Community and Human Services: A.A., A.S.
Studying for a degree in Community and Human Services expands understanding of the relationship between human needs and values and social conditions. Students develop analytical and communication skills, as well as the knowledge and expertise to contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy communities, groups and individuals.
Degree programs in Community and Human Services offer students the opportunity to develop individualized degree plans based on their intellectual, professional, and personal interests. General program guidelines can be found on the “Program Details” tab, and students will work with an academic mentor to choose courses that meet the guidelines and address each student’s individual interests. Students can also work with their academic mentors to identify applicable transfer credit, prior college-level learning, and possible course equivalencies. Working with a mentor and using SUNY Empire’s educational planning process, students can develop a specialized concentration in Community and Human Services by following the general program guidelines as well as any applicable concentration guidelines. For sample degree programs and other degree planning resources, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services Degree Planning Resources web page.
For more information about general undergraduate degree requirements, please visit Earning an Undergraduate Degree.
For more information about Health and Human Services, please visit the Health and Human Services webpage.
For more information about Child and Family Studies, please visit the Child and Family Studies webpage.
Program Details
Degree Guidelines for Associate in Arts and Associate of Science
Community and Human Services is a field of study that aims to prepare learners to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, and communities; develop, enhance, and improve access to services for people in need; and promote equality and social justice.
Studies in Community and Human Services emphasize five foundations. For the associate degree, students are expected to meet a minimum of at least three foundations through courses and/or prior learning assessment and explain in the rationale essay how these foundations are met. Below are suggested courses that can be utilized to meet each foundation; these courses have been mapped to meet the learning outcomes for the foundation. Courses in other disciplines may also be utilized; students are expected to discuss how the course in the other discipline meets the foundation in the rationale essay.
Essential Foundation #1: Human Behavior
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to explain human behavior within the context of various social, developmental, global, economic, political, biological, and/or environmental systems.
- Courses which meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADDS 2005 | Addiction & Dependency: Introduction | 4 |
| ADDS 2040 | Introduction to Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs | 4 |
| ADDS 4005 | Adolescence & Addictions | 4 |
| CHFS 1005 | Intimate Relationships & Marriage | 4 |
| CHFS 2005 | Child Abuse & Neglect | 4 |
| CHFS 2027 | Stress and Resilience in Families | 4 |
| CHFS 2122 | Introduction to Family Studies | 4 |
| CHFS 2132 | Introduction to Cyberbullying | 4 |
| CHFS 3010 | Cultural Perspectives on Aging | 4 |
| CHFS 3020 | Childhood Trauma: Theory Treatment & Recovery | 4 |
| CHFS 3050 | Interpersonal Violence | 4 |
| CHFS 3127 | Understanding Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents | 4 |
| CHFS 4020 | Interventions with Vulnerable Youth | 4 |
| CHFS 4025 | Pregnancy & Parenting | 4 |
| CHFS 4030 | Processes of Divorce | 4 |
| CHFS 4035 | Trauma & Recovery in Adults | 4 |
| DISB 3005 | ADHD & Neurodiversity | 4 |
| HLHS 3015 | Grief & Loss | 3-4 |
| HLHS 4010 | Exploring Happiness | 4 |
| HUSV 3127 | Coping with Life Challenges | 4 |
| HUSV 4045 | Secondary Trauma in Human Service Workers | 4 |
| HUSV 4152 | Counseling Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Populations | 4 |
| HUSV 4157 | Health and Wellness for Human Service Professionals | 4 |
Essential Foundation #2: Service Delivery
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to identify institutions and policies that are specific to the delivery of services in the proposed field of study.
- Courses which meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHFS 2010 | Exploring the Professions: Careers in Gerontology | 2 |
| CHFS 2015 | Helping Children & Adolescents Cope with Bullying | 4 |
| CHFS 3015 | Child Welfare in the United States | 4 |
| CHFS 3035 | Global Perspectives on Aging | 4 |
| CHFS 3040 | Understanding Adoption | 4 |
| CHFS 3050 | Interpersonal Violence | 4 |
| CHFS 3137 | Child and Family Policy | 4 |
| DISB 3025 | Psychosocial Impact of Illness & Disability | 4 |
| DISB 3030 | The Disability Rights Movement: Policy and Legislation | 4 |
| HLAD 2010 | The United States Health Systems | 4 |
| HLAD 3005 | Community Health | 4 |
| HLAD 3015 | Comparative Health Systems | 4 |
| HLAD 3025 | Economic Issues in Health Care | 4 |
| HLAD 3040 | Health Disparities | 4 |
| HLAD 3055 | Managed Care | 4 |
| HLAD 3122 | Principles of Public Health | 4 |
| HLAD 3127 | Infections and Epidemics: Biocultural Perspectives | 4 |
| HLAD 4015 | Healthcare Policy | 4 |
| HLAD 4020 | Leadership in Healthcare | 4 |
| HLHS 1023 | Introduction to Community & Public Health | 4 |
| HLHS 2006 | Women's Health & Social Transformation | 4 |
| HLHS 2017 | Introduction to Global Health | 4 |
| HLHS 3011 | Vulnerable Populations: Health & Social Justice | 4 |
| HLHS 3127 | Patient Engagement in Today’s Healthcare System | 4 |
| HLHS 3132 | U.S. Healthcare: Structure & Financing | 4 |
| HLHS 4127 | Women and the Business of Healthcare | 4 |
| HUSV 2005 | Women in Helping Professions | 4 |
| HUSV 2035 | Introduction to Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 2040 | Recareering into Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 2045 | The Call to Service | 4 |
| HUSV 3015 | Delivering Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3035 | History of US Social Welfare Policy | 4 |
| HUSV 3040 | Human Services Management | 4 |
| HUSV 3045 | Outreach & Marketing in Human Service Organizations | 4 |
| HUSV 3068 | Social Welfare Policy | 4 |
| HUSV 3132 | War on Poverty: Implications and Perspectives for Human Service Professionals | 4 |
| HUSV 3142 | Disaster Mental Health Theory & Practice | 4 |
| HUSV 3147 | Human Services in Disaster | 4 |
| HUSV 4015 | Contemporary Issues in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 4023 | Stigma & Mental Illness | 4 |
| HUSV 4050 | Social Policy Analysis | 4 |
| HUSV 4132 | Refugees and Displaced Populations | 4 |
Essential Foundation #3: Skills & Application
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to identify skills in assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals, families, groups, and/or communities.
