Human and social services – community corrections

When you finish your associate degree, you’re eligible for employment as an assistant to a social worker, a chemical dependency counselor assistant or a case manager. In the human services field, students are strongly encouraged to transfer their associate degree to a bachelor’s degree program in social work.

You might be employed in any agency working with the elderly, mental health, adult or juvenile criminal justice, substance abuse, homelessness, crisis intervention or any other area where social services are needed.

With specific courses geared to current best practices in this field, this major prepares you to be more effective in working with offenders and the criminal justice system. Many correctional institutions today focus not just on punishing offenders and keeping them away from the public, but also on rehabilitation to help individuals adjust to society and reduce rates of repeat offenders.

You can apply to become an Ohio registered social worker assistant, working under the supervision of a social worker to develop and organize programs related to cases such as substance abuse, rehabilitation and the criminal justice/community corrections programs used by our court systems. You can continue to a bachelor’s degree program to become a social worker. Note: Students in this major often get hired even before graduation.

After you successfully complete your associate degree program, you’ll be eligible to apply to be registered as a social work assistant through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. In Ohio, licensed social workers must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work (social workers might even have a doctoral degree). Different states have different licensing requirements.

Stark State has transfer agreements with several four-year universities that offer social work programs at the bachelor’s degree level. Your advisor can help you determine your best path to a bachelor’s of social work degree.

Salaries vary based on individual agency standards, education and experience. Salaries tend to increase with advanced education and credentialing, and Stark State’s associate degree can smoothly transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. Salary ranges are estimates which can vary due to a number of factors and may change over time.

You can transfer certain classes you’ve taken at other colleges/ universities. Contact admissions at info@starkstate.edu.

While you can’t be licensed in Ohio as a social worker with an associate degree, you can apply to be a registered social worker assistant. For more information, contact the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board at 614-466-0912 or go to cswmft.ohio.gov.

You can enroll as a full-time or part-time student. Part-time enrollment increases the time you need to complete the course requirements. Also, your placement scores may indicate additional remedial coursework is needed. Classes are offered days, evenings and weekends. You’ll need to attend main campus for some of your classes.

The National Association of Social Workers is a professional organization for those employed in the human services field.

Yes, you could qualify for financial aid and/or scholarships. Contact the Financial Aid Office about your eligibility at studentservices@starkstate.edu.

There also are scholarship opportunities for this program.

You’ll be required to complete observation hours at a community agency in addition to 210 hours of a practicum experience.

Stark State offers an associate degree of applied sciences with a major in chemical dependency and gerontology, along with certificates in both gerontology and chemical dependency.