Employment Opportunities
Graduates from the Human Services Professional Diploma Program may be successfully employed in a variety of settings that include, but are not exclusive to, public and private educational settings, social and community service providers offering assistance to individuals requiring physical and cognitive rehabilitation and lifestyle maintenance – including leisure integrative programs, children and youth at risk, and supporting individuals requiring social work assistant intervention.
Employment possibilities may include but are not limited to:
- Education Assistant
- Child and Family Youth Counselor
- Settlement Worker
- Respite Specialist Worker
- Youth Worker
- Supports for Community Living Worker
- Teen Programmer
- Residential Youth Worker
- Child Development Facilitator
- Child and Family Support Worker
- Intake Worker
- Literacy Facilitator
- Immigrant Aid Support Worker
- Outreach Worker
Human Services Professional students and graduates are required to work in varied capacities with diverse responsibilities. They must also deal with clients with varied backgrounds, learning levels and learning styles.
Introduction
Up to this point in time traditional colleges and universities have offered a variety of single discipline programs. However, through field research and hosting focus groups with industry professionals, employers, and educators, Columbia College discovered that, in fact, the helping professions studied have a clear demand for and a definite shortage of employees trained in more than one discipline. As a result Columbia College’s Human Services Professional Department has opened its doors if you are seeking diversity in your training, challenge in your professional life and you also have a strong desire to commit to serving the community and the citizens.
The Human Services Professional Certificate and Diploma will equip you not only with diverse (multi-discipline: education services, social work assistance, child and youth services, and rehabilitation services) training thus giving you an employment advantage over students training in one discipline; it also addresses the serious shortfall of qualified professionals employers are demanding. A Columbia College Human Services Professional graduate is able to fit into organizations and positions that require individuals to take on a variety of positions or duties within four disciplines.
The men and women who enroll in this dynamic program must possess qualities that match the need of both future employers and the clients to whom they provide service. The program seeks individuals who are sincere, caring and motivated. Those who are hard working, committed, and display a genuine interest in the future of children, youth and adults in need, to whom they provide service, will do well in the program. Flexibility in working in challenging settings and possessing the ability to deal with management, peers and children, youth and adults with a wide variety of backgrounds, attitudes, beliefs and needs is a definite asset for any candidate entering this field.
Program Description
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The Human Services Professional Department offers two programs.The first year is an accelerated one-year Certificate program completed in 25 weeks, while the second year is an accelerated Diploma program that requires an additional 25 weeks of study to complete. It will take a full-time student 50 weeks to complete both the Certificate and Diploma program.
The Certificate program consists of 11 required courses. Participants must take 10 classroom-based courses and one co-operative education course. In year one there is a total of 400 hours of classroom instruction. Students will be assigned a co-operative work experience in one or more field-based sites that relate to the Human Services courses.
In addition to completing the Certificate program requirements the Diploma program consists of another 11 required courses. As with the Certificate program participants must complete 10 classroom-based courses (400 hours of instruction) and a second co-operative education course.
Each classroom-based course is comprised of 40 hours of instruction and students are enrolled in two of these courses at a time. It takes five weeks to complete each set of classroom-based courses.
During each 25-week session students are enrolled and participate in a co-operative education course. Students will be assigned to a training site which will assist them in developing the necessary practical skills required. The co-operative education course is comprised of 100 hours of “field-based training” for each year enrolled and five career seminars.
Detailed Information
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Testimonials from Students
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“The course curriculum is very well balanced and provides information on a wide variety of subjects.”
Donna Leslie – Graduate of the HSP Certificate and Diploma Programs
“I liked that I did my 2 year diploma in 1 year.”
Michelle Francis – Graduate of the HSP Certificate and Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Columbia’s Human Services Professional programs differ from programs at other institutions?
Columbia’s Human Services Professional programs differ from other programs at other institutions in several ways and provide real benefits:
- Columbia’s students get one academic year of education in as little as 25 weeks and two years within 50 weeks.
- Columbia’s students get essentially the same number of hours instruction in a six-month period (accelerated delivery method) as other students cover in an eight to 10 month period.
- As a result of Columbia’s accelerated delivery method, we attract a more motivated adult. Adult learners range in age from 18 to 57 years old.
- Columbia’s students get credit for working on a practical co-operative education course.
- Columbia’s students learn-by-doing, develop real world skills and a solid understanding of what it takes to be successful.
- Columbia’s classes are smaller, and the facilitators (instructors) actually “facilitate” much of the learning rather than lecture. Columbia’s students receive more individual attention.
- Columbia’s program emphasizes the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes that employers seek.
- Columbia’s facilitators combine academic capabilities with real-world savvy.
Contact Us
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