Human Services Minor

Description. The field of human service is broadly defined, uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving overall quality of life of service populations. Combining social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, and education, the field requires professionals to perform a variety of helping roles within the social service arena while maintaining a respect for diversity and knowledge of multicultural perspectives. The Human Service minor represents a concentrated program of study, with courses designed to develop an understanding of the basic tenets of the human service profession. They are intended to help students develop a better understanding of the challenges facing diverse and underserved populations in society who traditionally seek services from public, nonprofit, and private human service agencies.

Learning Outcomes. Students will:

• Know the key historical developments and social movements impacting human service and counseling theory, research, and practice.
• Understand the nature of human systems and the conditions that promote or limit healthy functioning of individuals and groups.
• Identify, select, plan, manage, and evaluate ethically appropriate human service interventions that promote growth, goal attainment, and self-sufficiency.
• Understand individual, group, familial, and organizational culture and its impact on the development of self and other diverse populations.
• Demonstrate adequate communication, processing, advocacy, and writing skills necessary to implement services to a wide array of populations in need. 

Rationale. The courses are designed to help students acquire basic competencies, such as communication and professional helping skills, knowledge of counseling and human service theory, and a general awareness of the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, family, spirituality, government, education, and social systems on human growth and development in our society. Students will learn to assist others in a number of human service capacities including, problem resolution and prevention, advocacy, community resource management, and individual and community intervention. Students will develop an understanding of the history, philosophy, and methodology of the human service profession in our society.

Credits. 18

Minor coordinator. Professor Mickey Melendez, Department of Counseling (212.237.8101, mimelendez@jjay.cuny.edu)

Prerequisites. ENG 201, PSY 101. ENG 201 fulfills the Required Core: English Composition category and PSY 101 fulfills the Flexible Core: Individual and Society of the College’s general education program.

Requirements. A maximum of two courses can overlap with a student’s major, other minor or program.

Total Credit Hours: 18