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Your Curriculum

Mental Health/Human Service (2008-2009)*
(Restricted Entry, Associate of Applied Science Degree Program)

*Information regarding the requirements for this Restricted Entry program is available by accessing the Admission Requirements page.

MHCC Faculty Advisors
Leslie Allen: 503-491-7178 - Room AC 2765 Leslie.Allen@mhcc.edu
Dr. Ann Bonner: 503-491-7425 - Room AC 2771 Ann.Bonner@mhcc.edu
Kathleen Hannigan-McNamara: 503-491-7403 - Room AC 2774 Kathleen.Hannigan-McNamara@mhcc.edu

Mental Health/Human Service is a tremendously diverse field of study devoted to preparing students as professionals in mental health, addictions counseling, community corrections, youth work and gerontology. Classroom study and practical experiences are combined to prepare the student to work in community and institutional treatment facilities. These facilities deal with the emotional, social and physical needs of the chemically dependent, the adolescent, the mentally ill and the elderly, as well as others. Courses include basic information in group dynamics, community resources, case management, interviewing, and other helping skills.

This two-year course of study is designed to meet transfer requirements for Portland State University’s Child and Family Studies Program and Concordia University’s Social Work Program through formal agreements with these institutions. Interested students should contact program advisers for additional information.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• discuss the emergence of various human services and the forces that influenced their development
• understand the structure and dynamics of organizations, communities, and society as well as the nature of individuals and groups to appropriately respond to human needs
• compare and contrast the needs that arise in identifiable human conditions such as aging, delinquency, crime, poverty, mental illness, physical illness, chemical dependency, and developmental disabilities
• assess client needs and select interventions that will assist clients in promoting optimal functioning, growth and goal
  attainment
• periodically evaluate the results of interventions and use the results to adjust a client’s plan
• obtain, organize, analyze, evaluate, disseminate and record information such as client data and statistical information to provide the delivery of human services
• attain and develop a core of intervention knowledge, theory, and skills to become a change agent for clients
• create genuine and empathetic relationships with clients
• demonstrate the values and ethics that are intrinsic to the human services profession
• develop awareness of his/her values, cultural bias, philosophies, personality, and style and how these personal characteristics affect clients
• demonstrate professional interviewing skills
• establish and maintain professional relationships with instructors and peers
• demonstrate writing skills appropriate to clinical documentation

Prospective students must satisfactorily meet admission program criteria and the application deadline to be considered for admission. Applications are available on our web site at www.mhcc.edu/LRadmissions. Once you have read the application packet, if you have questions, please call 503-491-7165.

Please check the MHCC website for any curricular changes that have occurred since the catalog was published.

Curriculum Tracks

1. Chemical Dependency Counselor/Addictions
   HS142 Addiction Theories (F) 3
   HS143 Treatment of Addiction (Sp) 3
2. Youth Worker
   HS153 Principles of Youth Development 3
   HS154 Juvenile Risk Assessment 3
3. Transfer Track Electives
   Please see MHCC adviser before selecting
   MTH105 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics 4
   MTH111 Pre-Calculus I: Elementary Functions 5
   Foreign Language elective⁶
   Lab Science elective⁷

1 Courses open to professionals in the human services field. Students must apply for college admission as a general studies major at www.mhcc.edu/admissions .
2 Students may not use demonstrated proficiency on the College Placement Test (CPT) to satisfy this requirement.
3 Courses must be taken concurrently.
4 Tracks A and B refer to related courses that allow the student to include further specialization within their AAS degree. Track A references courses related to chemical dependency and Track B references courses related to working with youth. Over the course of the program, the student will select two courses from either Track A ONLY or Track B ONLY or from the Transfer Track Electives (C) list ONLY.
5 Students who plan to transfer to PSU or Concordia should consult with a program adviser before making selection.
6 Students following the transfer track who wish to complete a BA degree will need to complete 2 years of a foreign language or show proficiency. Please consult with your MHCC faculty adviser.
7 Select from the Science distribution list on page 14 - lab science courses are designated with an L.

‡See pages 7-10 of the printed catalog.

Program Web Link:
www.mhcc.edu/pages/1228.asp

Transfer Schools Web Links:
Portland State University - http://www.ssw.pdx.edu/_undergraduate.php
Concordia University - http://www.cu-portland.edu