MENTAL HEALTH/SOCIAL WORK

Associate in Applied Science (MHS.APP)

This Associate in Applied Science Degree Program is designed to prepare students for employment in a wide variety of human service agencies as assistants to professionals. The program is also designed to transfer as the first two years in the professional career programs of social work, counseling, special education, substance abuse, gerontology and human resource development. Students intending to transfer are encouraged to discuss their plans with the program coordinators early in their studies to work out a transfer plan.

In addition to general education courses, students receive supervised field practice in cooperating agencies including mental health clinics, drug and alcohol abuse centers, special education facilities, community action programs, public assistance offices, hospitals, rehabilitation programs and residential care programs. Students have the opportunity to work with a variety of clients including terminally ill, AIDS, developmentally disabled and geriatric clients.

All mental health core classes include both classroom experience and agency placement. The classes are designed to teach the skills and knowledge needed for the field as well as provide a forum for discussion on the field work. After a student is accepted to the program, he or she may begin the mental health classes in either the fall or winter semester. Classes may be taken one or two at a time.

In addition to the general education and core courses, a student may modify his or her program to suit his or her individual career plans by choosing the needed electives and support courses. The fieldwork and internship may be chosen to meet a certain area of specialization or a variety may be selected for the purpose of exploration. These are the most common areas of specialization:

• General Human Service
• Gerontology
• Substance Abuse
• Residential Care Programming
• Special Education or Classroom Paraprofessional

Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for and obtain a Social Work Technician Certificate from the state of Michigan.

Requirements for acceptance to the program include:

• The completion of 25 college credits with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
• Completion of three psychology classes (PSY 2510 or above) and ENG 1510 with a grade of "C" or better.
• Two interviews with the coordinators of the Mental Health/Social Work Program at the Auburn Hills Campus. The interviews should be scheduled during the student's freshman semester.
• No current substance abuse, physical or mental health problems which might affect the students' ability to work in this field.