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Major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies

The major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies is based upon the humanistic philosophy that all human beings have worth and potential. The undergraduate program in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies is committed to preparing students to maximize the participation, potential and functioning of all community members regardless of their culture, ethnicity, disability status, etc. Therefore, the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies curriculum draws it vitality from faculty and students who embrace Father d'Alzon's belief that "hope is the anchor of life". It is within this context that the liberal arts are integrated with the study of human, disability, and rehabilitation services. A significant distinction of the HRS curriculum is its culmination in an internship that enables students to develop and refine the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary for working as human service professionals and more specifically working with people with disabilities in rehabilitation settings. After completion of the undergraduate program in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies students are prepared to work in a wide range of human service professions including organizations that provide services to children, adolescents, adults, the elderly and individual's with disabilities.

The major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies is committed to preparing students to achieve the following:

Thorough understanding of the social, psychological, economic, physical, medical, cultural, and other environmental factors faced by individuals who are to be helped through their involvement in the human and rehabilitation services.
Thorough understanding of the history, philosophy and legislation that comprises the underpinnings of the human and rehabilitation service professions.
Understanding of the history, treatment and education of people with disabilities and special needs.
Thorough understanding of human development across the lifespan.
Knowledge in developmental, physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychiatric disabilities.
Thorough understanding of the roles and functions of human and rehabilitation service practitioners in a wide variety of professional settings.
Skills in effective verbal communication through intense study and practice of interviewing and basic counseling skill training.
Skills in effective written communication through intense study and practice of research report writing, client report writing, and the standards of case documentation.
Skills in utilizing client information and assessment in an effort to assist clients to solve problems and reach life goals.
Skills in locating and utilizing community resources in an effort to assist clients solve problems and reach life goals.
Knowledge of interventions and strategies employed to assist children and adults in a variety of human service and rehabilitation settings.
Thorough understanding and developed skills in the case management process.
Thorough understanding of the ethical principles and standards that affect the delivery of human and rehabilitation services.
Thorough understanding of the importance of career development and employment and will have skills to assist clients reach vocational goals.
Successful demonstration of the integration of classroom principles into professional practice by completing a supervised internship in a human service setting.

The major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies provides a strong undergraduate foundation for graduate professional education in a variety of health and human service-related fields including rehabilitation counseling, social work, special education, speech-language pathology, counseling psychology, school counseling, school psychology, adjustment counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, etc.

Required Courses:

The major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies requires the successful completion of the following courses:

First Year:

HRS 119: Introduction to Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (Fall/Spring)
HRS 121: Psychological, Social, and Developmental Aspects of Disability (Fall/Spring)

Sophomore Year:

HRS 200: Addiction: Etiology, Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (Fall/Spring)
HRS 210: Medical Aspects of Disability (Fall/Spring)
HRS 219: Rehabilitation Strategies and Interventions (Fall/Spring)

Junior Year:

HRS 305: Client Information and Assessment (Fall)
HRS 320: Psychiatric Rehabilitation (Fall/Spring)
HRS 330: Interviewing Techniques in Human Services (Fall)
HRS 340: Principles of Case Management (Spring)

Senior Year:

HRS 490: Internship in Human Services (Fall/Spring)

Students are also required to complete one course in each of the following perspective areas for the major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies:

Psychological Perspective (Choose One):

PSY 116: Abnormal Psychology
PSY 140: Psychology of Personality
PSY 181: Psychology of Adolescence & Maturity
PSY 190: Psychology of Development: Infancy & Childhood
PSY 210: Social Psychology

Cultural Perspective (Choose One):

ANT 131: Cultural Anthropology
ANT 225: Women and Men in a Cross-cultural Perspective
ANT 254: North American Indian
ANT 255: Interaction with Indians in North America
SOC 216: Racial and Ethnic Relations
SOC 224: Gender Issues in Society
SOC 230: Aging in Society
PSY 186: Psychology of Aging
PSY 117: Psychology of Women
HIS 269: History of African Americans
HIS 213: Women & the American Experience
SOC 206: The Sociology of Urban Life
SOC 216: Racial and Ethnic Relations
SOC 285: Women's Studies I: Images

Societal, Family Perspective (Choose One):

SOC 122: Social Problems
SOC 223: The Family in Society
HRS 420: Family Aspects of Disability
EDU 201: Schools and Society

Electives:

Although not required for the major in Human and Rehabilitation Services, electives are recommended. Students are encouraged to choose from the following course offerings:

PSY 225: Research Methods
PSY 265: Statistics
SOC 206: The Sociology of Urban Life
SOC 232: Inequality and Society
SOC 234: Social Policy
SOC 300: Words and Numbers: Tools of Sociological Analysis
HRS 225: Introduction to Human Communication and its Disorders
HRS 227: Hearing and Deafness
HRS 228: Introduction to Sign Language
HRS 265: Introduction to Peace Studies
HRS 329: Sign Language II
HRS 420: Family Aspects of Disability
HRS 421: Loss and Bereavement
HRS 422: Community-Based Corrections
HRS 485A: Special Topics: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
HRS 485B: Special Topics: Introduction to Counseling Children and Adolescents in Applied Settings
HRS 485C: Special Topics: Conflict Resolution
HRS 485 D: Special Topics: Phonetics

Minor in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies

Students interested in supplementing another major by developing knowledge and skills in the areas of human services and rehabilitation studies may wish to pursue a minor. The minor consists of six courses, four of which are required. The four required courses are designed to provide students with a firm understanding of the range and diversity of human and rehabilitation service settings. The minor is also geared toward providing students with some core skills required of a human service professional. The minor also provides students with the opportunity to apply these fundamental skills by completing a 100 hour field placement experience. In addition to the four required courses, students are encouraged to choose two other HRS courses that suit their individual interests and career objectives. The minor program of study should be developed with a faculty member from the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies Department and approved by the Department Chairperson.

