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Human Services Associate Degree

NECC Home  /  Academics  /  Credit Programs  /  Human Services  /  Human Services Associate Degree

With a Human Services Associate Degree You Can Have a Career Helping Others


We all need a little assistance some time.  You’ll get it at NECC as you prepare for a career helping individuals and families to improve their lives. This Human Services Associate Degree program will prepare you for a career working with people with emotional and social problems, developmental disabilities, mental illness, or substance abuse problems.

Why Choose NECC?

At NECC you’ll train as a generalist, learning how to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. This ensures a wide range of career paths after graduation. With this program you will:

  • Prepare to work with people with emotional, social, or developmental issues.
  • Learn how to help those with mental illnesses or addiction problems.
  • Benefit from supervised clinical experiences in social services settings.
  • Earn your degree in a program that contains the National Community Support Skill Standards, and is accredited by the Council for Standard in Human Service Education.
  • Be well-prepared to transfer to a four-year program to complete your bachelor’s degree.

Because of NECC

You can pursue a wide variety of entry-level positions, or continue your education at a four-year school. Growth opportunities in the field are projected to be strong. Upon completion of the Human Services Associate Degree program you can:

  • Pursue career paths as a case manager, outreach worker, advocate, mental health worker, or a counselor (crisis, residential, addiction).
  • Work in a variety of public or private settings including hospitals, clinics, residential facilities, or human services agencies.
  • Be able to take advantage of MassTransfer Pathways and other transfer agreements to save thousands of dollars while you earn your bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.
 

Quote:

I’m excited about my human services career … I like working with people and helping them any way I can.

Barbara Conrad, Human Services

 

Courses, Requirements, and Program Notes

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Career Paths & Job Market

Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Prospects for employment within the human services are projected to be excellent according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employment Projections 2006-2016, the New Hampshire Employment Projections 2004-2014 and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2016.Graduates who choose to directly enter the workforce, are recruited by a variety of community agencies who work with children, adolescents, adults and seniors in a range of settings such as:

Graduates who choose to directly enter the workforce are recruited by a variety of community agencies who work with children, adolescents, adults and seniors. They work in a range of settings such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Vocational programs
  • Residential programs
  • Day habilitation programs
  • Day treatment programs

Graduates may be given titles such as:

  • Case manager
  • Outreach worker
  • Advocate
  • Mental health worker
  • Crisis counselor
  • Residential counselor
  • Addiction counselor
Career Paths

Career Paths

The broad based skills of the program provide a foundation for a wide range of professional pursuits. Graduates who pursue advanced degrees will have opportunities to choose among many fields including:

  • Social work
  • Guidance counseling
  • Labor negotiations
  • Human resources
  • Academic advising
  • Organizational psychology
  • Mental health
  • Vocational rehabilitation
Licensing and Credentialing for Graduates

Licensing and Credentialing for Graduates

There are a variety of licenses and certifications possible to graduates of the Human Services Program.

Graduates from any of the NECC Human Service Certificate or Associate Degree programs are eligible to apply for credentialing through the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) as Human Services Board Certified Practitioner.

Successful graduates of the Human Services Associate Degree program are eligible to pursue licensure within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Licensed Social Work Assistant (LSWA).

External Online Resources

External Online Resources

Learn more about the current job market and trends within Human Services by visiting the following web sites:

Transferring to a 4 year College or University

Transferring to a 4 year College or University

Below are some college where students may consider transferring:

  • Lesley University: Human Services Program, Bachelor of Science Human Service Administration, Human Service Counseling, and Human Service Management
  • Cambridge College: Human Services Program, Human Services
  • Springfield College: School of Human Services
  • Salem State: School of Social Work
  • Hesser College: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • Salem State College: School of Social Work
  • Merrimack College: Bachelor of Science in Human Services Administration

Contact

Human Services Program Coordinator

Human Services Program Coordinator

Brian MacKenna-Rice, Coordinator, Human Services Program

Room C 314N
Phone: 978-556-3331
bmackennarice@necc.mass.edu

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Contact Information

Donna Johnson, Staff Associate

978-556-3303
djohnson1@necc.mass.edu

Mary DiGiovanni

978-556-3368
mdigiovanni@necc.mass.edu

Diane Mele

978-556-3359
dmele@necc.mass.edu

Jane Gagliardi

978-556-3302
jgagliardi@necc.mass.edu

Jack Davidson

978-556-3540
jdavidson@necc.mass.edu

Tessa MacGillivary

tmacgillivary@necc.mass.edu

Lindamae Lucas

llucas@necc.mass.edu

Required Documents

Human Services Criteria Packet (PDF)

Human Services Student Achievement Indicators (PDF)

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