Human Services - Associate in Applied Science (AAS) (5556)
Do you feel strongly about helping people reach their full potential? Do your friends tend to seek you out for help with their problems? Could you see yourself making a difference in a person’s life? If so, then our Human Services program may be the path for you!
Jump to career information below!
View program requirements here!
You can help individuals in recovery. Learn about our Addiction & Recovery Services Program.
With an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree, you will be prepared to enter the field as a human service professional. You may find entry-level employment in a number of social and human service fields, such as:
- Family services
- Mental health
- Support groups for people with intellectual disabilities
- Women’s programs
Often, students with the following skills find themselves drawn to this type of career.
- Empathy
- Passion
- Strong communication
- Ability to work well with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Self-starter
- Organized, reliable and responsible
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Our program prepares you to work as human service professionals, who provide direct-service delivery to clients in a variety of community-based social service agencies. Our curriculum promotes a generalist perspective that ensures you obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to function in most human service settings.
Upon completion of our program you will be able to:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families to plan treatments and/or services
- Perform case management responsibilities in a variety of settings
- Explain the ethics and laws applicable to the human service field
- Recognize the characteristics of culturally diverse populations
Also, prior to enrolling into the HUMS 215 - Field Work Practicum course, you must complete a Pennsylvania child abuse history clearance, an FBI criminal background check and a state police criminal record check.
For the specific requirements and Student Handbook please visit the Health Careers Human Services webpage.
- View summaries of every course at HACC by browsing our class schedules database.
- Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.
Yes! Although our Human Services Program is designed to lead directly to employment, transfer opportunities are available for you to continue your education. Our programs are designed to be flexible enough to transfer to a wide variety of four-year colleges and universities with no loss of credit. However, each individual college has its own unique program. We encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so that you can take the proper classes at HACC.
Our various transfer options include:
| Elizabethtown College, Accelerated Programs: | Human Services into Human Services Behavioral and Addictions Counseling (pdf) |
| Elizabethtown College, Accelerated Programs: | Human Services into Human Services (pdf) |
| Penn State Harrisburg: | Human Development & Family Studies (pdf) |
| Saint Francis University - Francis Worldwide: | Human Services (A.A.S.) - Drug & Alcohol (pdf) |
| Saint Francis University - Francis Worldwide: | Human Services (A.A.S.) - General (pdf) |
| Slippery Rock University of PA: | Social Work (pdf) |
| York College of Pennsylvania: | Human Services Articulation Agreement (pdf) |
75% of our program can be completed at our Harrisburg Campus through on-campus/in-person instruction. The remaining coursework must be completed through various modalities (e.g., hybrid, synchronous remote instruction and asynchronous instruction). Also, you may complete this program at our Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses through various modalities (e.g., hybrid, synchronous remote instruction and asynchronous instruction) in addition to on-campus/in-person instruction.
Yes! We offer many scholarships through the HACC Foundation. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. To learn how to apply, please visit hacc.edu/Scholarships.
You can apply for our spring, summer and fall classes anytime by visiting our website. When you submit your application, please include the unique program code 5556. By including this code with your application, you can make sure you apply for the correct program.
Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.
Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.
“Engaging with my students and watching them expand their knowledge, skills and abilities in human services while growing personally is what continually fuels my passion for teaching human services.” - Karen Polite, DSW, professor of human services
Meet Sara: Online Learner Thankful for HACC