose 1 - 3 credits:
HIS 111 - World Civilization Pre-1500 CE 3 credits
HIS 112 - World Civilization Post-1500 CE 3 credits

Communications Elective (based on transfer institution)

Choose 1: Credits / Units: 3
ENG 210 - Advanced Composition 3 credits - VCU transfer option
CST 100 - Principles of Public Speaking 3 credits - VSU transfer option

Advanced Mathematics or Science Elective (based on transfer institution)

Choose 1: Credits / Units: 3-4
BIO 102 - General Biology II 4 credits - VCU transfer option
MTH 245 - Statistics l 3 credits - VSU transfer option

Humanities Elective (based on transfer institution)

Choose 1: Credits / Units: 3
Course options for VCU or VSU:
ENG 246 - American Literature 3 credits
ENG 258 - African American Literature 3 credits
ENG 275 - Women in Literature 3 credits
ENG 255 - World Literature 3 credits
ENG 245 - British Literature 3 credits
Course options for VCU only:
REL 230 - Religions of the World 3 credits
PHI 111 - Logic 3 credits
PHI 100 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits

Internship Requirement

MEN 290 - Coordinated Internship 4 credits

Human Services Electives (Choose 2)

Students interested in earning a Career Studies Certificate in a specific field should enroll in specific coursework. Read more below.

HMS 252 - Substance Abuse II 3 credits
HMS 106 - Working with Death and Dying 3 credits
PSY 116 - Psychology of Death and Dying 3 credits
HMS 258 - Case Management and Substance Abuse 3 credits

Total Minimum Credits to Complete: 63

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements can be found in course details.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete ENG 111, MTH 154, and SDV 100 requirements first, before enrolling in HMS 100.

Students interested in earning their Substance Abuse Assistant CSC should complete HMS 252 and HMS 258 as their Human Services Electives.

Students interested in earning their Bereavement and Grief Counseling CSC should complete HMS 106 and PSY 116 as their Human Services Electives.

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better to transfer to their respective BSW programs. Students must also maintain a grade of “B” or better in the following courses: HMS 100, MEN 101.

Grades of C or better are required in all other course work. Grades of D or lower do not transfer to the university.

In MEN 290 students will complete 100 hours of practical hands-on training. Please read the Internship Requirements & Expectations in full. Students will secure their own internship sites prior to the start of their MEN 290 class. All internships must be approved by the Human Services and Mental Health Program Chair.

Students may be subjected to criminal background, sex offender registry checks, TB screenings and/or other tests/checks as a condition of their placement in an internship site. Students will be expected to cover any costs incurred for these procedures.

Students with a criminal record should contact the Program Head to discuss their practicum placement for MEN 290 prior to the start of those courses.

Students should regularly meet with their faculty advisor and check their degree progress by accessing advisement reports in the Student Information System (SIS) in the myBrightpoint portal or the Academic Planner in Navigate.

Additional Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Transfer Requirements:

Students who plan to transfer to VCU School of Social Work must take ENG 210 Advanced Composition.

Students who plan to transfer to VCU School of Social Work must take BIO 102 General Biology.

Students who plan to transfer to VCU School of Social Work will require one of the following Humanities courses: Religion (REL 230), ENG 246, ENG 255, PHI 100 or PHI 111.

Additional Virginia State University (VSU) Transfer Requirements:

Students planning to transfer to the VSU Department of Social Work must take CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking.

Students planning to transfer to the VSU Department of Social Work must take MTH 245 Statistics I.

Students planning to transfer to VSU Department of Social Work must take an English Literature course.

Students planning to transfer to VSU must complete a 3 credit, SOWK 260: History of Social Welfare (1600 to the present) course as a prerequisite to admission into the Department of Social Work at VSU. This course must be completed at VSU.