Kirkwood’s Human Services interest area prepares you to professionally help others. You’ll learn how to take on the complexity of other human beings and where they are at in life, leading you to a rewarding career making a positive impact on others’ well-being.
Our Human Services interest area has a strong focus on exploring and understanding human behaviors, social policy, social programs, communication, record keeping, interviewing, observing, group resources, and problem solving.
Plus, Kirkwood has direct connections to local community agencies, linking you to real-world, hands-on experience and special observation opportunities within the human services field to further enhance your education during your first two years of college.
You can get your A.A. degree or your A.A.S. degree in Human Services from Kirkwood, and you'll have the option of continuing your education or going straight into the workforce to begin your career in this exciting field!
If you are planning to transfer to a four-year program, you will work closely with our human services faculty coordinator to plan out your academic path while at Kirkwood and beyond. They will help ensure you have everything completed for a seamless transfer.
Kirkwood Community College is proud to have special transfer agreements with leading universities and colleges in Iowa for Human Services students, including: Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Mount Mercy, Upper Iowa, Grand View and Wartburg.
Transferring elsewhere?
For transfer questions and additional information, contact:
Take advantage of your share of more than $3 million in scholarship opportunities. At Kirkwood, we make it easy. You only need to apply once, even if you are eligible for more than one scholarship.
Behavioral Health Professional Scholarship
Lenora Lundquist Endowed Teaching Scholarship
Kirkwood can help you better prepare for a variety of rewarding careers in human services. Although a social worker is often the career thought of most with a background in human services, you can pursue a career as a counselor, youth worker, case manager, or direct service professional.
We’ll help you explore all your options after graduation – and provide exciting experiences in and out of the classroom to help you find the best path. And, with the demand for jobs within the human services field on the rise, the future looks very bright for Kirkwood human services graduates.
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-131 Basic Problem Solving Skills
Includes an overview of various intervention techniques. Students learn principles of communication, interviewing, and conflict resolution and then practice the techniques in role played videotape situations.
Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: HSV-101; 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 & SHV-814, each 250 hours/6 credits).
Step 1
Connect with your academic advisor to check if you have met requirements to enroll in Field Experience and which field experience course you will be attempting to enroll in (HSV-800, HSV-801, HSV-813, or HSV-814. This process should begin several weeks prior to the semester start. Students will not be considered for field placement after the first week of the semester.
Step 2
Review the Field Experience Instruction Manual
Step 3
Complete the Field Experience Application Form Email to ambre.bernards@kirkwood.edu
Step 4
In addition to the application, 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 5. Email all documents to ambre.bernards@kirkwood.edu
Step 5
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 6
Find a Placement: It is the students’ responsibility to find and secure a placement for field experience.
Step 7
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 a student can register for the FE course.
Step 8
Following the site visit meeting – FE Instructor will direct department assistants to enroll the student in the appropriate FE 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.
Ambre Bernards, LMSW | ||||||
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Title: | Program Coordinator | |||||
Phone: | 319-398-5899 ext. 4164 | |||||
Email: | ambre.bernards@kirkwood.edu | |||||
Office: | 1032 Cedar Hall | |||||
Marie Connor |
Stephanie Crandall |
Emily Logan |
Tami McSweeney |
Monica Ryan-Rausch |
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.
“At first, I was scared because I came to campus not knowing anyone. Over time, I’ve become much more comfortable because the professors (and other students!) are very nice, friendly, and helpful. They are always there to help whenever I need it. ”
Kalina Stojchevska,
Coralville, Iowa