In the Human Services Program, we practice a special mix of learning and doing. The program delivers a structured combination of academics and supervised clinical experiences that give you the knowledge, skills and values you need for meaningful careers in social work, health care, community advocacy, rehabilitation, education and law.
The Human Services curriculum and career-oriented fieldwork are designed to address human needs and improve, often transform, lives through prevention and remediation. Theory and practice are effectively balanced to empower you to meet your educational and career goals.
An interdisciplinary Liberal Arts curriculum provides the basis for understanding the issues that shape and constrain our communities. As a Human Services major, you would take courses in social-work theory and practice, sociology, anthropology and political science. Further, a special topics course and electives allow you to delve deeply into areas of individual interest, such as substance abuse, disabilities, child welfare, or immigration. The program cultivates your talents for asking questions, communicating effectively and offering appropriate counsel.
You’ll be immersed in service learning and experiential education through intensive, prolonged fieldwork experiences in preparation to enter the human services workforce. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in year-long fieldwork placements in human service organizations—like hospitals, clinics, service facilities and government agencies. There, you’ll begin integrating and applying the content covered in the classroom. Our outstanding, expert faculty are dedicated to student-centered teaching. At Guttman, we take pride in being accessible, building positive relationships and providing mentorship, and we strive to create an inclusive, supportive and collaborative learning environment. The Human Services program fosters your intellectual, cultural, social and emotional development while enhancing your personal and professional growth.
Philosophy
As a human service professional, you would deal with psychologically, socially, medically, physically and economically vulnerable populations that need society’s protections. Human service workers are crucial to a healthy, compassionate society. The Human Services program at Guttman is dedicated to providing a supportive, collaborative and experiential learning environment, one that seeks to nurture and challenge you. Through acquiring the basic knowledge, skills, and values in Human Services, you can make a difference in the lives of the clients you serve. At the core of our program philosophy is a commitment to social justice, service to others through strength-based models of ethical professional practice.
Our program recognizes that education should reflect a student-centered process within which you’ll have opportunities for reflective learning along with knowledge and skill development. Intellectual inquiry immerses you in multiple perspectives, theories and disciplines, anchoring us in the diverse lived experiences of self and others. With a deep commitment to making a difference, you’ll discover ways to intervene with individuals, groups, and communities and to facilitate processes for systems analysis, problem-solving, advocacy, and social change.
To promote career readiness within the curriculum, the Program implements course design and experiences that promote and incorporate the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) Career Competencies:
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Oral/Written Communication
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Digital Technology
- Leadership
- Professionalism/Work Ethic
- Career Management
- Global/Intercultural Fluency
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Human Services program, you’ll be able to:
- Recognize the scope and principal features of the human services field of study, including its main modalities, employment opportunities, advanced degrees and licensing/certification requirements.
- Identify values, beliefs, roles, skills and strategies of human services work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical interactions within a variety of human services agencies.
- Analyze and interpret health and social welfare policies over time for applications in advocacy and social change.
- Identify, evaluate and apply appropriate evidence-based research in everyday practice.
Experiences
Students in the Human Services Program are required to complete HSVC 201: Fieldwork & Integrative Seminar I and HSVC 203: Fieldwork & Integrative Seminar II, a two-semester course sequence designed to provide an immersive experience in a professional, human services workplace setting. In Fieldwork & Integrative Seminars I and II, you’ll spend 125 hours per semester—a total of 250 hours—at partnering organizations that have agreed to provide supervision and support for human services interns from Guttman Community College.
The Center for Career Preparation and Partnership (CCPP) is instrumental in connecting the Program with human services organizations and agencies where you’ll complete your fieldwork. Some of these agencies include:
- Early Childhood Programs, Youth Programs, and Schools
- Employment Training Programs
- City/State Government Agencies and Public Housing
- Criminal Justice Settings, Court Houses, Legal Aid, and Victim’s Assistance Programs
- Food and Nutrition Agencies, such as Healthy CUNY Advocates-CUNY Urban Food
- Homeless Shelters and Soup Kitchens, such as Meatloaf Kitchen
- Nursing Homes and Senior Centers, such as the New Jewish Home
- Multi-Service Centers, such as Sunnyside Community Services
- Hospitals, such as BronxCare Health System (formerly Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center)
- Addiction Treatment Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, and Mental Health Clinics, such as Housing Works
- Settlement Houses, such as Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement
- Faith-Based Organizations, such as Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc.
Fieldwork Resources
The following fieldwork resources are for agency supervisors and human services students enrolled in Fieldwork and Integrative Seminar I and II.
Requirements
The associate degree (A.A.) in Human Services requires the completion of 60 credits. Please refer to course descriptions for information on pre-requisites and/or co-requisites. For more information on potential paths to degree completion, review the Human Services Degree Map.
Transfer Opportunities
An articulation agreement is a written contract or partnership between Guttman Community College and a senior college/university that outlines agreed upon coursework that will transfer over to that particular institution. When you complete your coursework and meet the requirements specified by the receiving institution(s) upon applying, you will be admitted and those completed courses will be applied towards the baccalaureate degree.
