The Human Service Technology Program offers specific certificates focused on knowledge and skills necessary to work with a variety of populations. The Activity Directing Certificate and the Advanced Activity Directing Certificate prepares students to work with the elderly. The Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Certificate provides a knowledge-base to help people who have developmental delays. For students interested in working with people who are deaf or hearing impaired, the American Sign Language Certificate covers the basics of signing and interpreting. Along with the academic work, the program offers a practicum experience where a student has an opportunity to learn in the field. The hands-on/experiential focus is intertwined throughout the entire curriculum.

Additional Resources

• California Society for Healthcare Engineering

The Human Service program is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in the human service field. The Human Service curriculum incorporates cultural diversity, interdisciplinary perspective, applied skills, job readiness, technical concepts and applications, legal and ethical issues and the theoretical focus necessary for a generalist perspective. Following the guidelines of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board, graduates gain the knowledge and skills necessary to practice in the field of human service (i.e., social services/social work). In addition, graduates gain the necessary coursework, knowledge and skills to further their education in social work.

After completion of the program, students have the knowledge and skills to enter into the social service field working with children, adolescents, adults and elderly. The generalist perspective also provides the skill-base to work with people who have drug and alcohol issues, mental health problems, mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

The Human Service program is accredited by:

Council for Standards in Human Service Education
John Heapes, President
http://www.cshse.org

1. General college requirements (See the General Admissions Procedures in the General Information section of this catalog).

2. A minimum 2.0 grade point average for previous college course work from all colleges including courses taken at Rhodes State College. Students below a 2.0 GPA may apply to the Pre-Human Services Program. (See your academic advisor for information on Pre-Human Services.)

3. Applicants are required to complete Rhodes State College placement testing prior to admission.

4. Applicants who complete testing but need developmental course support will be placed in Pre-Human Services coursework. Students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in all developmental work.

5. Formal application to the Human Service program (Contact your academic advisor).

Students who begin the curriculum in winter or spring quarter or who need developmental course support should recognize that it may take longer than six quarters to complete the program. Individuals must recognize that to be successful in the Human Service field, they should be emotionally stable, creative and flexible.

Grading Policy

Academic standards are found under Grading and Credit System of the Student Handbook section of this catalog. Human Services students must attain a “C” grade in each Human Service Technology core course. Any Human Service core course in which a grade below a “C” is received must be repeated. Human Service students may be dismissed from the program if they receive more than one final grade below a “C” in a single core course.