Human Service Diploma
What is Human Service?
Human Service is a multi-disciplinary field involved in providing support and assistance in partnership with individuals coping with economic disadvantage, mental health issues, developmental, gender and diversity issues as well as challenges such as addiction, family change and involvement with the justice system. Human Service Practitioners can work for government agencies or for profit and non-profit organizations providing services which help people navigate various systems and complexities of day to day living. The work is both challenging and rewarding.
Career Opportunities:
Employment opportunities exist in settings such as schools, community centres, government agencies, correctional or residential programs, early childhood education settings and non profit social service agencies.
Why the Human Service Diploma?
The Thompson Rivers Human Service Diploma prepares students to work with people across the lifespan in a variety of Social Service a child and Youth Care settings. Students are prepared to support individuals facing a number of different challenges, both one on one or in group settings. They will learn skills and develop a knowledge base to become effective human service professionals and para-professionals.
The Human Service Diploma provides a great start. Students can focus on general Social Service Work or Child and Youth care and can ladder into Child and Youth Care or Social Work Degree programs.
This Human Service Diploma also provides students with a wide variety of exposure to current and varied areas of social service work, diversity in client populations, and different types of practice. Program faculty are committed to examining cross-cultural issues, cultural competence and decolonizing social service practice. Students exit the program with a substantial practical understanding of the Human Service Field along with the academic skills of critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution skills, utilization of teams an community partnering.
How Long Does the Diploma Take?
The Human Service Diploma involves 4 semesters of full-time study normally taken over 2 years. The program is accessible on a part time basis to a limited number of students.
For more information on the Human Service Diploma Program at TRU contact the Registrar’s Office at 250-392-8020.
Year One
| Fall semester ( September-December) |
| ENGL 1100 | Composition |
| PSYC 2130 | Introduction to Developmental Psychology 1 |
| HUMS 1770 | Intro to First Nations Studies and Human Service Practice |
| HUMS 1540 | Interpersonal Communications and Helping Relationships |
| HUMS 1580 | Introduction to Professional Human Service Practice |
| Winter Semester (January –April) |
| PSYC 2230 | Introduction to Developmental Psychology 2 |
HUMS 1560
or
HUMS 1650 | Family and Marriage*
Understanding Behaviour* |
| CYCA 2000 | Introduction to Professional Foundations of Child & Youth Care |
| SOWK 2060 | Introduction to Social Work Practice |
| HUMS 1790 | Community Resources & Service Learning |
Year Two
| Fall Semester ( September-December) |
| ENGL 2290 | Professional Business & Technical Writing |
| HUMS 2220 | Theoretical Foundations in Human Service Practice |
| HUMS 2530 | Self and the Helping Relationship |
| SOWK 2120 | Social Policy |
| HUMS 2600 | Human Service Diploma Practicum |
| Winter Semester (January –April) |
| CYCA 2540 | Advanced Interpersonal Skills/Guided Communication |
| HUMS 3570 | Law and Social Services |
| HUMS 2500 | Special Topics |
SOCI 2160
or
Elective | Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective*
First year Arts in the Social Sciences* |
| Elective | First year Arts or 2nd year Human Service or Child and Youth Care |
*Courses vary according to the availability of instructors, and whether a Community and School Support program is running concurrently