Human Services, Minor

About the Human Services Minor

Human services is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. The Human Services minor emphasizes personal growth, theory-based practices, and experiential learning through fieldwork placement.

This undergraduate program provides both the academic and experiential background for the student seeking a career working with diverse populations in the varied and expanding field of Human Services.

Focus of Study

The Human Services field aims to meet the needs of individuals and communities by utilizing interdisciplinary knowledge and innovative human relations skills. Human Services enhance support delivery systems by ensuring quality, accessibility, accountability, and coordination among professionals and agencies. Human Services aims to assist individuals in various life circumstances, offering support during prevention, intervention, and remediation life stages.

Being a human service worker is a unique role that involves assisting individuals and communities to function effectively. It requires a strong moral commitment to serving others, and employers value individuals who display patience, understanding and care in their interactions with others.

Important Personal Traits for a Human Services Worker:

• Critical thinking skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Effective communication 
• Strong sense of responsibility
• Sufficient time management

Program Requirements

A minimum of 24 credit hours must be completed.

Program Coursework

	Courses
Required Core 18 Credit Hours	COUN 2000 Introduction to Human Services    COUN 3000 Culturally Informed Treatment   COUN 3110 Interpersonal Communication, Interviewing and Mediation Skills   COUN 3400 Ethics & Values in Human Services    COUN 3500 Group Dynamics and Group Process   COUN 2950 Fieldwork in Human Services I   or COUN 4955 Fieldwork in Human Services II
Elective Choices 6 Credits Hours	COUN 2400 Ethics I & II    COUN 2500 Introduction to Principles of Addiction Treatment    COUN 2990 Introduction to Addiction Counseling Skills    COUN 3040 Pharmacology I, II & Infectious Diseases    COUN 3100 Career Planning and Employment Services    COUN 3410 Clinical Assessment and Treatment Planning    COUN 3600 Motivational Interviewing I & II   COUN 3850 Play Therapy COUN 4000 Introduction to the Counseling Profession    COUN 4070 Adventure Education and Experiential Learning    COUN 4500 Wellness, Resilience and Emotional Intelligence    COUN 4830 Co-Occurring Disorders and Trauma Informed Care

Program Fieldwork

The Department of Counseling and Human Services offers a variety of fieldwork sites for you to participate in during your fieldwork experience.

In the COUN 2950 Fieldwork in Human Services I Course, students receive guidance on the fieldwork search, application, and expectations process through an orientation session.

 

Campus Connections Fieldwork Experiences
The Campus Connections Program at UCCS matches current students with service-learning fieldwork opportunities, where they can mentor young people in the local community.

Mentors commit to spending four hours each week providing one-on-one therapeutic assistance that centers on academic, career, and social skill advancement. For more details, visit the Campus Connections page.