Human Services
A.S. Degree, A.A.S. Degree, Certificate
Human Services
Helping people to help themselves is the common thread in Human Services, and the field is diverse and extensive. You may work in education, child care, social services, mental health, home health, or recreation. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "The number of social and human service assistants is expected to grow by nearly 23 percent between 2008-2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in large part to the aging population and increased demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment."
Field Experience
As part of your four-credit internship you will work in a human service agency. This field work course enables you to work for a minimum of 135 hours in direct care helping people to help themselves
Careers on Career Coach
Our graduates work as teachers in child development programs, child care workers in group homes, caregivers, examiners in social service agencies, recreation specialists in geriatric settings, and caregivers in centers for children who are developmentally disabled, among other positions. Recent graduates have been employed by Catholic Charities, Cortland County Community Action Program, Cortland Migrant Outreach Program, Family and Children’s Services of Ithaca, Franziska Racker Centers, Mental Health Association, Tompkins County, J.M. Murray Center, Tioga Opportunities, Inc., Tompkins Community Action/Headstart, Tompkins County Youth Advocate Program, Inc.
Select a career below to connect to Career Coach and find information about that career including median salary and job postings.
Explore more career options: A.A.S. | Human Services Certificate
Program Chair
Joseph L. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW-R, CASAC
Professor, Chemical Dependency Counseling
Dr. Smith is the Program Chair of both the Human Services and Chemical Dependency Counseling Programs at Tompkins Cortland Community College. He is a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor.
Transfer Options
Recent transfer institutions include:
- Binghamton University
- SUNY College at Brockport
- SUNY College at Canton
- SUNY College at Cortland
- Elmira College
- Empire State College
- SUNY College at Fredonia
- Hunter College, City University of New York
- Ithaca College
- Keuka College
- Syracuse University
- Wells College
Highlighted Courses
Not all of the highlighted courses are required in each degree or certificate in this program area. Please be sure to check the degree requirements tab for details about the requirements for each degree or certificate.
Degree Requirements
A.A.S.
Minimum Credits for Graduation:
61 credits
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Liberal Arts Elective. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS105, Introduction to Human Services, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 105. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS200, Generalist Social Work Practice Skills, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 200. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
A minimum grade of C is required in the Human Service Elective. Choose a HUMS course, ANTH 202, CDSC 101, CRJU 105, or SOCI 203. ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr. CDSC101, Introduction to Chemical Dependency Counseling, 3 cr. CRJU105, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 3 cr. HUMS@ SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Students who intend to transfer into a Social Work program should choose MATH 200. MATH@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL201, Fundamentals of Speech, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS229, Applied Methods in Human Services, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 229. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
A minimum grade of C is required in the Human Service Elective. Choose a HUMS course, ANTH 202. CDSC 101, CRJU 105, or SOCI 203. ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr. CDSC101, Introduction to Chemical Dependency Counseling, 3 cr. CRJU105, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 3 cr. HUMS@ SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ARAB@ ART101, History and Appreciation of Art I, 3 cr. ART102, History and Appreciation of Art II, 3 cr. ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. CHIN@ CRJU217, Ethics in Criminal Justice, 3 cr. ENGL@ ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. ESL101, English as a Second Language I, 8 cr. ESL103, English as a Second Language II, 8 cr. ESL120, Writing and Grammar III, 4 cr. ESL121, Reading & Vocabulary III, 4 cr. FREN@ GERM@ HUMN@ ITAL@ MUSI101, Music Appreciation, 3 cr. MUSI108, Music Theory I, 3 cr. MUSI109, Music Theory II, 3 cr. PHIL@ RUSN@ SOCE258, Creative Nonfiction Writing, 3 cr. SPAN@ WGST248, Contemporary Women Writers, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Choose any 200-level SOCI course. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. SOCI2@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16| HUMS232, Human Service Internship & Seminar, 4 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 232. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
A minimum grade of C is required in the Human Services Elective. Choose a HUMS course, ANTH 202, CDSC 101, CRJU 105, or SOCI 203. ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr. CDSC101, Introduction to Chemical Dependency Counseling, 3 cr. CRJU105, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 3 cr. HUMS@ SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ASTR@ BIOL@ CHEM@ CSCI160, Computer Science I, 3 cr. CSCI165, Computer Science II, 3 cr. CSCI205, Computer Science III-Data Structures, 3 cr. ENVS101, Introduction to Environmental Science, 3 cr. ENVS102, Technology and the Environment, 3 cr. ENVS116, Soil Science, 3 cr. ENVS141, Agroecology, 3 cr. ENVS202, Integrated Pest Management, 3 cr. GEOL@ METR@ PHSC@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses
Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.
Degree Requirements
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Liberal Arts Elective. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS105, Introduction to Human Services, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 105. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS200, Generalist Social Work Practice Skills, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 200. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| PSYC263, Development Across the Lifespan, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
Fall Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| BIOL100, Human Biology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| ENGL102, Approaches to Literature, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Choose from PSYC 209-Abnormal Psychology, or a 200-level SOCI course. The course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. PSYC209, Abnormal Psychology, 3 cr. SOCI2@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
Spring Term 2
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16| ENGL201, Fundamentals of Speech, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS232, Human Service Internship & Seminar, 4 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 232. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| MATH200, Statistics, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
A minimum grade of C is required in the Human Services Elective. HUMS 114 or HUMS 128 recommended. HUMS@ |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses
Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.
Degree Requirements
Certificate: Human Services
Minimum Credits for Graduation:
30 credits
Fall Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Liberal Arts Elective. This course should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS105, Introduction to Human Services, 3 cr. A minimum grade of C is required in HUMS 105. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
Spring Term 1
Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15| ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| HUMS200, Generalist Social Work Practice Skills, 3 cr. |
Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi |
| Choose one from the courses listed below: Minimum credits required: 3
|
| Use Schedule Search for electives |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Choose from ANTH 202, CDSC 101, CRJU 105, HUMS/CRJU 104, HUMS 111, HUMS 114, HUMS/ECHD 125, HUMS 128, HUMS/SOCI 206, HUMS/CRJU 212, HUMS/ECHD 225, or SOCI 203. ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr. CDSC101, Introduction to Chemical Dependency Counseling, 3 cr. CRJU105, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 3 cr. HUMS104, Introduction to Corrections, 3 cr. HUMS111, Introduction to Aging and Elder Studies, 3 cr. HUMS114, The Process of Group Communication, 3 cr. HUMS125, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, 3 cr. HUMS128, The Family: Strength-Based Intervention, 3 cr. HUMS206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr. HUMS212, Community Corrections, 3 cr. HUMS225, Early Childhood Curriculum Development, 3 cr. SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr. |
Use Schedule Search for electives |
SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses
Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.