Rural Human Services

College of Rural Alaska
Interior-Aleutians Campus (907) 474-5439
Kuskokwim Campus (907) 474-5440

Certificate

Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 30 Credits

This one-year program facilitates development of strong and healthy rural Alaska Native individuals, families and communities. Developed for village-based human service providers preparing to be natural helpers/healers in their communities, the program provides entry-level training for village-based public, private and volunteer human service organizations.

Drawing extensively on resource people from the Native community, curriculum content and delivery reflects a strong multicultural orientation that validates, incorporates, and builds on Native values and principles.

Courses are offered through a series of four training sessions. Each session lasts three weeks. Students spend the time in intensive study at selected delivery sites. A practicum and electives round out the program.

Admission is open to all individuals employed by a regional Native health corporation or local entity providing delivery of village-based human services, or individuals recognized by their communities as natural helpers/healers. A high school diploma or GED and/or previous training or work experience in the delivery of village-based human services is recommended but not required.

Undergraduate Program

Major

Rural Human Services -- Certificate

1. Complete the certificate requirements.
2. Complete the following sessions:*
   
   1. Training Session I
      RHS 110 -- Cross-Cultural Bridging Skills (2 credits)
      RHS 115 -- Issues of Personal Development in the Delivery of Rural Human Services (2 credits)
      RHS 120 -- Family Systems I (2 credits)
   2. Training Session II
      RHS 130 -- Processes of Community Change (2 credits)
      RHS 140 -- Alaska Native Values and Principles (2 credits)
      RHS 150 -- Introduction to Rural Counseling (2 credits)
   3. Training Session III
      RHS 220 -- Family Systems II (2 credits)
      RHS 250 -- Rural Counseling II (2 credits)
      RHS 260 -- Addictions: Intervention and Treatment (2 credits)
   4. Training Session IV
      RHS 265 -- Interpersonal Violence (2 credits)
      RHS 285 -- Case Management (2 credits)
      RHS 287 -- Rural Human Services Practicum (4 credits)
3. Complete 1 of the following:**
   
   1. English (3 credits)
   2. Complete 3 credits from the following electives:
      RHS 270 -- Networking, Negotiating, and Conflict Resolution (2 credits)
      RHS 288 -- Directed Study: Resource Assessment (1 credit)
      RHS 289 -- Directed Study: Processes of Community Change II (1 credit)
      RHS 290 -- Grief and Healing (2 credits)
4. Minimum credits required (30 credits)

* Courses are offered through a series of 4 training sessions, each lasting 3 weeks. Students spend the time in intensive study at selected delivery sites.

** Students must demonstrate proficiency in English through documented satisfactory completion of a college level English composition course, through completion of the ASSET test with recommended placement in a college level English class, or through satisfactory completion of 3 credits of appropriate Developmental English or Office Management and Technology Business English.