Human Services Advocate (C)

Program Coordinator:     Charles Justice, LRC 214, Ext. 2566
Length:                                Two semesters (one year)

Purpose: The certificate program in Human Services Advocate is designed to prepare persons for entry into careers which emphasize human relations skills, typically performed in a person-to-person relationship.

Occupational Objectives: Students who complete the program may enter the labor market in jobs which lead to a variety of positions, such as: 
    Therapeutic Assistant 
    Social Services Liaison 
    Case Management Aide 
    Client Advocate 
    Social Services Para-professional 
    Child Care Assistant

Admission Requirements: A student eligible for admission to the college can normally be considered for admission to the Human Services Advocate curriculum. Proficiency in high school English and mathematics is required. Students who are not proficient in English or mathematics will be required to correct their deficiencies in developmental courses.

Program Requirements: Approximately three-fourths of the courses will be a core curriculum which is basic for all human services, i.e., general education, occupational-technical, and human relations skills. The remaining courses, along with the coordinated internship, are designed to give the student specialized training for the particular career area which he/she has chosen. Upon completion of the two-semester program, the student will be awarded a Certificate in Human Services Advocate.

Total Minimum Credits Required for Certificate ...................33

Notes

The semester-by-semester sequence of courses may be modified when necessary. Please meet with your faculty advisor for a discussion of factors which affect planning and sequencing programs of study. Mathematics courses require placement testing.

Footnotes*

1. Students may substitute PSY 200.
2. Students who pass the Keyboarding Exemption Test will be granted credit for this course. Testing date is published in the class schedule.
3. Students may substitute PBS 266 Group Leadership for this course.
4. Keyboarding skills highly recommended.
5. Students may take any ACC, AST, BUS, ECO, IST, or MKT course to meet this requirement or participate in Co-op Education. HMS 197 may be taken after satisfactory completion of the first semester with Faculty Curriculum Advisor and Faculty Co-op Advisor approvals. The non-paid Co-op Education option is available in this program of study.

Sample Related Electives for Human Services Advocate

Additional Information

1. Number of students completing program between July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012
2. Total tuition and fees are based on the 2012-13 academic year and are subject to change.
3. Total books and supplies are based on the 2012-13 academic year and are subject to change.
4. All students who completed between July 1, 2011 and June 30,2012 are included in this calculation. This job placement rate looks only at jobs that were in the field of study. This rate is based on program completers who were employed within 180 days of completion. Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) data were used to identify employed students. VEC data does not include federal employment, military employment or employers from other states.