Programs And Courses

Social Science
Social Science

Social Services - Associate in Arts (AA) (5060)

Our program is designed to guide you toward furthering your education after HACC. Though, if you choose to find a job after completing your associate degree, you may obtain a position as a social or human services assistant and work directly with clients.

Jump to career information below!

 View program requirements here!

You are most likely to succeed in this position if you:

  • Are reliable, responsible, self-motivated and organized
  • Work well under pressure and with people of all ages and backgrounds
  • Communicate well verbally and in writing

If you choose to continue your education after HACC, you are able to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a variety of social services, such as mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse, gerontology, women’s services and family services.

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We give you the necessary training and education you need to secure positions in a number of social services fields as social or human service assistants. We teach you how to work with people facing problems in living their lives in an ethical manner. You will receive the foundation you need to transfer to a four-year school and pursue your bachelor’s degree in areas, such as:

  • Mental health
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Substance abuse
  • Gerontology
  • Women’s services
  • Family services

During your time at HACC, you are required to take an Introduction to Human Services course that provides an overview of the career opportunities available in the social services or human services fields. This will help you make an informed choice for the direction you wish to pursue.

Additionally, you will complete HUMS 215 - Field Work Practicum in which you will volunteer in a community agency. This will allow you to take the theory you learn and apply it to actual practice. Prior to enrolling in the course, you will need to complete the following background checks:

  • Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
  • FBI Criminal Background Check
  • State Police Criminal Record Check

You will engage with professors who will teach you to:

  • Recognize the characteristics of culturally diverse populations
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families to plan treatments and/or services
  • Perform case management responsibilities in a variety of settings
  • Explain the ethics and laws applicable to the human service field

For the specific requirements, Student Handbook, and Field Work Practicum Handbook, please visit the health careers Social Services web page.

 

 

  • View summaries of every course at HACC by browsing our class schedules database.
  • Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.

Yes! Affordably YOURS, our associate degree is a transfer program and it’s designed to be flexible enough to transfer to a wide variety of four-year colleges and universities with no loss of credit. If your intended transfer school participates in Pennsylvania’s statewide college credit transfer system, you will be able to begin at that school as a junior. Our programs also transfer well to schools outside of the statewide system. However, each individual college has its own unique program. Therefore, we encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so you can take the proper classes at HACC.

Browse our various transfer options:

Bloomsburg University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
California University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Carlow University: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Cheyney University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Clarion University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
East Stroudsburg University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Edinboro University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Elizabethtown College: Social Services into Social Work (pdf)
Geneva College: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Indiana University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Kutztown University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Lincoln University: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Lock Haven University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Mansfield University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Millersville University of PA: Social Services AA to BA Social Work (pdf)
Penn State Harrisburg: Human Development & Family Studies (pdf)
Pennsylvania College of Technology: Social Services to Human Services & Restorative Justice (pdf)
Saint Francis University - Francis Worldwide: Social Services (A.A.) (pdf)
Shippensburg University of PA: Social Services into Social Work (pdf)
Shippensburg University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Slippery Rock University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)
Slippery Rock University of PA: Social Work (pdf)
Temple University: Social Services Associate's to Bachelor of Social Work (pdf)
West Chester University of PA: Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf)

You may complete 75% of our program at the Harrisburg Campus through on-campus/in-person instruction. The remaining coursework must be completed through various modalities (e.g., hybrid, synchronous remote instruction and asynchronous instruction). Also, you may complete this program at the Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses through various modalities (e.g., hybrid, synchronous remote instruction and asynchronous instruction) in addition to on-campus/in-person instruction. 

Yes! Thanks to the HACC Foundation, scholarships are available. Please visit hacc.edu/scholarships to learn how you can apply.

 

 

Our classes are offered in the spring, summer and fall, and you can apply anytime. When you submit your application, please include program code 5060 to ensure you apply to your intended program.

 

 

Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.

Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.

Emily Penner, HACC social services student

Meet Emily: Scholarship Recipient, Future Social Worker

“I chose my major because I grew up in orphanage myself and it is a dream of mine to help families meet their needs.”

Read about how Emily plans to change lives.

Check out more: 

 

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