Human Services

The Human Services Specialist Program provides training for individuals interested in working with many human service agencies in areas such as drug abuse counseling, aging, childcare, and mental health. This program has articulation agreements with several area baccalaureate degree programs in social work. Interested students should contact the program coordinator or the advisement center for more information.

Program Requirements

Employment Opportunities

Employment in the field of human services is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations throughout the next decade due to population growth, increased demand for the care of the elderly and the disabled, and assistance for the disadvantaged. The broad educational base of this applied science degree program enables graduates to work in many areas of public and private social welfare agencies, and to use this program as a stepping stone into higher levels of education.

Human Services Careers

  • Drug Abuse Counselor
  • Child Care Specialist
  • Youth Worker
  • Mental Health Technician
  • Geriatric Technician
  • Psychiatric Technician
  • Activity Therapist
  • Adolescent Counseling Asst
  • Social Services Asst
  • Crisis Companion

Why a Career in Human Services

Today's rapidly changing society presents many complex social issues and problems to individuals and families. Graduates of Chattanooga State's Human Services Specialist Program provide personal help to a variety of clients, using direct or indirect strategies of intervention.

As the old man walked the beach at dawn, he noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun. "But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish," countered the other. "How can your effort make any difference?" The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to safety in the waves. "It makes a difference to this one," he said.

-Minnesota Literacy Council

Human Services Specialist Associate Degree

To obtain the Human Services Specialist Associate degree, students must complete a minimum of sixty-eight hours, which includes the state-mandated general education component; a group of related courses in sociology, psychology, economics and political science; and the following program specific courses:

  • HR 101 - Introduction to the Field of Social Welfare
  • HR 125 - Community Social Services
  • HR 130 - Substance Abuse Theories
  • HR 205 - Human Relations And Explorations
  • HR 210 - Methods of Human Service Practice
  • HR 219 - Family Dysfunction
  • HR 245 - Introduction to Counseling
  • HR 220 - Human Services Practicum
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