Human Services

School Year: 2024–25

Program Entry Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer

The Human Services interest area at Kirkwood is part of our Liberal Arts program. You get the advantage of working closely with our human services faculty coordinator and human services faculty when deciding on which classes to take.

The faculty are a great resource to you in making transfer decisions and planning for a career in human services. They are experienced professionals and have years of professional experience working in the human services field. They are passionate about what they do and ready to help you find the right path during your journey into a rewarding career helping others.

With so many options to choose from, the advising process will also help you figure out what specialty areas to pursue.

HSV-109 Introduction to Human Services
Introduces the value base of human services and evaluates problems that can be encountered in working with people when these values conflict with client needs. Introduces the framework of human services approach, specifically information of individual values, systems analysis, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Concepts of systems analysis are accompanied by application of these concepts to problems.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-110 Human Service Policy and Programs
Investigates the relationship between social service programs and related social issues in the context of cultural conditions. Introduces historical trends in human services and acquaints students with current human services available to various client groups.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-101; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-120 Observation Skills
Focuses on learning the distinction between inference and behavior, and recording behaviors in a systematic way. Course also includes learning the importance of environment as an influence on human behavior. Closely related competencies to be addressed are writing behavioral objectives and contracts.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-101; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-130 Interviewing/Interper Relations
Includes an overview of various intervention techniques. Teaches principles of communication, interviewing and conflict resolution. Practices these principles and techniques in role-played, recorded situations.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-109 or CRJ-100; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-200 Adaptation Strategies
Examines the values, skills, and issues of working with people with disabilities in vocational, residential, social/recreational, and other community settings.  Focuses on exploring, researching and understanding the relationships between consumers, families, support staff, community-based agencies, and other community systems. Encourages students to develop the skills to utilize adaptation strategies necessary to promote independence, participation, and success among all age groups.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-201 Loss, Trauma and Resilience
Examines loss as a part of life and the impact of trauma on individuals, families, and communities. Studies processes of resilience including grieving and growth. Discusses cultural influences and ethical issues. Explores social services and theories of helping as resources for survivors.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-282 Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Focuses on an overview of health, substance abuse and mental health issues of individuals. Students develop skills in identification, planning, assessment, treatment/interventions, and the development of social support systems and community resources. Students apply their knowledge of integrated practice in a discipline-specific project.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-101; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-287 Counseling Theories and Techniques
Provides further reinforcement and expands topics introduced in Basic Problem Solving. Includes goals of psychosocial rehabilitation, mental health disorders, and their diagnosis, and categories and classification of Axis I Psychiatric Disorders. Describes the process of making appropriate client referrals, locating community human service resources and agencies, and creating and implementing service plans for health care issues.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-101, HSV-131, HSV-282; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-292 Substance Abuse and Treatment
Examines alcohol and drug issues and the implications of having an addiction.  Includes theories of the addictive process, prevention and treatment options, and specific counseling and therapeutic skills used with individuals in inpatient and outpatient settings. Focuses on the impact of the family unit, social systems, and the greater community. Students apply their knowledge of integrated practice in a discipline-specific project.

Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HSV-800 Human Services Field Experience and Seminar
Places students in a human services agency for 220 hours. Encourages students to gain deeper insight through a field experience seminar. Students can objectify their experience through discussion with other students and the instructor.

Credits: 3-6, Hours: (.5-1/3-6/3-6/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A
Completion of Human Service classes.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 required to take this course.

HSV-813 Alcohol and Drug Counselor Field Experience and Seminar I
Places the student in a Substance Abuse Treatment facility for a total of 250 hours. A weekly seminar maximizes student experience through insight from the other students and the instructor. These insights enable the students to objectify their experiences.

Credits: 6, Hours: (1/0/15/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: HSV-292; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

Meets part of the practicum requirement for the Iowa Board of Certification.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 required to take this course.

HSV-814 Alcohol and Drug Counselor Field Experience & Seminar II
Places the student in a Substance Abuse Treatment facility for a total of 250 hours. Follows and builds on Alcohol & Drug Counselor Field Experience and Seminar I. A weekly seminar maximizes student experience through insight from the other students and the instructor. These insights enable the students to objectify their experiences.

Credits: 6, Hours: (1/0/15/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

Meets part of the practicum requirement for the Iowa Board of Certification.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 required to take this course.

