The Associate of Arts in Human Services

degree features a four-semester sequence, comprised of both class work and fieldwork, in which students explore up to three different internship opportunities. All students complete Purposes I through IV. The complete degree program requires 60 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to graduate. Students who successfully complete the requirements for graduation are eligible for further matriculation into the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Services and can request an application from the Registrar.

Introductory
100 Level Courses		 Advanced
300-400 Level Courses
Purpose Purpose 1
Self-Assessment Constructive Action		 Purpose 2
Promoting Empowerment through Professional Relationship Constructive Action		 Purpose 3
Empowerment through Groups Project		 Purpose 4
Promoting Empowerment through Supervision/Administration
Constructive Action The College Experience: Intro to PCE & CA Self-Assessment Constructive Action Promoting Empowerment through Professional Relations Group Based Social Justice Initiatives Empowerment through Groups Project Promoting Empowerment through Supervision/ Administration
Values & Ethics Contemporary Values & Ethics Critical Thinking & Writing through the Study of Literature Group Values, Norms & Realities Political & Economic Philosophies
Self & Others Human Biology & the Life Sciences Social & Developmental Psychology 1 Social & Developmental Psychology 2 Marketing for Non Profits
Systems Introduction to Sociology Social, Political & Economic Aspects of Service Delivery Systems The Sociology of Group Behavior Managing Human Resources
Skills Computer Applications for Profit & Non-Profit

Math for Human Services 1

 Math for Human Services 2 Statistics for Group Analysis Accounting for Non Profit Organizations
Field No Field No Field Field Field

Self-Assessment and Preparation for Practice (SEM 111 FCA) (3 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; clarification of professional goals, documentation and assessment; critical thinking and analysis. The Constructive Action for the first semester concentrates on self-assessment and planning for professional development. A key concept, empowerment, is explored in practice as students learn to assess and expand their own empowerment as learners and professionals.

Values and Ethics: Contemporary Values and Classical Ethics (ETH CC 120) (3 credits)
Introduction to values including definition, sources, relation to social rules, clarification, conflicts and their resolution; empowerment and its roots in history; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.

Self and Others: Human Biology and the Life Sciences (BIO CC 180) (3 credits)
This course presents human biology as a life science and covers health issues. Students learn how systems fail and what kinds of medical interventions can be successful. Current issues in the life sciences, including common human diseases, genetic engineering, stem cell research and the impact of humans on the planet’s ecosystems are explored.

Systems: Introduction to Social Systems (SOC 113 SYS) (3 credits)
Major social systems, which impact lives, including family, religion, community, education and work.

Skills A: Computer Applications for Profit and Nonprofit Management (MIS CC 130) (3 credits)
An introduction to Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Students are encouraged at the end of the course to seek Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) certification.

Skills B: Mathematics for Human Services I (MTH 111 SKI) (0 credits)
Mathematical reasoning and problem solving as a contribution to such professional capabilities as observing and assessing individuals and systems, presenting observations and assessments in quantitative form, and interpreting others’ presentations.

Purpose: Promoting Empowerment through Professional Relationships (SEM 121 FCA) (3 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; analytical and communication skills. Students demonstrate how they have established professional relationships in order to provide and/or improve services to one or more citizens. In their second semester, students will learn to analyze professional relationships within the context of the organization as a bureaucracy, and to identify and compare the diagnostic descriptions of the citizen provided by the citizen, by other participants in the service situation, and in the literature. All students are carry out a Constructive Action Project that confront the challenges involved in developing productive, professional relationships or an internal group project.

Values & Ethics: Critical Thinking and Writing Through the Study of Literature (ENG CC 110) (3 credits)
This course uses the framework of Purpose-Centered Education to help you develop critical thinking and writing skills. You will develop these skills by learning to critically analyze sentences, to construct effective paragraphs, to use narrative (story telling) and argumentation as styles of writing and by learning to apply the MCNY Dimensional Analysis to works of literature.

Self and Others: Social and Developmental Psychology I (PSY 121 SEL) (3 credits)
This course uses a lifespan approach to study the bio-psycho-social factors that affect human development and behavior at each lifecycle stage (childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging) to understand the resultant behavior and development from an ecological, strengths perspective.

Systems: Social, Political and Economic Aspects of Service Delivery Systems (PSC 121 SYS) (3 credits)
Emphasis on the characteristics of bureaucracies in Human Services.

Skills: Math for Human Services II (MTH 124 SKI) (3 credits)
Application of Mathematics to life; the Human Service workplace; emphasizes cooperative learning in collaborative exercises; inclusion of real data; graphing technology.

Purpose: Promoting Empowerment Through Work in Groups (SEM 231 FCA) (3 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation, analytical and communication skills. Students must identify a specific group to work with as human service practitioners. They will demonstrate the growing empowerment of individual members and of the group as a whole through their work together. In this semester, student/practitioners will learn concepts and skills that can be applied to work with families, learning groups in organizations, as well as service teams and other staff groups. They will study the ethical issues involved in group membership and non-membership, including issues of power, responsibility and integrity. They will study theory from sociology and social psychology relating to group behavior, concentrating on the role of family and other primary groups in the socialization process. At their field site and under supervision, students will be expected to lead a group, and to carry out a Constructive Action demonstrating growth of empowerment through the group.

Values and Ethics: Group Values, Norms and Morality (PSY 232 VAL) (3 credits)
The social context for the formation of values and norms; stages of attachment and independence in groups; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.

Self and Others: Social and Developmental Psychology II (PSY 231 SEL) (3 credits)
Interdisciplinary study of models of group interaction; comparison, evaluation and application of models; the influence of family and other primary groups; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.

Systems: The Sociology of Group Behavior (SOC 232 SYS) (3 credits)
Ethnic and racial relations from an American and global perspective, intergroup conflict, racism and discrimination.

Skills: Statistics for Group Analysis (MTH 232 SKI) (3 credits)
Introduction to statistical reasoning, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data related to groups, public health, distribution of income, and census studies.

Purpose: Promoting Empowerment Through Supervision (SEM 241 FCA) (3 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; analytical and communication skills. Students are expected to carry out a Constructive Action that focuses on promoting the empowerment of citizens through more effective supervision of coworkers. This semester introduces students to the theory and techniques that promote empowerment through effective supervision. In service organizations, supervision has the special meaning of assuming responsibility for enabling other employees, through teaching, counseling and administrative support, to make the best use of their abilities on behalf of the citizens they serve, and the organization in which they are employed. In their work or internship site, students will work under supervision and carry out a Constructive Action that provides supervisory support for coworkers involved in direct service.

Values and Ethics: Political & Economic Philosophy (PSC CC 140) (3 credits)
The ideas and values that serve as the foundation of our political system; how our system differs from others; the interrelationship between business and government; major political theories regarding the nature of authority, standards of justice, the ideal of liberty and its limitations, conceptions of a just and good society, and the best form of government.

Self and Others: Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations (MKT 241 SEL) (3 credits)
Communication, preparing press releases, news and feature articles, effective media strategies.

Systems: Managing Human Resources (SOC 241 SYS) (3 credits)
Issues of control and compliance, self-concept, motivation theory and selections from literature and the other humanities.

Skills: Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations (ACC 242 SKI) (3 credits)
Key financial concepts; preparation and presentation of budgets and financial statements; accounting and reporting guidelines; controlling the nonprofit organization; tax and compliance reporting requirements; bookkeeping.