Program Description

The Human Services Associate Degree program trains learners to provide education, support, care, advocacy and/or crisis intervention in a human service agency. Learners acquire the skills needed to work with individuals, groups and communities. Key components of this degree include: cultural awareness and an understanding of diverse cultural groups, a responsible attitude, commitment to serve others and effective communication skills. Learners will gain occupational experience through Field Experience 1 and Field Experience 2.

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$10,858
Tuition: $10161 , Books: $697

Starting Salary

$26,104–$44,200
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).

Available

100% Online

Program Overview Video

An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
100%
at Antigo
100%
at Medford
100%
at Phillips
100%
at Spencer
100%
at Wittenberg
100%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Cultivate professional relationships
  • Apply human services interventions and best practices
  • Utilize community resources
  • Demonstrate professionalism
  • Uphold the Ethical Standards and Values for Human Service Professionals
  • Model a commitment to cultural competence

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Youth Behavior Specialist
  • Direct Support Professional
  • Youth and Adult Worker
  • Mental Health Support Worker

Courses

The Human Services Associate Degree is a 66 Credit program. In addition to our full-time option, we offer eight- and nine-term part-time options.

4 terms (Full-time)

First Term

INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES 3.00
INTRO TO INTERVIEWING & COUNSELING SKILLS 3.00
BOUNDARIES & ETHICS - HELPING PROFESSIONS 3.00
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY 3.00
COLLEGE 101 1.00
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3.00
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3.00

Second Term

PROFESSIONAL READINESS 1.00
UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE USE 3.00
FOUNDATIONS OF CASE MANAGEMENT 3.00
GROUP FACILITATION 3.00
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 3.00

Third Term

FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 2.00
ISSUES IN CHILD MALTREATMENT 3.00
CRISIS INTERVENTION AND STRESS MANAGEMENT 3.00
OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS 3.00
INTRODUCTION TO DIVERSITY STUDIES 3.00
SPEECH 3.00
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3.00

Fourth Term

HUMAN SEXUALITY 3.00
FIELD EXPERIENCE 2 2.00
INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY 3.00
FAMILY SYSTEMS 3.00
EXCEPTIONAL PERSON 3.00
INTRO TO SOCIOLOGY 3.00

8 terms (Part-time)

Year 1

Fall
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES 3.00
INTRO TO INTERVIEWING & COUNSELING SKILLS 3.00
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3.00
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3.00
COLLEGE 101 1.00
Winterim
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00
Spring
FOUNDATIONS OF CASE MANAGEMENT 3.00
BOUNDARIES & ETHICS - HELPING PROFESSIONS 3.00

Year 2

Summer
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 3.00
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY 3.00
Fall
ISSUES IN CHILD MALTREATMENT 3.00
CRISIS INTERVENTION AND STRESS MANAGEMENT 3.00
OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS 3.00
GROUP FACILITATION 3.00
SPEECH 3.00
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3.00
Winterim
INTRODUCTION TO DIVERSITY STUDIES 3.00
Spring
HUMAN SEXUALITY 3.00
FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 2.00
PROFESSIONAL READINESS 1.00
INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY 3.00
UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE USE 3.00

Year 3

Fall
FIELD EXPERIENCE 2 2.00
FAMILY SYSTEMS 3.00
EXCEPTIONAL PERSON 3.00
INTRO TO SOCIOLOGY 3.00

9 terms (Part-time)

Year 1

Fall
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES 3.00
INTRO TO INTERVIEWING & COUNSELING SKILLS 3.00
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3.00
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3.00
COLLEGE 101 1.00
Winterim
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00
Spring
FOUNDATIONS OF CASE MANAGEMENT 3.00
BOUNDARIES & ETHICS - HELPING PROFESSIONS 3.00

Year 2

Summer
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 3.00
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY 3.00
Fall
ISSUES IN CHILD MALTREATMENT 3.00
CRISIS INTERVENTION AND STRESS MANAGEMENT 3.00
OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS 3.00
GROUP FACILITATION 3.00
Winterim
INTRODUCTION TO DIVERSITY STUDIES 3.00
Spring
HUMAN SEXUALITY 3.00
FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 2.00
PROFESSIONAL READINESS 1.00
UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE USE 3.00
SPEECH 3.00
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3.00

Year 3

Summer
INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY 3.00
INTRO TO SOCIOLOGY 3.00
Fall
FIELD EXPERIENCE 2 2.00
FAMILY SYSTEMS 3.00
EXCEPTIONAL PERSON 3.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Pathways

Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.

If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn significant credit towards this Human Services Associate Degree:

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

School Name Degree Name
Franklin University Psychology
Marian University Social Work
Northland College Sociology and Social Justice
Purdue University Global Human Services in Youth/Family Services and Administration
Rasmussen College Human Services
University of Arizona Global Campus Health & Human Services
Upper Iowa University Human Services
Upper Iowa University Human Services for SW Training Certificate
UW Eau Claire BS in Social Work
UW Green Bay BS in Psychology Brain, Behavior & Health Emphasis
UW Green Bay BS in Psychology Developmental Emphasis
UW Green Bay BS in Psychology General Emphasis
UW Green Bay BS in Psychology Mental Health Emphasis
UW Green Bay Social Work
UW Milwaukee Community Engagement and Education (CEED)
UW Oshkosh B.S. in Human Services Leadership
UW Stevens Point Family and Consumer Sciences-Child, Youth and Family Studies
UW Stevens Point Social Work
UW Stevens Point Sociology
UW Stout Human Development and Family Studies
UW Superior Social Work
UW Whitewater Social Work

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Cost of Attendance

2023-2024 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semester Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,713*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$6,900*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,713*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$6,900*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $4,052 $9,614
Books / Supplies $2,061 $2,061
Transportation $2,007 $2,007
Personal Expenses $2,245 $2,245
Loan Fees $83 $83
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$15,161
Out-of-State
$17,348
In-State
$20,723
Out-of-State
$22,910

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2022-2023 academic year with a projected base increase of 1.65%. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

Students with dependent care, computer or study abroad expenses should contact the Financial Aid Office to document allowable expenses which may serve to increase their COA.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Additional Information

Scholarship Opportunities

Collaboration of Wisconsin Rural Investment in Community Healthcare (COW RICH) Grant (for students graduating by Spring 2024)

Additional funding may be available to assist with your training through external sources.

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Before you apply, you should know

  • This program may require a Criminal Background Check and/or Health Record. Acceptance to Northcentral Technical College will not be denied based on a criminal background or health record, however, a check may be required for placement at clinical sites or field experiences.
  • Locally located internship sites cannot be guaranteed. Students may have to move or drive a distance in order to complete internship courses. Scheduled internship attendance days and times for which students must be available vary by agency. Program faculty select, assign, and maintain college contracts with internship sites.

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The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be mailed to you.