Human Services
Associate Degree
Human Services $0 Tuition
What can I do in human services?
The Human Services department at Trident Technical College provides graduates with the skills, knowledge and ethics of the human service discipline to facilitate assistance to individuals, families and communities in need, primarily by helping them acquire the skills to solve their own problems.
What characteristics and skills do I need to work in this field?
Human Services professionals must be compassionate in collaborating with individuals facing stressful situations. They must have effective communication and interpersonal skills to ascertain their clients’ needs and assist them in obtaining services. As such, good listening skills are essential, and counselors must be patient and able to remain calm when working with all types of clients, including those who may be in distress. Communication skills are of the utmost importance as counselors need to be able to express ideas and information to their clients in a way that can be easily understood. Human Services professionals must be organized in dealing with paperwork and be able to manage their time well while dealing with a multitude of clients. Problem-solving and critical thinking skills also are important.
Where can I work?
The Human Services field encompasses any number of jobs in areas such as addiction, mental health, eldercare, youth services and the like. Human Services professionals work for nonprofit organizations, private for-profit social service agencies, and state and local government. They may work in offices, clinics, hospitals, group homes and shelters. Some travel may be needed around the surrounding communities in which to see clients.
Human Services professionals work in a wide variety of settings to include mental health centers, prisons, halfway houses, detox centers, employee assistance programs and residential or outpatient treatment facilities. Work hours vary according to the type of establishment in which a Human Service professional works. Although rewarding, the work is often stressful as many counselors sometimes deal with large workloads and they may have to intervene in crisis situations. A solid regimen of self-care activities is encouraged.
What does Trident Technical College offer?
The Human Services department at Trident Technical College provides graduates with the skills, knowledge and ethics of the human service discipline to facilitate assistance to individuals, families and communities in need, primarily by helping them acquire the skills to solve their own problems.
More Information
Introduction to Human Services