Earning an Associate's Degree in Human Services

Earning an associate's degree in human services offers a great launching point for those just starting out in the public service or psychology fields. While a bachelor's or master's degree may be required for many jobs in the field, an associate's for human services can help a student to get his foot in the door and find out whether a career in human services is right for him.

 

An associate's degree in human services can help a job seeker stand out from the crowd. The degree teaches the basics of the human services field and allows the degree seeker to develop crucial skills that can be used on the job. While a more in-depth and focused bachelor's degree may be required to be promoted within the field, an associate’s degree can be helpful in obtaining entry-level employment.

An associate's degree in human services can be used in fields such as social services, counseling and mental health. Most students who earn their associate's for human services become social workers, administrative assistants for public agencies, program managers or workforce trainers. These positions make an average salary range of $30,000 to $38,500 per year.

 

Associate’s students who earned their human services degree are generally interested in careers in drug abuse counseling, youth programs, senior citizen centers and correctional centers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the job outlook for those seeking human service employments is excellent. Entry-level positions in government and counseling agencies are expected to expand from 2004 to 2014. For those who have an associate's degree in human services or other secondary education, job outlook should be highly favorable in the coming years.

Students interested in earning an associate’s degree may be required to choose an area of study in human services. These areas can include criminal justice, psychology, social work and many other subjects. There are a variety of core human services classes that must be taken with every area of study chosen. These classes can vary by institution but generally include an introduction to human services, general psychology and general sociology.

In addition to standard coursework, many associate's programs also require that each student perform a human services internship before completing his associate’s degree. An associate's for human services generally takes two years to earn if the student attends school full-time. Many institutions offer the program completely online for students in the workforce or others who need the flexibility that online degree programs offer. The cost of the program depends on the institution chosen but is usually comparable to a general education associate’s degree.

 

A graduate of the associate's degree in human services will have the skills needed for a general, entry-level job in the field. Upon earning an associate's degree in human services, students will have a basic, working knowledge of: