Human Services | Victor Valley College

The mission of the Human Services program at Victor Valley College is to deliver a rigorous education, fostering knowledge acquisition and skill development in critical areas such as assessment, intervention, treatment, advocacy, and support for individuals accessing human services. The Human Services program prepares students for impactful careers dedicated to addressing human needs and societal challenges in the 21st century. This comprehensive major provides a foundational understanding for professional engagement with individuals, families, and diverse populations, while offering a clear pathway to associate and bachelor's degree attainment.

Students in this program may develop essential professional helping skills, enhancing their marketability for roles such as social-service technicians, case management aides, mental health technicians, gerontology aides, special-education teacher aides, counselors, clinicians, and social workers. The program emphasizes current theoretical frameworks within the human services field, incorporating practical, hands-on experience and opportunities for community networking. The mission of the Human Services program is to deliver a rigorous education, fostering knowledge acquisition and skill development in critical areas such as assessment, intervention, treatment, advocacy, and support for individuals accessing human services.

Human Services Courses

HMSV 110 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services (3.0 Units)

An introductory overview of social welfare and the societal institutions in the U.S. that structure the provision of social services. The course presents a historical perspective on the development of U.S. social work and human services. Special attention is given to current service delivery systems, their policies and procedures, and the tasks of culturally responsive social workers and human service workers within those settings. .

Lecture Hours: 54.0

Transfer: Transfers to CSU only

HMSV 120A Social Work and Human Services Seminar (1.0 Units)

This course provides the student who is participating in a supervised field experience in a community organization, agency, or institution with a weekly class meeting that provides the academic element to the experiential course offering. The application of concepts gained in the prerequisite or corequisite course to the field experience will be emphasized. This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to develop skills that would facilitate gaining employment in the human services field. Grade option.

Prerequisite(s): Complete the following course: PSYC-101 or SOC-101.

Lecture Hours: 18.0

Transfer: Transfers to CSU only

HMSV 120B Social Work and Human Services Fieldwork (2.0 Units)

This course offers the student a supervised field experience in a community organization, agency, or institution, allowing the student to apply knowledge and learn new skills outside of the classroom environment. Between 96-108 hours of field experience are required. This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to develop skills that would facilitate gaining employment in the human services field. Grade option.

Prerequisite(s): Complete the one of the following courses: PSYC-101 or SOC-101.

Lab Hours: 108.0

Transfer: Transfers to CSU only