HSV-924 Honors Project
Allows a qualified honors student to pursue a special concentration of study under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires completion of an honors project contract. May be taken more than once.

Credits: 1, Hours: (1/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

Requires approval of supervising professor and dean.

HSV-928 Independent Study
Allows the student to pursue a special concentration of study under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires an independent study contract.

Credits: 1-2, Hours: (0/2-4/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

Requires approval of supervising faculty member and dean.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIELD EXPERIENCE IN BECOMING A HUMAN SERVICE WORKER

Human services education emphasizes the importance of the integration of the classroom with the workplace. Students will begin visiting agencies and making observations early in the program. Before a student enrolls in field experience, they should have a clear understanding of human behavior and the acquaintance with how several community agencies serve people who need assistance. The student should also have a knowledge of human services skills and have practiced these skills in role-plays in the classroom. Field experience becomes an opportunity for the student to synthesize their knowledge of skills and the complex problems of people served by the agency in which the field experience occurs.

HOURS TO BE COMPLETED

For students who are completing a Liberal Arts AA degree you are expected to complete 110 hours (HSV-801, 3 credits). Students who are completing the Human Services AAS degree are to complete 220 hours. This can be done by taking 110 hours twice (HSV-801, 3 credits) or by taking 220 hours once (HSV-800, 6 credits). If you are wanting to complete the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor track you are expected to complete 500 total hours (requires both HSV-813 & HSV-814, each 250 hours/6 credits).

Step 1

Register for the appropriate course. Options include: HSV-801, HSV-800, HSV-813, or HSV-814.

Step 2

Review the Field Experience Instruction Manual.

Step 3

You are required to submit two references (use this Reference form). Sign the Reference Waiver. The references can come from either a previous or current instructor or employer. Once both the Reference waiver and the two References have been received, move on to Step 4. Email all documents to ambre.bernards@kirkwood.edu

Step 4 

Attend or schedule an orientation meeting with the field experience coordinator. Attend the orientation meeting in the spring semester or schedule a 1-1 meeting via calendly. 

Step 5

Find a Placement: It is the students’ responsibility to find and secure a placement for field experience. 

• Students should contact the agency they are interested in to determine the agency's process for field experience/employment (e.g., application, resume, interview, etc.). 
• Contact with the agency should happen several weeks prior to the start of the semester in which you plan to take the field experience course. 
• If at the conclusion of the process, the student indicates they are interested in having their placement at the agency and the agency finds the student acceptable, the student will have their placement at that agency. If not, step 5 will be repeated by the student until a placement is secured. 
• Please note - The Field Experience Site Supervisor (i.e., agency supervisor - the person who will supervise you on-site at your FE location) ideally would have a Bachelors (BA) in social work or a closely related field (e.g., psychology, sociology, criminal justice, etc.) OR a minimum of 4 years of related experience.  Exceptions can be made by the FE instructor.
• If you have an idea for a placement but you are unsure if it fits under the Human Services domain, talk with your FE instructor for approval. 
• Many agencies offer paid field experience positions, however, some are unpaid. For a list of possible agencies, see the Field Experience Instruction Manual. Keep in mind, many agencies in the human services field require background checks as a condition of employment or internship. 
• As of fall of 2022, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has changed requirements to allow students who are already employed by a human services agency to continue with their employment and be able to use those hours toward their field experience as long as they are meeting their learning objectives. You are still required to follow the steps for a field placement. 

Step 6

Schedule the site visit: The student will set up a meeting with the FE instructor as well as the FE supervisor (the person who will supervise you on-site at your FE location). This initial site visit/placement meeting is mandatory before the first day of class or student will be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Step 7

Failure to secure a placement and complete the site visit/placement meeting prior to the start of the first day of classes will result in an automatic administrative withdrawal from the course.

Students in Kirkwood's Human Services (Transfer) program are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), the only national Career and Technical Student Organization with the family as its central focus.

FCCLA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.

Adjunct Faculty

This option is available to human services students, and those with an A.A. or B.A. in Human Services, social work or related fields. Approval of the human services program coordinator is a prerequisite for admission.

Learn More

Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Diploma*

*State and federal aid may be used for the diploma on its own or as part of the degree program above.