Academic Programs and Services
Behavioral Health/Human Services
This curriculum is designed for students interested in working with people in need. Students will have the opportunity to study human behavior and human development within the context of the psychological, social, and biophysical environments in which people live. They will develop skills needed to work with others both one-on-one and in groups. They will develop the value base from which they will practice, and the ethical standards of the helping professions. They will learn to appreciate and work in a multi-cultural environment. As a major part of their study, they will also have the opportunity to work directly with people in need by being assigned a field placement with agencies and institutions in the community.
The curriculum is designed to help students interested in working in a wide variety of helping settings including: alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities, behavioral health agencies, geriatric centers and life care facilities, youth centers, criminal justice facilities, schools serving special need children and youth, and community outreach programs.
They will be prepared to work as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, case workers, case managers, mental health counselors, health educators, social and human service assistants, and community and social service specialists.
Students in the curriculum are expected to challenge their own values and personal biases as they relate to working with people. This is a personal experience that requires students to engage in activities aimed at raising self-awareness, and often requires self-disclosure. Students can expect to encounter a variety of experiences during their course of study that will be personally challenging and require a willingness to be introspective. Above all, students must be open to change.
Students can enroll in the curriculum either part-time or full-time. Courses are offered during the day, evenings, and weekends. Field placement choices are more limited during the evenings and weekends.
Special arrangements for students currently employed in behavioral health/human service facilities can be made to enable them to use their place of employment for their field placement experience. Final approval for such an arrangement rests with the faculty member(s) in charge of field placements.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students to enter employment after completing the associate’s degree. However, the curriculum is also useful for students who may want to continue their education at a baccalaureate institution. To this end, a number of articulation agreements exist.
Program Entry Requirements:
Students entering the curriculum must be eligible to enter English 101 either through the completion of developmental English courses or by a demonstrated level of performance on the College’s placement test. In addition, students are also required to attend a faculty-run admissions orientation meeting and complete an application at this meeting. BHHS faculty will evaluate all student applications, transcripts and placement test scores, and students will be notified promptly of the admissions decision.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
The BHHS curriculum is a coherent program of study for students. The mix of curriculum-specific and general education courses are designed to give students both academic and practical experience for understanding and working with people in need in our contemporary multi-cultural society. Students will become familiar with the use of the computer as a tool of their profession. Students enrolled in a certificate program must complete two practice placements in an agency approved by the BHHS curriculum coordinator.
All BHHS students must maintain a grade of “C” or better in BHHS 111 and in all practicum classes. Students who earn below a “C” grade in these classes may be dropped from the program.
While enrolled in the curriculum, students are expected to be guided by the values and ethical standards of the helping professions. They are also challenged to participate in a process of self-discovery and growth. Students whose behavior is viewed as inconsistent with professional standards may be dropped from the curriculum pending the results of a departmental hearing.
To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Behavioral Health/Human Services, a student must complete the appropriate 63 credit hours and attain a grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average) or higher.
Download a printable degree description (PDF File) that includes a recommended course sequence grid.