The Human Services Program has articulation agreements with the following institutions:
- Lehman College, CUNY
- New York City College of Technology (City Tech), CUNY
- York College, CUNY
- College of Staten Island – Social Work (BS), CUNY
In addition to the above articulation agreements, Liberal Arts students at Guttman are also eligible to participate in the CUNY Justice Academy program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. This unique program provides you with robust advising and academic support as you transition to John Jay’s campus. Please see below for more information from the CUNY Justice Academy website:
What Is CUNY Justice Academy?
The CUNY Justice Academy (CJA) is a partnership of six CUNY community colleges with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to help you make the transition to a baccalaureate degree. Being part of the CJA puts you on track to complete your bachelor’s degree at John Jay College.
How Does It Work?
By majoring in a participating program at the CUNY community colleges, you are automatically part of the CJA and receive dual admission into corresponding B.A. programs at John Jay College. When you successfully complete the first 60 credits and meet your community college requirements, you not only receive an associate degree from the partner campus, but you are also rewarded with the option of guaranteed admission to John Jay where you will be on track to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Benefits of The CJA
- Have guaranteed admission to John Jay College. When you successfully complete your Community College requirements, you not only receive an Associates degree but are rewarded with guaranteed admission to John Jay provided you meet the minimum entrance requirements.
- Avoid forms and fees. As a CJA student, you do not have to fill out an application for John Jay College or pay a seat deposit fee.
- Make your community college credits count. As a CJA member, you can apply your community college credits towards a bachelor’s degree. CJA ensures that you do not waste time and money by taking the wrong courses toward your bachelor’s degree.
- Start at John Jay as a third-year student. As a CJA member, you can transition to John Jay College with your associate’s degree and start as a third-year student in a bachelor’s degree program.
- Stay connected. Students who stay connected have a better chance of graduating. Read more about how CJA helps you stay connected.
Advisory Board
External stakeholders committed to access and excellence in public higher education are vital members of the Guttman community. We value their expertise in Human Services, their contributions to the field and their support for our program of study.
Guttman Human Services Advisory Board Members
2023-2024
- Deborah Asirifi, The Fresh Air Fund, Director of Support
- Nicola Blake, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Guttman Community College
- Courtney Carrera Ghatan, Deputy Division Director, Children’s Aid Society
- Hannah Cook-Millson, Coordinator of Partnership for Inclusion, NYC Department of Social Services
- Diana Delgado, M.S.W., Director, Senior Center Programs, Neighborhood SHOPP
- Patricia Jean, Interim Director, Center for Career Preparation and Partnerships (CCPP)
- Patricia Dempsey D.S.W., L.C.S.W.-R., B.C.D., Associate Professor and Director of the BSW Program, Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, CUNY
- Susannah DePalo, Vice President, ADHC Operations, Housing Works
- Nancy Dessables, M.S.W., Fieldwork Coordinator, Guttman Community College
- Maureen Doyle, Ph.D., Program Director, Human Services, Professor, Department of Health Sciences, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY
- Marcia Edwards, Ed.D., L.M.S.W., Department Chair and Professor of Human Services, Guttman Community College
- Tara N. Gardner, Executive Director, Day Care Council of New York
- David Garza, President & CEO, Henry Street Settlement
- Nancy Genova, M.P.A., Director, Coordinating Prenatal Care Coalition, Grant and Program Development, BronxCare Health System (formerly Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center)
- Lisa Hale Rose, D.S.W., Program Coordinator and Professor of Human Services, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), CUNY
- Larry Johnson, Jr., President of Guttman Community College
- Juline Koken, Ph.D., Program Director, Human Services, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY
- Molly Krakowski, Director of Legislative Affairs, Jewish Association Serving the Aged (JASA)
- Nicole Kras, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Human Services, Guttman Community College
- Susan Letteney, D.S.W., M.S.W., B.S., Professor of Social Work, School of Health Sciences and Professional Programs, York College, CUNY
- Jose Lozano, Family Support Supervisor at Masa
- Jemma Marens, M.S.W., Aging Services Coordinator, Isaacs Center
- Carl Mazza, D.S.W., L.M.S.W., Department Chair and Associate Professor of Social Work, Lehman College, CUNY
- Percelene McLaine, L.M.S.W., M.S.W., Director of Interim Field Education, Department of Social Work, Nyack College – Manhattan Campus
- Lenny Moise, Director of Human Resources, Sinergia
- Sala A. Oxford, C.A.S.A.C.-T., M.S. M.H.C., Community Outreach Case Manager, NORC Program, Jewish Association Serving the Aged (JASA) – Riverton Square
- Farah Reynoso Penalo ’19, Guttman Alum, Human Services
- Jemely Perez, Youth Peer Advocate and Guttman Alum, Human Services
- Andrew J. Peters, M.S.W., Director of Social Work and Engagement at Educatfieldional Alliance
- Rachel Samuel, Assistant Director of Student Support, Columba University School of Nursing
- Paula Sigcho, Guttman Human Services Student
- Anya Y. Spector, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., Associate Professor of Human Services, Guttman Community College
- Katherine Stavrianopoulos, Ph.D., Department Chair and Associate Professor of Counseling and Human Services, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Achievement Indicators
Accreditation
CSHSE Accredited Program