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to apply knowledge, values, and skills related to the proposed field of study.
- Courses which meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADDS 3005 | Interventions for Substance Use Disorders | 4 |
| ADDS 3010 | Substance Use Interventions in the Workplace | 4 |
| ADDS 3020 | Substance Use with Special Populations | 4 |
| ADDS 3122 | Virtual Addictions in the 21st Century | 4 |
| ADDS 4005 | Adolescence & Addictions | 4 |
| ADDS 4006 | Women and Addiction | 4 |
| ADDS 4010 | Advanced Substance Use Counseling | 4 |
| ADDS 4015 | Evidence-Based Substance Use Counseling | 4 |
| CHFS 2005 | Child Abuse & Neglect | 4 |
| CHFS 2010 | Exploring the Professions: Careers in Gerontology | 2 |
| CHFS 2015 | Helping Children & Adolescents Cope with Bullying | 4 |
| CHFS 2122 | Introduction to Family Studies | 4 |
| CHFS 3015 | Child Welfare in the United States | 4 |
| CHFS 3020 | Childhood Trauma: Theory Treatment & Recovery | 4 |
| CHFS 3022 | Counseling Children & Adolescents | 4 |
| CHFS 3025 | Elder Abuse | 4 |
| CHFS 3030 | Family Intervention | 4 |
| CHFS 3045 | Human Service Practice with Older Adults | 4 |
| CHFS 3050 | Interpersonal Violence | 4 |
| CHFS 3055 | Investigation for Protective Services | 4 |
| CHFS 3065 | Supporting Active Military Veterans & their Families | 4 |
| CHFS 3127 | Understanding Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents | 4 |
| CHFS 3137 | Child and Family Policy | 4 |
| CHFS 4005 | Cognitive Behavioral Strategies | 4 |
| CHFS 4020 | Interventions with Vulnerable Youth | 4 |
| CHFS 4035 | Trauma & Recovery in Adults | 4 |
| DISB 1010 | Direct Support Professional Course 1 | 4 |
| DISB 2005 | Creative Arts Therapy with Children with Autism & Other Special Needs | 4 |
| DISB 2010 | Disabilities in the Workplace | 4 |
| DISB 2020 | Health & Disabilities in Human Services Advocacy | 4 |
| DISB 2025 | Human Services Practice with Disabilities | 4 |
| DISB 2030 | Direct Support Professional Course 2 – Individual | 4 |
| DISB 2035 | Direct Support Professional Course 2 - Community | 4 |
| DISB 2040 | Direct Support Professional Course 3 | 4 |
| DISB 2045 | Frontline Supervisors for Direct Support Professionals | 4 |
| DISB 3005 | ADHD & Neurodiversity | 4 |
| DISB 3020 | Human Service Practice with Children with Disabilities | 4 |
| DISB 3025 | Psychosocial Impact of Illness & Disability | 4 |
| DISB 4005 | Aging With a Developmental Disability | 4 |
| DISB 4010 | Assessment & Evaluation of Disabilities | 4 |
| HLAD 3020 | Cultural Competency in Health Care | 4 |
| HLAD 3025 | Economic Issues in Health Care | 4 |
| HLAD 3040 | Health Disparities | 4 |
| HLAD 3050 | Healthcare Management | 4 |
| HLAD 3122 | Principles of Public Health | 4 |
| HLAD 4015 | Healthcare Policy | 4 |
| HLAD 4020 | Leadership in Healthcare | 4 |
| HLAD 4030 | Understanding Medical Marijuana: Multidisciplinary Perspectives | 4 |
| HLHS 3010 | Creativity & Healing | 4 |
| HLHS 3015 | Grief & Loss | 3-4 |
| HLHS 3020 | Healing Through Music | 4 |
| HLHS 3030 | Understanding Forgiveness and Healing in the Human Services | 4 |
| HLHS 4010 | Exploring Happiness | 4 |
| HUSV 2010 | Case Management | 4 |
| HUSV 2020 | Crisis Intervention: Theory & Practice | 4 |
| HUSV 2025 | Helping & Counseling Skills | 4 |
| HUSV 2035 | Introduction to Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3005 | Advocacy in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3010 | Animals Society and Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3015 | Delivering Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3020 | Documentation in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3022 | Crisis Intervention II: Counseling Skills and Models | 4 |
| HUSV 3025 | Funding & Human Service Organizations | 4 |
| HUSV 3030 | Group Work | 4 |
| HUSV 3040 | Human Services Management | 4 |
| HUSV 3045 | Outreach & Marketing in Human Service Organizations | 4 |
| HUSV 3050 | Personal Coaching | 4 |
| HUSV 3055 | Powerful Questions | 4 |
| HUSV 3065 | Spirituality in the Helping Relationship | 4 |
| HUSV 3070 | Supervision in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3122 | Conflict Management & Resolution in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 3127 | Coping with Life Challenges | 4 |
| HUSV 3142 | Disaster Mental Health Theory & Practice | 4 |
| HUSV 3147 | Human Services in Disaster | 4 |
| HUSV 4005 | Bereavement Counseling | 4 |
| HUSV 4010 | Community Organizing | 4 |
