Associate of Arts, Social Work Concentration

Social work is a profession for people that have a strong desire to serve the needs of other people. Social workers work in virtually any organization that strives to meet human needs. The demand for social workers, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, is expected to grow faster than average.
In Texas, a bachelors degree in social work is required to become licensed. The Associate of Arts degree in Social Sciences with a Concentration in Social Work, therefore, is a two-year program of study for individuals who want to transfer to a four-year college or university. Students completing this degree can transfer to the University of Texas Pan American and complete the Bachelor of Social Work degree in two years.
This degree program is also ideal for human service workers who wish to make themselves more proficient in currently held employment. After completion of this degree program, the student will be prepared to work in a variety of public and private human service settings, including programs in schools and hospitals, juvenile detention and residential facilities, crisis centers, information and referral programs, hospices, housing programs, nursing homes, home health agencies, adult daycare centers, and other organizations and agencies which offer services to humans in need.
Instruction includes a mixture of courses to prepare the student to enter the field as a generalist practitioner. Some courses, therefore, concentrate on skills development (e.g., interviewing, counseling, assessment, case management, documentation, etc.). Other courses examine the historical evolution of social welfare services, the development of social welfare policies and programs, and the dynamics of agencies and organizations through which services are offered. Two introductory courses focusing on the elderly and people with chemical addictions are also included in the program. In the last semester of the program, students are required to take a practicum course designed to integrate what the student has learned with actual practice in a human service setting. This degree program also offers two introductory courses in social work and social welfare which are transferable to undergraduate social work programs four-year institutions.

Associate of Applied Science, Health and Human Services Degree Plan