The Behavioral Health/Human Services (BHHS) program is offered primarily by community colleges as an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree. Curriculum of this program is often designed specifically for students who are looking for a career in public and social services such as rehabilitation centers, behavioral health agencies, geriatric and life care centers, special needs schools and youth and community outreach programs. The program takes only two years and immediately readies students for their career by focusing on the study of human behavior and development. Since AAS degrees are usually catered to individuals who also work while going to school, most community colleges that offer the degree have both day and evening classes.
As a four-year degree, a Bachelors of Social Work uses an applied sciences approach, similar to the BHHS degree, along with the great scope and expanse of the theoretical purposes of social work. The BSW combines elements of psychology, history, sociology, political science, archeology and anthropology to understand the background and principle theories which govern social services with the professional requirements of modern social work. BSW degrees are typically offered by universities including certain online schools. Accredited BSW programs require at least 400 hours of supervised field experience, which can be applied to the 3,000 hours needed in order to be licensed in social work by most states.
The biggest difference between the two programs is obviously the degree awarded upon completion: Associate and Bachelor. Often, Associate degrees work as the foundation of a Bachelor degree, focusing on the practical and professional aspects of the field for immediate application, while Bachelors add in the theoretical scope to better understand the reasoning behind certain methods within the field. Most BHHS programs are specifically designed as a stepping stone for students who wish to continue on to a BSW program and thus serve as a quick introduction to the field. Since community colleges have generally lower tuition than universities, two years of a BHHS degree combined with the two remaining years of a BSW is often cheaper than a full four-year BSW program.
BHHS degrees, like other professional certificates and Associate degrees, focus on the immediate professional readiness for a job in social services. The students who complete a BHHS program may be ready for entry-level jobs in the field. However, most higher level, professional or supervisor positions require a four-year degree, with an emphasis toward a BSW. While the requirements of a BSW degree may result in less field experience, the degree does go toward both the educational requirement and adds in some of the hours needed toward being licensed. Essentially, for individuals who wish for a career in social work, a BHHS frequently serves as a precursor for a BSW.