What Courses Do You Take in a Health and Human Services Degree Program?

Key Insights:

• When pursuing a health and human services (HHS) degree, some courses are focused on increasing your knowledge of the HHS field specifically. Others can cover topics related to healthcare, general education, or be geared toward helping you develop skills that are beneficial for this field.
• An HHS program can help you build both professional skills (such as those related to computers or interpersonal professional communication) and soft skills (such as organization, problem-solving, and customer service skills).
• If you're interested in enrolling in a Health and Human Services Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program, UMA offers this option. In addition to providing instruction on important HHS topics, we also offer academic and career support for our learners and alumni.

Health and human services (HHS) professionals promote public health. They often do this by connecting clients with resources designed to address their health and wellness needs. If you're interested in a career in this field, a health and human services degree program can help you prepare.

An associate degree program in health and human services can provide the foundational knowledge to work with a variety of clients, while also helping to strengthen the skills that can support your success in these roles. What types of courses might you take when enrolled in an HHS program?

Health and Human Services Associate Degree Courses

Because health and human services is such a broad field, degree program courses can cover multiple topic areas. Some are specific to the HHS field, while others focus on healthcare topics or general education.

Field-specific courses

Working in health and human services often involves identifying clients' issues and then finding resources that can help address those issues in an effort to meet your clients' needs. As such, it can be helpful to understand how certain challenges may arise, whether on an individual, family, community, or societal level.

A health and human services degree program includes courses that provide this knowledge. For instance, individuals enrolled in Ultimate Medical Academy's (UMA's) Health and Human Services Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program take courses in:

• Public and community health
• Social welfare
• Family dynamics
• Human behavior in social environments

Some health and human services courses can give you a better understanding of what it means to work in this field. Courses that fall into this category include those that cover legal and ethical issues in human services, along with introductory counseling courses.

Healthcare courses

HHS workers interested in working in a healthcare facility or who want to help clients with physical or mental health needs can benefit from increasing their knowledge of human health and healthcare systems.

Healthcare system knowledge can help you prepare clients for what to expect in these types of programs. Knowledge of human health can give you an idea of issues a client may face based on their physical or mental health conditions. This information can then be used to direct clients to the programs suited to help address those issues.

Healthcare-focused health and human services courses can cover:

• Healthcare delivery systems
• Anatomy and physiology
• Human growth and development
• Medical terminology

General education courses

If a health and human services degree program includes classes specific to this field, why look for one that provides general education courses, too? General education courses can give you a broad foundation of knowledge while also helping to develop your reasoning, critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills.¹

General education classes that may be in a health and human services degree program can include:

• English Composition
• Math
• Biology
• Sociology
• Psychology

Important Skills for a Career in Health and Human Services

Health and human services professionals can work with clients who have specific issues or needs. For instance, some HHS workers spend their days trying to help families locate and secure affordable housing. Others work with clients who have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues, assisting them with finding programs designed to address and resolve both concerns at the same time.

Building certain skills can help you perform the functions often required in health and human services roles. They can be split into two general categories: professional skills and soft skills.

Professional skills

Professional skills are those related to the performance of HHS job functions. When developed, these skills can support your success in this field.

In some programs at UMA, we offer courses designed to prepare adult learners for entry-level health and human services positions by promoting their professional skills:

• Computer Fundamentals. This course provides an overview of computer hardware, software, operating systems, and essential applications. Students also explore the impact of computing and the internet on society. Special attention is given to information technology and communication within allied health professions.
• Interpersonal Professional Communications. In this course, students are introduced to written and verbal communication strategies that can help enhance their ability to be successful in the allied healthcare field. Topics include the steps for developing business documents and presentation materials, along with meeting management skills.
• Career Success. Students in this course have the opportunity to revisit their professional goals as they prepare to enter the workforce. Through the exploration of job search skills, resume writing, interview preparation, and more, students can apply these essentials to a career in the healthcare field.

Soft skills

Soft skills are qualities or personal attributes that can enhance your interactions with others in the workplace. Soft skills that can be beneficial for workers in the HHS field include:²

• Communication skills. Having good listening skills enables you to better understand clients' concerns and identify their specific needs. It's equally important to accurately and effectively communicate these concerns and needs to the programs available. A health and human services program that helps you build communication skills can support your success in your job role.
• Interpersonal skills. As an HHS worker, you may have clients with sensitive or personal needs. The ability to get them to open up about the issues they face can help you gain a clearer understanding of the programs that may assist them. This is where interpersonal skills come into play. Using these skills can help a client feel more comfortable when speaking with you. Compassion and empathy are two qualities related to interpersonal skills and can enhance the worker-client relationship.
• Problem-solving skills. Many health and human services professionals are tasked with finding ways to address clients' issues. Developing problem-solving skills can help you identify solutions that exist, narrowing them down to find ones that may best address the client's most problematic issues.
• Organizational skills. Part of a health and human services worker's role is case management, which involves advocating for clients and guiding them through the process.³ It's important to keep their case files organized so you can easily find the information you need. Having strong organizational skills can also make it easier to recognize whether any additional paperwork may need to be completed to get your clients the services that could help them most.
• Customer service skills. Whether offering information or assistance, HHS roles are responsible for providing good client or customer service. These individuals are often reliant on workers to help find the appropriate programs to address their needs. If their service is your priority, it can help drive you to achieve this goal.

Do You Need a Health and Human Services Degree to Enter This Field?

A high school diploma is typically needed for entry-level roles. That said, some employers may require or prefer job candidates who have an associate or bachelor's degree.

Even if a formal career training program is not required, these courses can help provide the knowledge and skills needed to perform health and human services functions. They may also allow you to stand out from job applicants who lack this education.

UMA Offers a Health and Human Services Degree Online

If you're interested in pursuing a health and human services degree, UMA is here to help. We offer an online Health and Human Services Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program that includes courses in health and human services, healthcare, general education, and skills important in this field.

This program can help prepare you to pursue an entry-level health and human services role in 18 months or more.⁴ Since it is online, it enables you to obtain your degree without commuting to and from campus. This can offer flexible study time, enabling you to tend to your work and family obligations while pursuing your associate degree.

Contact us to learn more about this degree program or, if you're ready, to enroll!

FAQs

• What are health and human services? Health and human services are programs and services designed to promote the health and wellness of individuals, families, communities, and/or society as a whole. Individuals working in this field are often tasked with connecting clients with resources designed to address their specific needs.
• What is a health and human services degree? A health and human services degree is an educational credential provided upon the completion of a formal career training program. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers an associate degree in health and human services. It also has agreements with several partner schools. This can provide the opportunity to apply certain UMA credits toward select programs of study, which means you could earn your bachelor's degree in less time than it traditionally takes.⁵
• Can I get a health and human services degree online? Yes! You can pursue your health and human services degree online at UMA. This enables you to train for a growing field⁶ from home.
• Why should I pursue my associate degree in health and human services at UMA? In addition to receiving instruction on HHS topics and job performance skills, UMA prides itself on its learner support. If you have questions about your courses, could benefit from academic support, or would like job search assistance, UMA team members are available to help. Check out our Student Services to learn more.