Best Online Associate in Human Services

Founded in 1946 as the first community college in Maryland, Hagerstown Community College serves more than 15,000 students annually through approximately 100 academic programs. The school's 60-credit, online associate degree in human services prepares students to transfer to a four-year degree.

Students take both general education courses and human services classes, including courses like understanding diversity in the helping professions, social work with groups, and introduction to human services and social work. Students can tailor the degree to their interests using 13-15 elective credits. Elective options include personal health, macroeconomic principles, juvenile delinquency, and professionalism in the workplace.

The school holds articulation agreements with Shepherd University and Salisbury University, allowing graduates to seamlessly transfer to a bachelor's degree. Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent.

Herkimer County Community College hosts more than 2,000 students annually in its degree, certificate, and diploma programs. Herkimer's Internet Academy offers 20 online degrees and more than 150 online classes. The school's online AAS in human services gives students the skills and knowledge they need to affect meaningful change working in for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

The program includes general education and human services requirements. Human services courses examine topics like introduction to case management, social problems, and biology of aging. During their final two semesters, students complete a 120-hour practicum at a human services organization.

Students can pursue an optional CarePath coach certification. This certification, offered in concert with the Mental Health Association of New York, prepares students to help families and individuals transition out of mental/physical rehabilitation environments.

Northcentral Technical College is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. Founded in 1912, NTC educates approximately 6,000 students each year. The student-focused institution emphasizes diversity, ingenuity, and accessible educational opportunities.

NTC's 61-credit, fully online associate degree in human services helps students build cultural awareness and a compassionate understanding of diverse cultural groups. In addition to general education courses, students take human services classes like counseling methods, diversity studies, and interpersonal communication. Students culminate the degree with an internship at an approved human services site.

Students learn how to cultivate professional relationships, access community resources, and demonstrate ethical and professional standards. Graduates can pursue entry-level roles in human services or transfer to a four-year program.

Finger Lakes Community College is part of the State University of New York system and hosts about 6,000 students each year. FLCC offers affordable online and on-campus academic opportunities in more than 50 areas of study.

FLCC's online associate in human services degree focuses on professional development and community enrichment. The partially online program includes some on-campus requirements. Courses cover topics like human services in contemporary America, case management, and counseling. Students also gain practical experience through internships in settings such as children's centers, rape crisis centers, and reproductive rights organizations.

Additionally, human services students participate in community-focused projects, such as food and clothing drives, organized fundraising, and other volunteer work. Graduates can transfer to four-year institutions or work as counselors, caregivers, or advocates.

Founded in 1966, Iowa Central Community College hosts more than 5,000 students through diverse degree and certificate programs, including many online options. ICCC offers a fully online, 67-credit human services associate degree that includes general education, elective, and human services core classes.

Human services classes include introduction to human services, counseling theories, human behavior, and human disabilities and services. Students can tailor the degree to their interests through 12 elective credits, choosing from classes like social problems, child psychology, and women's issues. In addition to coursework, students participate in a practicum, gaining experience in the field.

Graduates can work as public health workers, fundraisers, counselors, and victim advocates. They can also transfer to a bachelor's program.

Rhodes State College specializes in associate degrees and shares a campus with The Ohio State University's Lima location. The college offers an online associate of applied science in human service technology that prepares learners to enter the workforce after graduation. The hybrid program offers more than 50% of its coursework online.

The 64-credit program examines case management practice, issues and ethics of helping, dynamics of mental illness, and crisis management. Students complete a community service requirement during their first year and a practicum during their final year. They must also develop a portfolio that demonstrates what they learned during the program.

Graduates can pursue social work assistant and human services board-certified professional credentials. The college features open enrollment. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee.

Niagara County Community College hosts around 5,000 students each year. The institution offers a fully online associate of arts in human services that admits new learners during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Full-time students can graduate in two years.

The 64-credit program includes courses on disabilities and aging, human services research and synthesis, diversity in chemical dependency counseling, and the helping process. Students can use six elective credits to explore topics like chemical dependency counseling, disability studies, early childhood education, gerontology, and social work. Learners must also participate in a semester-long internship.

Admission to the online associate degree in human services requires high school transcripts, placement test scores, and a financial aid application. In-state students enjoy a tuition discount. NCCC holds articulation agreements with several schools in New York to facilitate seamless transfers to bachelor's programs.

