Human Services Degrees and Certificates for jobs or transfer
Associate of Science

Human Services & Social Work Studies

Earn a Degree Earn a Certificate

Program Overview

Program Overview

In Connecticut, the population is changing and so is the make-up of the traditional family. Single-parent families are becoming more and more prevalent. Family income is commonly below poverty level and parents lack steady, full-time employment. Increasing numbers of mothers are employed outside of the home, the economy is in indefinite despair, class and educational divisions are growing more significant and we are dealing with an aging population. Human service professionals assist with these issues and other common problems that affect people from birth to death.

Program Focus Areas

You may choose from several elective courses to prepare you for your career in Human Services
  • Child Advocacy: focus on advocacy on behalf of children and families. 
  • Disabilities and Mental Health: focus on the disabled and mental health issues as it relates to children, families and adults. 
  • Death and Dying: focus on loss and grief as it relates to life crisis’ including death.
  • Gerontology: focus on elder issues and the care of elders.

Earn a degree

  • Career-oriented students are prepared for beginning positions in human services. Typical positions for which graduates are qualified include: youth services worker, case worker, family support worker, client advocate domestic violence advocate, and elder care worker.
  • Once accepted to the social work programs at CCSU, ECSU, SCSU or WCSU, Social Work Studies graduates who meet the GPA and course grade standards can transfer all 61 credits from NVCC

Earn a certificate

Specialize Certificates are also available to you focusing on Gerontology, Disabilities/Mental Health, or  Child and Family Services.

For More information, contact:

Sarah Perez
Email: sperez1@nvcc.commnet.edu
Phone: 203-596-8705
Office Location: Waterbury
Kinney Hall K610A

Career Possibilities

Career Possibilities

 

Some career opportunities may require additional education beyond an associates degree.

Additional Details

Looking to Help Others?

In Human Services you can help improve the quality of life for all people, especially the most needy, by promoting a higher level of independent functioning .As a professional, you will work directly with your clients to help them solve, reduce or limit behaviors that are causing problems in their daily living. Understanding the strengths as well as limitations of your education and training, you will deal with client concerns including self-discipline, family dysfunction, sexuality, self-worth and self-concept, loneliness, violence, displacement, motivation, employment, daily living skills, substance abuse, parenting, anger and abuse.

Professionalize

A degree in Human Services will enhance your skills and increase your marketability in this growing field. Find out more about what Human Services is here.

Individualize your degree

You may choose from various specialized courses that focus on children, adolescents, the disabled and elders. Specialize Certificates are also available to you focusing on; Gerontology, Disabilities/Mental Health, and Child and Family Services.

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Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs

Want to specialize in Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities?

Many individuals struggle with mental illness and or developmental disabilities. Often they are cared for in crisis centers, community residencies, sheltered workshops, halfway houses, social rehabilitation clubs and other agencies specifically designed to serve this population.

In the state of Connecticut 'deinstitutionalization' has given birth to a multitude of settings to provide mental and developmental health care.

This certificate program is designed for students who will work in any of the variety of mental health settings in both the mental illness and developmental disabilities fields.

You will train with professionals and acquire the skills and knowledge to work with and impact this population in a positive way.

The increase in the number of families in crisis and the rising number of maltreated children in our communities make it necessary to have trained Human Services professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable about the unique needs of these populations.  The Child & Family Services Certificate curriculum focuses on such areas as juvenile justice, single-parent families, divorce, sexuality, abuse, neglect, poverty, adoption, child protection, disability services, mental health and cultural diversity.
Social services for the elderly are provided by many different kinds of agencies with different purposes, client groups, funding sources, and philosophies. The curriculum which leads to the certificate in Human Services, Gerontology Option is designed to provide an understanding of the behavior and needs of older persons.

Human Services & Social Work Studies - Related Programs

CSCU Transfer Degree: Psychology Studies


Student Success


Where does this take me?

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Academic & Transfer

Once accepted to the social work programs at CCSU, ECSU, SCSU or WCSU, Social Work Studies graduates who meet the GPA and course grade standards can transfer all 61 credits from NVCC.

Career Paths

Our graduates are successful! You will have experiences giving you opportunities to get hired as a youth counselor, paraprofessional, substance abuse counselor, mentor, residential assistant, case aide, employment counselor, social services assistant, and elderly support services.As a Human Services professional, you will work directly with your clients to help them solve, reduce or limit behaviors that are causing problems in their daily living. Understanding the strengths as well as limitations of your education and training, you will deal with client concerns including self-discipline, family dysfunction, sexuality, self-worth and self-concept, loneliness, violence, displacement, motivation, employment, daily living skills, substance abuse, parenting, anger and abuse. Typical careers in the field include:

  • Youth Services Worker
  • Case Worker
  • Family Support Worker
  • Client Advocate
  • Domestic Violence Advocate
  • Elder Care Worker

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