Certificate of Achievement in Human Services (Social Work)

Division: Social Sciences

This certificate prepares students for entry-level employment in the field of Human Services (Social Work). Students completing this certificate will acquire skills in critical thinking, case planning, crisis intervention, theory-based assessment, working knowledge of community resources and hands-on work experience in a human services agency in the community.

Program Outcomes

  • Assessment: Using a case vignette in each course the student will analyze the case and identify problem areas.
  • Legal and ethical: The student will use a case vignette in each course to identify any legal and ethical issues that might arise while providing services to the case.
  • Treatment planning: The student will use a case vignette in each course to assess the area in need of intervention and will discuss these interventions.
  • Community resources:  The student will identify community resources that could be used to assist a person or family in a case vignette in each course.
  • Self Care: The student will identify areas of support and self-care that are needed for themselves to professionally assist the clients in specific case vignettes, such as supervision, consultation, personal counseling.

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be prepared for employment in the following fields: entry-level jobs in Health and Human Services and a variety of non-profit service organizations working in eligibility, case management, crisis, residential care and substance abuse treatment.

Program Requirements 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATE COURSES25
COMP 005Computer Concepts4
or COMP 130 Introduction to Personal Computers
ECON 025Introduction to Economics3
or ECON 040 Principles of Microeconomics
or BUS 297 Personal Finance
HSRV 101Group Design and Leadership4
HSRV 102Drug and Alcohol Treatment3
HSRV 012Introduction to Social Work3
or HSRV 120 Introduction to Social Welfare
HSRV 121Interviewing5
HSRV 122Practices in Human Services/Social Work3
+
REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE 3
Select three units of the following courses (no more than four units of any course):
WEXP 193HHuman Services Work Experience – First Semester1-4
WEXP 194HHuman Services Work Experience - Second Semester1-4
WEXP 195HWork Experience Human Services - Third Semester1-4
+
RESTRICTED ELECTIVES6
Select six units from the following courses:
ANTH 010Cultural Anthropology3
ETHN 001Black American Studies3
ETHN 002American Indian Studies3
ETHN 003Chicana and Chicano Studies3
ETHN 004Asian American Studies3
ETHN 010Introduction to Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Studies3
HSRV 104Issues in Family Violence3
PSY 001General Psychology3
PSY 005Social Psychology3
PSY 010Human Sexuality3
PSY 034Abnormal Psychology3
PSY 133Personal and Social Growth3
SOC 026Marriage and Family Life3
=
TOTAL34

The Certificate of Achievement requirements include completion of the certificate courses with a “C” or better grade in each course. Required and support courses may be substituted with the approval of the Social Sciences Division Chair.