Genesee Community College hosts six campuses across New York and has an online division. The school's Department of Human Services offers online AAS and AS in human services programs. The AS program prepares students to transfer to a bachelor's program, while the AAS program prepares students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Both programs comprise 62 credits and offer about 75% of courses online. Students must complete the rest of the program requirements on campus in Batavia. Both programs include core courses in alcohol and drug use/abuse, introduction to human services, interpersonal skills, and general psychology. All students must participate in a human service internship during their final semester.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and submit ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores.

Part of the Maine Community College System, Central Maine Community College educates 2,700 students each year. The school's fully online associate degree in human services offers a flexible schedule that allows students to balance their studies with personal and professional responsibilities. The program offers concentrations in human services and addiction.

The 63-64-credit program covers developmental disabilities and psychosocial rehabilitation, aspects of disability and vocation, issues in diversity, and interviewing and counseling. Graduates can work in settings like hospitals, mental health centers, senior assistant homes, and substance abuse facilities. They can also transfer to a bachelor's program, though students intending to transfer to a bachelor's program are strongly encouraged to take a higher-level human services elective during the program.

Applicants must submit a non-refundable application fee, official transcripts, and ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores. CMCC offers some of the lowest tuition rates in the region. Maine residents enjoy a tuition discount.

Minot State University hosts nearly 4,000 undergraduate and graduate learners each year. The school's online associate degree in human services offers a unique concentration in intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The 66-credit program covers topics like healthcare for developmental disabilities, intro to positive behavior supports, assisting people with traumatic brain injuries, and dual diagnoses: ID and mental health disorders. The degree concludes with a field experience at a clinic or agency focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and submit transcripts and ACT or SAT test results. All online learners pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency. Online students receive access to an online library, academic advising and support, technology assistance, and disability support.

Founded as the first public community college in New Jersey, Union County College dates back to 1933. Today, the institution serves more than 11,000 online and in-person students. Degree-seekers looking for an online associate degree in human services can enroll in the school's AS in social services.

The 60-credit program includes classes like introduction to social policy and welfare, psychology of adulthood and aging, psychology of personality, and minorities in American life. Students also participate in a co-op requirement during their final year to gain practical experience in the field.

UCC maintains reciprocity agreements with several schools that offer bachelor's programs in complementary subjects. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED and submit transcripts and SAT scores. Union County residents enjoy a tuition discount.

Monroe Community College is part of the State University of New York system and hosts about 12,000 students annually. The online associate degree in human services is designed for learners who want to transfer to a bachelor's program after graduation.

The 62-64-credit hybrid program offers more than 50% of its coursework online. Classes include studies in models of helping, introduction to human services, small group communication, and basic helping skills. During their first three semesters, students complete fieldwork at an approved local site.

Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent. In-state students enjoy a tuition discount.

SUNY Broome Community College serves more than 6,000 learners annually through both traditional and online degree paths. Established in 1946, the school is part of the State University of New York system. Students at SUNY Broome can earn a human services associate degree online, preparing them to transfer to a four-year program.

The 64-credit program includes courses such as human exceptionalism and its assessment, introduction to counseling theory and practice, communicating about ideas and values, and human services public policy. Students culminate the degree with a human service field experience at an approved local organization.

The school offers open enrollment. Admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED/TASC and eligibility for Federal Ability to Benefit. SUNY Broome offers several scholarships and grants for students, and New York residents receive a tuition discount.

Onondaga Community College is part of the State University of New York system. The college offers an online associate of science in human services that leads to professional and academic opportunities in areas like case management, social work, and counseling.

The 62-credit program takes two years of full-time study to complete. Learners study topics like human services theory and resources, introduction to counseling, and introduction to social work practice. Students culminate the degree with a semester-long practicum at an approved local site, gaining experience in the field. Learners must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to graduate.

Applicants need a high school diploma or GED. Some candidates must complete an admission interview. In-state students enjoy a tuition discount.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a public institution and one of 16 schools in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. At BCTC, students can earn a human services associate degree online, preparing them for entry-level roles in mental health, chemical dependency, child and youth services, and family support.

The 60-credit program takes two years of full-time study to complete. Major topics include values of human services in a contemporary society, foundational skills in paraprofessional practice, service coordination for human services professionals, and working with disabilities in human services. Learners can tailor the degree to their interests through nine elective credits.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED and submit transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. In-state students enjoy a tuition discount.