If you are a natural caregiver looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of individuals in our community who are at-risk, Anoka Tech’s Behavioral Health and Human Services program might be a smart choice for your future.
The Behavioral Health and Human Services degree program prepares students for positions in several areas in the health, human services and education fields.
As a graduate, you would have a well-rounded educational base in the areas of social work, sociology, psychology and other health-related areas to make a difference in the lives of individuals from a variety of vulnerable populations.
Degree that provides an affordable foundation to start your career or transfer
High growth rate compared to other careers in Minnesota
Rewarding career where you support people during difficult times
Potential Jobs:
- Community Health Worker
- Social and Human Service Assistant
- Caseworker
- Advocate
Community Health Worker Highlight Salary Information
Median Hourly Wage: $23.39
Top earners: +$31
Information provided is for Minnesota. See current data at careerwise.minnstate.edu
"When I started at Anoka Tech, I had graduated high school 30 years ago. For me, it was a challenge to get back into studying, doing homework and taking tests. I was out of practice, but my opportunity to learn through the internship was very valuable. It was a great opportunity to get hands-on experience that offered great professional benefits."
Program Details
The Behavioral Health and Human Services Program is designed to prepare students to become direct service providers or designated coordinators in settings where vulnerable or at-risk people are housed or treated. Direct service providers also known as Behavioral Health Workers, are the caregivers in these settings, and the designated
coordinators oversee the daily activities of the setting.
The program exposes students to the laws, rules, and regulations surrounding the care and treatment of vulnerable people, specifically developmentally, mentally and cognitively disabled people. Additionally, the program trains students how to best support developmentally or mentally disabled people, as well as to understand the psychological characteristics of and treatments for various developmental and cognitive disabilities.
Additionally, program coursework also helps define the roles of the behavioral health worker, direct service provider, designated coordinator and social worker as advocates and resource providers, helping vulnerable clients and residents receive care and services.
- Students apply skills in a meaningful way (Demonstrating higher level thinking-analysis evaluation, and synthesis).
- Performance assessment allows for evaluation of attitudes/dispositions.
- Student develop and create original responses to the topic.
Students graduating from the Behavioral Health and Human Services (BHHS) Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree program are eligible for positions in several areas in the health, human services and education fields with children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens. The graduating student may serve a variety of at-risk populations including people with disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse, poverty and disadvantaged.
Potential job titles include:
- Community Health Worker
- Education, Guidance or Vocational Counselor
- Social and Human Service Assistant
- Social Worker *
- Mental Health Counselors *
Students who may be interested in social work, sociology, psychology or other health-related areas may want to consider the BHHS program as a well-rounded educational base to support further development of generalist skills at a four-year institution.
*with continued education and a bachelor's and/or master's degree
Minnesota Law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and/or residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state.
Some courses in this program may require a prerequisite. Please see course descriptions for more details.
MnTC General Education Requirements
This program requires completion of the following twenty-two credits of general education from at least three goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1130 | Human Biology (Goal 2&3) | 4 |
| ENGL 1107 | Composition 1 (Goal 1&2) | 4 |
| PSYC 1406 | General Psychology (Goal 5) | 4 |
| PSYC 1506 or PSYC 1606 | Lifespan Development (Goal 5)/Abnormal Psychology (Goal 5) | 4 |
| SOSC 1010 | Introduction to Sociology (Goal 5&7) | 3 |
| SPCH 1200 or SPCH 1500 | Interpersonal Communication (Goal 1&7)/Intercultural Communication (Goal 1&7) | 3 |
Program Sequence
| Fall Semester | 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| BHHS 1005 | Introduction to Behavioral Health and Human Services | 2 |
| BHHS 1010 | Direct Service Professionalism | 3 |
| BHHS 1040 | Facilitating Positive Behaviors | 3 |
| ENGL 1107 | Composition I | 4 |
| PSYC 1406 | General Psychology | 4 |
| Spring Semester | 15 | |
| BHHS 1020 | Physical Developmental Supports I | 3 |
| BHHS 1030 | Person Centered Planning | 3 |
| BHHS 1570 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| BIOL 1130 | Human Biology | 4 |
| HLTH 1040 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| Fall Semester | 16 | |
| BHHS 1550 | Social Service Projects | 3 |
| BHHS 1560 | Social Welfare Services | 3 |
| BHHS 2050 | Supportive Interventions | 4 |
| BHHS 2100 | Internship | 4 |
| HLTH 1000 | Disease Conditions | 2 |
| Spring Semester | 13 | |
| BHHS 2020 | Physical Developmental Supports II | 3 |
| PSCY 1506 OR PSCY 1606 | Lifespan Development/Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
| SOSC 1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPCH 1200 OR SPCH 1500 | Interpersonal Communication/Intercultural Communication | 3 |
Students can choose to complete the Behavioral Health & Human Services AAS program part-time. Part-time students will take longer to complete their program than students who follow the full-time sequence listed on the official program guide. Because every course may not be offered each semester, it is important for part-time students to reach out to their faculty advisor for help in planning their long-term, part-time course sequence.
Below, new students can find first semester part-time course options. After the first semester, work with your faculty advisor to plan future semester.
First Semester Course Options
Five credits: BHHS 1005, BHHS 1010
Eight credits: BHHS 1005, BHHS 1010, BHHS 1040
Eleven credits: BHHS 1005, BHHS 1010, BHHS 1040, SPCH 1200 or SPCH 1500*
Twelve credits: BHHS 1005, BHHS 1010, BHHS 1040, ENGL 1107 or PSYC 1406*
*Students with ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension scores below college-level should take the required developmental reading and English courses before moving on to SPCH, ENGL, or PSYC classes.
Developmental Courses
BHHS students are required to take college-level English and Biology courses (ENGL 1107, BIOL 1106). These courses have a college-level Reading Comprehension ACCUPLACER prerequisite. Students with Reading Comprehension ACCUPLACER scores below college-level should take the developmental Reading & English courses required
by their placement bracket in their first or second semester.
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Current Students
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Minnesota Law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and/or residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state.
Start Dates:
Fall semester: August
Spring semester: January
Upcoming Events:
Important Dates:
Zakia Robbins-McNeal
zakia.robbins-mcneal@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710
Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710
Take the Next Step
![If you are, or would like to be, good at building things from scratch, curious about how things work, enjoy solving problems or fixing things that are broken, this field may be the right one for you.
"[Anoka Tech] is set up with a structure where you will grow tremendously."
Learn more about Anoka Tech's construction, engineering, manufacturing and technology career pathway on our website in our bio.](https://scontent-lhr8-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/468033038_578789264619259_7297950599124991867_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=KDAFocafa7YQ7kNvgGfpLZi&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=A6c4LyXRX-fwP1qU9ggEOjy&oh=00_AYDyLdLhnfsRdgoR604R1ihuOPnxzjdCmX4DapwOWfvTHA&oe=6753FDE5)
