Program Description

Advisory Board

Department

The Health and Human Services curriculum offers the student both theoretical and practical learning experiences to prepare for professional responsibilities as a human services generalist. Knowledge and commitment to basic individual and social problems, as well as a foundation of practice skills, are the basis of the curriculum. Skills, attitudes, and knowledge of research are competencies which are developed on five levels of study, ranging from self-awareness to multicultural consciousness.

Once the student has completed Introduction to Human Services Across the Life Span and The Dynamics of Interviewing as well as the supportive liberal arts and sciences, the first field placement begins. Community organizations, centers for the elderly, rehabilitation programs, mental health and counseling agencies, self-help units, advocacy groups, recreation facilities and planning agencies are examples of field placement settings. Each field experience is accompanied by a weekly seminar guided by a faculty member, and ongoing supervision by a human service professional. Thus, the student has opportunities to discuss problems and difficulties as they occur in practical situations. Certain theory courses in the many health and human services disciplines (i.e., gerontology, mental health, criminal justice, child care, rehabilitation) along with specific skill courses (i.e., Group Dynamics, Counseling) are offered to supplement and enhance field experience. The student rounds out his/her Health and Human Services career program with required and elective courses in liberal arts and free electives.

Health and Human Service career tracks are addressed by specific certificate programs approved by the New York State Education Department. They are Chemical Dependency, Disability Studies, and Services for Older Americans.

Students may earn the Health and Human Services degree in either the day or evening program or both. Credits for life/work experience can also be earned by students who have had previous experience in related areas.

Mental Health
The Mental Health concentration affords students the expertise with which to function in an array of roles such as counselor, case manager, group leader and supervisor in a broad range of both specialist and generalist organizations in both community mental health and in care mental health arenas in the state and local systems.

Health and Human Services Curriculum

 

 

Credit Distribution
Bachelor of Science

Career Component		Credit Hours
HHS 100	Introduction to Human Services Across the Life Span	3
HHS 120	The Dynamics of Interviewing	3
HHS 264	Counseling	3
HHS 277	Field Experience I	3
HHS 301	Program Planning and Administration	3
HHS 347	Organizational Structure and Communication	3
HHS 350	Ethics for the Human Services Professions	3
HHS 377	Field Experience II	6
HHS 401	Integrated Foundations	3
HHS 477	Field Experience III	6
	Minimum Career Credit Hours	36

Computer Information Systems Component
CIS 115 or above	Computer Information Systems 115 or above	3

General Education Component
*GEN 110	Medaille Experience	3
GEN 220	Concepts of American Culture: Early Foundations and Enduring Themes	3
GEN 230	Creative Expression	3
GEN 240	Scientific Discovery	3
GEN 410	Baccalaureate Capstone I	3
GEN 411	Baccalaureate Capstone II	3
	Minimum General Education Credit Hours	18

Humanities Component
SPE 130	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
WRT 175	College Writing II	3
WRT 200	Analytical Writing	3
	Minimum Humanities Credit Hours	9

Social Sciences Component
PSY 100	Introduction to Psychology	3
PSY 349 or PSY 370	Psychology of Adulthood or Abnormal Human Behavior	3
SSC 200	Human Relations	3
SOC 100	Introduction to Sociology	3
SOC 240 or SOC 401	Family in Society or Social Problems	3
	Minimum Social Sciences Credit Hours	15

Mathematics/Science Component
BIO 101	Biology	3
BIO 110	Human Nutrition	3
**MAT 114	Intermediate Algebra	3
MAT 201	Statistics and Society	3
	Minimum Mathematics/Science Credit Hours	12

Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective Component Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives (May include any APY, ART, BIO, CHE, CRJ, DAN, ECO, FRE, GEN, GEO, HIS, HUM, LNG, LIT, MAT, MUS, PHI, PHY, POL, PSY, RDG, SSC, SOC, SPA, SPE, THE, WRT course)		6
(300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective (May include any APY, ART, BIO, CHE, CRJ, DAN, ECO, FRE, GEN, GEO, HIS, HUM, LNG, LIT, MAT, MUS, PHI, PHY, POL, PSY, RDG, SSC, SOC, SPA, SPE, THE, WRT course)		3
	Minimun Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective Component	9

Free Elective Component (May include any college course)

18

TOTAL

120

*Required of first-year students; all other students must substitute a Free Elective.

**Students who meet the math competnecy must substitute a Free Elective.

Health and Human Services Concentration

Mental Health (18 credit hours)
HHS 230	Principles and Practice of Forensic Mental Health	3
HHS 375	Pharmacology for Human Service Professionals in a Residential Facility	3
HHS 377	Field Experience II (in Mental Health)	6
HHS 456	Rehabilitation Services	3
HHS 461	Mental Health Services and Systems	3

Page Updated 10/18/00 (lak)

Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214

Phone: (716) 884-3281; FAX: (716) 884-0291 

email: Academic Affairs