Required Courses:

HRS 119: Introduction to Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies
HRS 340: Principles of Case Management
HRS 330: Interviewing Techniques
HRS 400: Individual in the Community (Field Placement for non-majors)

Choose two courses from the following list:

HRS 121: Psychological, Social, and Developmental Aspects of Disability
HRS 200: Addiction: Etiology, Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation
HRS 210: Medical Aspects of Disability
HRS 219: Rehabilitation Strategies and Interventions
HRS 225: Introduction to Human Communication and its Disorders
HRS 227: Hearing and Deafness
HRS 228: Introduction to Sign Language
HRS 265: Introduction to Peace Studies
HRS 305: Client Information and Assessment
HRS 320: Psychiatric Rehabilitation
HRS 329: Sign Language II
HRS 420: Family Aspects of Disability
HRS 421: Loss and Bereavement
HRS 422: Community-Based Corrections
HRS 485A: Special Topics: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
HRS 485B: Special Topics: Introduction to Counseling Children and Adolescents in Applied Settings
HRS 485 C: Special Topics: Conflict Resolution
HRS 485 D: Special Topics: Phonetics

Concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders

For students interested in pursuing graduate studies in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies offers a concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In accordance with the standards set forth by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) undergraduate preparation in human communication sciences and disorders should include "broad educational experiences in areas traditionally recognized as liberal arts…with a strong foundation in oral and written communication skills". Thus, the concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders builds on Assumption College's strong liberal arts foundation with courses specifically focused on human communication, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, as well as biological and physical sciences. The Concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a program offered through the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies department at Assumption College with some required courses taken at Worcester State College, a member of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium.

Required Courses:

Communication Science Courses:

HRS 22: Introduction to Human Communication and its Disorders
HRS 485A: Special Topics: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms (Fall-Assumption College) OR
CD110: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms (Spring-Worcester State College)
CD115: Normal Development of Speech and Language (Fall/Spring- Worcester State College)
HRS 485D: Special Topics: Phonetics (Spring-Assumption College) OR
CD 205: Phonetics (Fall-Worcester State College)
CD 201: Hearing Science (Fall-Worcester State College)
Prerequisites: CD 105 and CD 110
CD 202: Speech Science (Fall-Worcester State College)

Behavioral Science Courses:

PSY 190: Psychology of Development: Infancy and Childhood (Fall/Spring)

Choose one other course in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, Psychology OR Sociology

Other required Courses:

1 Mathematics Course
1 Statistics Course
1 Biology Course
1 Physics or Chemistry Course
1 Science Lab required

Employment Opportunities:

New England Center for Children (NECC)
Catholic Social Services
Cascade Disability Management
UMASS-Early Intervention Programs
Department of Youth Services
Rainbow Child Development Center
Genesis Club
Mercy Centre for Developmental Disabilities
Jewish Family Services
Public Schools of Massachusetts
Youth Opportunities Upheld, INC.
May Institute
Massachusetts Department of Social Services
Brigham and Women's Hospital-Boston
Devereaux School
American Red Cross
Jewish Health Car

Six-in-Five Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling

The Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies has an accelerated path toward helping undergraduate students obtain a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. The Six-in-Five Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling is open to all students at Assumption College regardless of their declared major. Undergraduate students that have completed general education requirements and the required courses in their major may begin the graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling during their senior year. Upon completion of one additional year of graduate study (the fifth year), students will be awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Students are then eligible to take the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination and become nationally certified as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Upon completion of this nationally accredited program in Rehabilitation Counseling, students have a number of professional options. Students can gain employment as a professional rehabilitation counselor in State Rehabilitation Agencies, Hospitals, Educational Settings, Private Settings, Insurance Based Settings, Independent Living Centers, etc. The Master's Degree will enable students to achieve professional counselor status and improved prospects for advancement into supervisory positions. Students can also use the Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling for entry into a Doctoral Program.

Students interested in the Six-in-Five Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling should consult with the Chair of the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies no later than February 1st of their junior year at Assumption College.

Admission to the Six-in-Five Program in Rehabilitation Counseling requires a strong undergraduate record of academic success. Interested students will apply to the program by submitting a letter of application to the HRS Chairperson and submitting 2 academic letters of reference along with a transcript. Application materials are accepted until March 1st.

Once admitted to the Six-in-Five Program in Rehabilitation Counseling, students will begin taking graduate courses during their undergraduate senior year. On-going evaluation of student progress will take place during the senior year to ensure students are successfully completing graduate level coursework. During the spring semester of the senior year students with successful achievement will make application to Assumption College's Graduate School and be admitted as official graduate students. Financial support such as grants and scholarships are available to qualified students.

Did you Know?

20% of Assumption undergraduate students are first-generation college students.