Human Services AAS Admission Guide

Program Duration and Study Mode

Some classes are online while others are delivered in person. The course schedule will indicate the instructional mode. Please visit https://www.hccs.edu/campaigns/college-your-way/ for more information.

This is an open admission program. Students who meet documentation and info session requirements are accepted.

• Placement Test: All new students enrolling in a Texas Public Institution of Higher Education must take the TSIA2 to determine college readiness unless they qualify for an exemption. Visit TSIA Exemptions for a list of exemptions.
  If your TSIA scores or transcript do not indicate college-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math, you are required to complete INRW 0420 and one of the specified MATH courses with a minimum grade of 'C' or higher.
  INRW 0420 - Integrated Reading and Writing &
  MATH 0432P - Basic Mathematics & Contemporary Mathematics / MATH 0424P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Business Mathematics / MATH 0442P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Statistics
  
  
• Prerequisite Course: HPRS 1201 - Introduction to Health Professions
  Completion of the HPRS 1201 course with a minimum grade of ‘C’ or proof of current enrollment. Completion within the first 9 credit hours of starting the program is required

• If you are new or transferring to HCC, your first step is to become an HCC Eagle by submitting a free admissions application to HCC. Please create a profile and complete the application to obtain an HCC student ID at the ApplyTexas.org website. If you have filled out an HCC application at any point, or you already have an HCC student ID number, please do not submit another HCC application. Multiple HCC new student applications and/or ID numbers are not allowed and may impede you from progressing to the next steps of submitting a nursing program application.
  Returning student to HCC: If you have not been enrolled for the past 3 semesters, you must reactivate your HCC student account.  If you need assistance with this process, please visit:  Returning Student.
  If you are an international student planning to attend HCC on a status F-1, (DACA, refugee, L visa, H visa, etc.), please visit International Students Admissions.
  Veteran Students - Please visit, Veterans & Military Affiliated Student Success.
  
  
• Please submit your official sealed (unopened) transcript(s) from high school, GED, and any other colleges and/or universities previously attended. If you completed your prerequisite course at HCC, you do not need to submit an official transcript. HCC accepts PDF transcripts directly from the service providers such as Credentials, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts should be sent to HCC electronically, admissions@hccs.edu, or by mail: Houston City College, Office of Admissions & Records, P.O. Box 667517, Houston, TX 77266-7517.
  
  To determine your level of college readiness and placement status, you should also submit score reports from external tests like the SAT, ACT, AP, CLEP, IB, etc. Placements may be set from a variety of sources; please visit HCC Testing Services for more information. It is the responsibility of the student to allow enough time for evaluation of transcripts; please allow 6-8 weeks for evaluation and transfer of course credits.
  
  All foreign transcripts must be evaluated for US equivalency, and foreign transcript must first be evaluated course-by-course by an approved evaluating agency. To find a list of approved evaluation companies under ‘Transfer Credits by Type – Foreign Credit Evaluators’, please visit: Foreign transcript/Foreign Credit Evaluator. Then the official evaluation report must be submitted to HCC. The HCC Internal process can take up to 8 weeks for evaluation and transfer of course credits.

• This is an open admission. However, students must still meet documentation and program info session requirements. Please review and complete our online information session. If you have questions regarding the program information sessions, please contact via email at: co.humanservicetechnology@hccs.edu.
  
  All Human Services Occupational Skills Awards (OSAs) and Level 1 Certificates are stackable into the Human Services Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.
  
  Completion of the AAS requires three practicum courses, which must be taken one at a time. To avoid delays, it is important to follow your degree plan carefully so that practicums are not left until the end of your program. Students must apply and be approved for practicum placement before enrolling in a Practicum course.
  
  If you have concerns about your eligibility for licensure in the State of Texas due to your criminal background history, it is recommended that you request a Criminal Background Evaluation through the LCDC Texas website prior to applying for the LCDC certificate. The evaluation fee is $50.
  
  
• Register for classes and attend practicum orientation.
  
  
• Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to set up a degree plan.

Tuition is estimated using the Texas resident rates. Out-of-district and out-of-state residents will have higher tuition fees. Please visit the tuition calculator for more information.

Tuition is for core coursework only. General Education and Support courses are not included. These are high estimates; actual costs will vary depending on health insurance coverage.

Due to increases/decreases in books and supplements, please check the bookstore website for updated cost information. Only required books are included in the estimate.

Human Service Technology (AAS) - Indistric Cost:

Pre-Entrance (to practicum)

1st Semester (15 credit hours)

2nd Semester (15 credit hours)

3rd Semester (8 credit hours)

4th Semester (11 credit hours)

5th Semester (11 credit hours)

TOTAL COST: $ 7,586.00

Approval Agency

This program is approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Substance Abuse Division.

Employment Opportunities

Counseling settings, correctional institutions, mental health centers, social service agencies, group homes, and other various community agencies.

Average Salary

Entry- level salaries are in range between $ 24,000 and $ 32,000. Find out the entry level wages, the medium wages, and high wages for each career field in High School or less, Vocational Certificate, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, and Graduate degree. Please visit Career Coach | Houston Community College for more information.

Questions

For more assistance, please click here to visit the Academic Advising page for support services information. 
For more information about healthcare careers and which program may be best for you, visit 
https://www.hccs.edu/programs/areas-of-study/health-sciences/.