| HUSV 4023 | Stigma & Mental Illness | 4 |
| HUSV 4025 | Understanding Holistic Healing in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 4035 | Internship in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 4040 | Program Evaluation | 4 |
| HUSV 4050 | Social Policy Analysis | 4 |
| HUSV 4132 | Refugees and Displaced Populations | 4 |
| HUSV 4152 | Counseling Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Populations | 4 |
| HUSV 4157 | Health and Wellness for Human Service Professionals | 4 |
| HUSV 4162 | Human Services with Special Populations | 4 |
Essential Foundation #4: Ethics
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to articulate the code of ethics and/or the professional standards within the proposed field of study.
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to identify possible conflicts between one’s own values and professional expectations.
- Courses which meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HLAD 3045 | Healthcare Ethics | 4 |
| HLAD 3050 | Healthcare Management | 4 |
| HUSV 2035 | Introduction to Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 4030 | Human Service Ethics | 4 |
Essential Foundation #5: Diversity
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to articulate the range of human diversity, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, class, socioeconomic status, age, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, sexual identify, geographic differences, and/or ability.
- Learning outcome: The student will be able to identify the impact of one’s own power, privilege, and oppression on work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Courses which meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADDS 3020 | Substance Use with Special Populations | 4 |
| CHFS 2027 | Stress and Resilience in Families | 4 |
| CHFS 3010 | Cultural Perspectives on Aging | 4 |
| CHFS 3035 | Global Perspectives on Aging | 4 |
| CHFS 3045 | Human Service Practice with Older Adults | 4 |
| CHFS 3060 | Multicultural Study of Children & Families | 4 |
| CHFS 3122 | African American Relationships Marriages and Families | 4 |
| CHFS 3137 | Child and Family Policy | 4 |
| CHFS 4020 | Interventions with Vulnerable Youth | 4 |
| DISB 2010 | Disabilities in the Workplace | 4 |
| DISB 2015 | Disabled in America | 4 |
| DISB 2020 | Health & Disabilities in Human Services Advocacy | 4 |
| DISB 3010 | Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Disabilities | 4 |
| HLAD 3005 | Community Health | 4 |
| HLAD 3015 | Comparative Health Systems | 4 |
| HLAD 3020 | Cultural Competency in Health Care | 4 |
| HLAD 3040 | Health Disparities | 4 |
| HLHS 2013 | Culture, Illness, and Healing | 4 |
| HLHS 3011 | Vulnerable Populations: Health & Social Justice | 4 |
| HLHS 4127 | Women and the Business of Healthcare | 4 |
| HUSV 3035 | History of US Social Welfare Policy | 4 |
| HUSV 4020 | Diversity in Human Services | 4 |
| HUSV 4132 | Refugees and Displaced Populations | 4 |
| HUSV 4162 | Human Services with Special Populations | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
- Foundation 1: Human Behavior, Students will be able to explain human behavior within the context of various social, developmental, global, economic, political, biological, and/or environmental systems.
- Foundation 2: Service Delivery, Students will be able to identify institutions and policies that are specific to the delivery of services in the proposed field of study.
- Foundation 3: Skills and Application, Students will be able to identify skills in assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals, families, groups, and/or communities.
- Foundation 3: Skills and Application, Students will be able to apply knowledge, values, and skills related to the proposed field of study.
- Foundation 4: Ethics, Students will be able to articulate the code of ethics and/or the professional standards within the proposed field of study.
- Foundation 4: Ethics, Students will be able to identify possible conflicts between one’s own values and professional expectations.
- Foundation 5: Diversity, Students will be able to articulate the range of human diversity, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, class, socioeconomic status, age, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, sexual identify, geographic differences, and/or ability.
- Foundation 5: Diversity, Students will be able to identify the impact of one’s own power, privilege, and oppression on work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.