Human Services Program Details

Student Profile

The field of Human Services is an ideal career choice for people who are interested in helping others to understand themselves and reach their goals. An ideal fit for students in this program would be persons that are open-minded, self-aware with good critical thinking skills and a desire to expand their cultural competence and cultural humility.  Good communication skills, both written and oral are essential in this field. Students will experience working with a diverse population and learn how to become active listeners and advocate for others.​

Employment Outlook

Employment opportunities are available in a wide variety of settings, including:

• Public and private social services agencies
• Treatment centers for addictions
• Group homes for people facing many problems, such as runaways, homelessness, domestic abuse, mental illness, and chemical dependency
• Group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Supported living and work programs
• State and county Departments of Human Services
• Hospital-based chemical dependency treatment facilities
• Correctional facilities for adolescents and chemically dependent people

The need for qualified human services workers is anticipated to grow at a much faster than average rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are a variety of positions to be filled.

The course schedule is varied, but all classes are offered in day sessions at the DMACC Ankeny campus. All required courses are offered on the DMACC Urban campus and partially on the DMACC Newton campus. These classes are offered in the evenings.

Human Services Requirements

Before entering the program, you must

• Complete an application
• Satisfy the assessment requirement
• Attend any required information/registration sessions

Students can start any term.

Excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary for success in the program and in human services careers. Excellent interpersonal skills are also required. Students who enter the program earn an Associate in Applied S​cience (AAS) degree. To earn the degree, students must complete a minimum of 64 credits. This can be accomplished in two years of full-time coursework; however, students may enroll in the program on a full-time or part-time basis. All courses can be taken during the day at Ankeny campus and most (but not all) courses can be taken during the evening at Urban and Newton campuses.

Students take a variety of courses in communications, human services, psychology, and sociology.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Human Services AAS Degree, you must:

• Complete the standard core requirements for the degree
• Complete the Human Services required courses and options
• Maintain a 2.5 grade point average

Skills and Abilities Needed

The program emphasizes skills needed in working with clients such as:

• Interviewing
• Determining eligibility for services
• Making appropriate referrals
• Assisting with counseling

A supervised field experience allows students to apply their skills in a work setting.

Transferring to another school from DMACC

This video has representatives from different Iowa schools explain their Human Services Program.