Houston City College supports, and the College is committed to, providing a learning and working environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ability Services at each College within the Houston City College System is responsible for arranging reasonable accommodations for all qualified students with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) to ensure equal access to all programs and activities at the College. Students who need to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Ability Services at the College(s) (Central, Coleman, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest) the student plans to attend. Due to the high demand for services and the nature of certain disabilities, it is recommended that students meet with an ADA Counselor at least 60 days prior to the beginning of each term. Every effort will be made to arrange accommodations; however, failure to provide sufficient advance notice may impede service delivery.

The Essential Functions for the Human Service Technology AAS Program are those attributes and characteristics that involve cognition, skill, thoughts, and feelings. These functions are not used as part of the admission process. Rather, they are identified to provide students with the ability to determine if they may need some level of accommodation. Once identified, the student can be referred to the appropriate source for accommodation assistance.

HUMANSERVICE TECHNOLOGY-AAS PROGRAM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Human Service Skills
The skills listed in this skills catalog are considered basic human service generalist skills. However, it is clear that no entry-level human service associate has attained proficiency in all of these areas. In designing this catalog, we have taken into consideration many standards in the field of human services. We have tried to include the skills you will need to be successful in your chosen area.
A. Interviewing
1. Talk with people comfortably, productively, and effectively.
2. Relate to a wide range of client populations (i.e. the disadvantaged, aged, sick, handicapped, dying, children, addicted, retarded, minority groups etc.)
3. Listen and obtain information, "reading the feeling tones" of what people say and reporting the behaviors people exhibit in interviews.
4. Give and interpret information and appropriately respond to reactions.
5. Help people state and clarify their problems or concerns.
6. Provide positive feedback.
7. Provide negative feedback.
8. Acquire the ability to sense your own impact on the client.
9. Be able to identify areas where you cannot relate and accept your own limitations.

B. Observing and Recording
1. Observe and record behavior, emotions, social and physical characteristics of people and settings; recordings should be done in simple descriptive forms according to your agency’s format.
2. Be able to adapt to different recording procedures.
3. Acquire skill in reporting interpretations of observations.
4. Write a client progress report based on care plan and observation.
5. Gather information about your agency’s policies and procedures.

C. Interpersonal Skills
1. Be able to come across as genuine without jeopardizing your ability to be professional.
2. Be able to establish accurate empathy, the ability to "hear" and "feel" the other person.
3. Be able to establish non-possessive warmth, the ability to establish a caring but not
consuming relationship with the client.
4. Be able to say "no" and help clients and reinterpret their demands into realistic needs.
5. Acquires skill in dealing with other social welfare and mental health professionals in various role relationships.

D. Group Work
1. Be a member of a group where interaction takes place.
2. Acquire basic skill in leading a group.
3. Organize and develop a group as a process facilitator rather than as a group leader.
4. Acquire basic skills in group counseling (giving information, exploring alternatives to effect behavior change).
5. Be able to help a group establish and clarify goals.
6. Facilitate group problem solving.

E. Instructional Methods
1. Teach daily living skills and knowledge to individuals (i.e. budgeting, grooming, home management, minor maintenance of home or car, birth control, AIDS prevention, etc.)
2. Teach a small group.
3. Be able to prepare a simple lesson plan with goals, common visual aids, etc.
4. Teach some new material to staff members.
F. Exercise of Authority
1. Be honest, firm, and yet supportive when exercising control (i.e., sending clients to their rooms, back to prison, taking away privileges, etc.)
2. Be able to say “NO” and still be able to keep communication channels open.
3. Be able to relate openly and honestly to persons in authority (supervisors, teachers, agency staff, administrators, etc.)

G. Consultation
1. Be able to consult without assuming the problem yourself.
2. Consult with other workers about individuals
3. Be able to recognize when you need to consult about your own clients.

H. Community Process
1. Be involved with a community self-help group (i.e. clean up project, crime watch, elder check- up etc.)
2. Organize a community service project.
3. Be able to identify community issues and needs.
4. Activate community resources on behalf of clients.

I. Assessment
1. Be able to take a complete social history.
2. Be able to make some recommendations from the information gathered.
3. Practice using a genogram.
4. Be familiar with DSM-4 criteria for substance disorders and other mental health issues.
5. Demonstrate a familiarity with currently used assessment tests.

J. Screening
1. Determine the client's needs.
2. Determine eligibility and appropriateness for admission to your agency.
3. Be familiar with the services offered by your agency.

K. Intake
1. Be knowledgeable about your agency’s intake procedures.
2. Be knowledgeable about the intake procedures of at least one other type of care provider.
3. Know the legal forms that must be signed (if any) during an intake.

L. Orienting the Client
1. Explain basic expectations of your service.
2. Explain clients’ rights.
3. Explain the schedule to the client.
4. Relate to the client's behavioral expectations and limitations.

M. Treatment Planning
1. Be able to identify problems according to the order they will be dealt with.
2. Know a basic care plan format.
3. Be able to identify short and long-term goals with the client.
4. Select the best treatment modality, one that will meet the client’s needs.

N. Case Management
1. Be able to monitor a care plan for accuracy and progress.
2. Provide for the coordination of additional services where needed (i.e. medical, legal, job training etc.)

O. Referral
1. Have a complete set of referral sources.
2. Understand the referral process and demonstrate its use.

P. Crisis Intervention
1. Demonstrate ability to identify a crisis.
2. Have an understanding of the effects of a crisis on a client.
3. Know legal issues involved with crisis intervention.
4. Use basic intervention skills.
5. Attend basic crisis intervention class, course etc.

Q. Counseling
1. Show skill in being able to choose a proper counseling method for your clients.
2. Demonstrate ability to be eclectic.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the currently accepted counseling methods for use with your particular clients.