Associate degrees don’t play a big role in the larger world of social work. The state definition of social worker includes people with bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in social work… no mention of those who have associate degrees.
Still, for individuals who are dreaming of a career spent helping Floridians who need them, two-year associate degrees can be an important first step to making that career a reality.
Many future social workers start in on their dreams without a lot of financial help, without the broader support of a school community to help with college applications, and without a family background in higher ed that many other college students enjoy.
A two-year associate degree can provide the perfect introduction to that world of college education, and it can do it at a reduced cost. An associate degree in social work and human services provides a perfect jumping-off point, throwing the door open to the potential to eventually become a fully qualified and fully credentialed Florida social worker.
Florida Has Several Solid Options When it Comes to Associate Degrees for Social Workers
Associate degree programs in social work and human services are found at community colleges and four-year universities throughout Florida. They offer a variety of pathways toward entry-level positions in the humans services workforce, and set you up for more advanced studies.
Because the places you can end up after earning your associate degree are so diverse, the degrees themselves often have a broader focus than higher-level degrees in the field.
Here in Florida you’ll find an Associate of Science in Social and Human Services, an Associate of Science in Counseling and Human Services, and an Associate of Arts in Education, Human Services, Social & Behavioral Sciences that lay the groundwork for a range of different jobs and fields of study, not just social work.
But there are also degrees such as a general Associate of Arts with Social Work Pathway or an Associate in Arts Social Work Transfer Plan that are more focused on future social work studies.
Finding the right associate degree in social work to meet your goals may revolve around understanding their transfer options to four-year programs.
These come through a transfer or completion plan, which is when a school provides a seamless pathway to a bachelor’s degree in the same field. That allows your two years of associate-level studies to be credited as the first half of a full four-year bachelor’s degree in the field.
You’ll even find two-year schools that have transfer agreements in place with other four-year universities that offer bachelor’s completion programs.
Not every associate degree magically qualifies as a full transfer degree. If you happen to earn your AA at a four-year school that also has a bachelor’s in social work, it will probably automatically transfer, but otherwise you’ll have to make sure both schools are on the same page before you get started.
All The Associate Degree Programs Offering Associates Degrees Aimed at Social Work Careers
Here’s a full list of all associate-level program in social work or related fields in the state of Florida.
Beacon College
Human Services Department
Associate of Arts in Human Services
Also Offers:
- Human Services Minor
- Bachelor's of Arts in Human Services
Florida National University
Allied Health Department
Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration
Rasmussen University
Human Services Department
Associate of Science in Human Services
Also Offers:
- Human Services Bachelor of Science
Ultimate Medical Academy
Health and Human Services
Associate of Science in Health and Human Services
Eastern Florida State College
Human Services
Associate in Science in Social and Human Services
St. Petersburg College
Social and Behavioral Sciences and Human Services
Associate of Science in Social and Human Services
Also Offers:
- Applied Mental Health Advanced Technical Certificate
- Addiction Studies Certificate
- Community Health Worker Certificate
- Youth Development Professional Certificate
- Human Services B.A.S.
- Human Services B.S.
Florida Southwestern State College
Social and Human Services
Associate of Science in Social and Human Services
Hillsborough Community College
Counseling and Human Services
Associate of Science in Counseling and Human Services
Pasco-Hernando State College
Health Sciences
Associate in Science in Social and Human Services
Indian River State College
Human Services
Associate in Science in Social and Human Services
Also Offers:
- Bachelor of Science in Human Services
Palm Beach State College
Human Services
Associate in Arts Education, Human Services, Social and Behavioral Science Track
Also Offers:
- Human Services Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Human Services: Addiction Studies Concentration
- Human Services: General Concentration
- Human Services: Youth Development Concentration
A Look at the Essential Coursework That Comes With Florida Associate Degrees in Social Work
Part of the reason that transfer arrangements work is because the combination of courses at the associate level are designed to be foundational so they can be built upon. The curriculum is divided fairly evenly between basic liberal arts classes and specific studies in social work and human services subjects.
That means a healthy helping of core American college classes in English, communications, math, science, art, and history to give you a solid general education. Those are joined by a selection of essential courses that will lay the foundations for your understanding of social work:
- Introduction to Sociology and Social Problems
- General Psychology
- American National Government
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Women and Society
- Marriage and Family
- Personality Development
Although coursework in a two-year program is pretty tightly packed to give you the necessary elements to move on to bachelor’s studies, you’ll even have room for a few electives. You can pick from among all sorts of different options at the typical college, everything from World Religions to Interpersonal Skills in Human Services to Crisis Intervention.
Associate degree elective courses can offer you a taste of the more advanced studies you’ll get if you move up to a higher level degree, or provide practical on-the-job skills for entry-level human services positions.
In some cases, you may even find specializations available in associate programs in social work. This can aim your coursework toward a specific area of focus in social work studies, such as Aging Services or Domestic Violence Services. Florida Southwestern, specifically has tracks in Addiction Services or in Youth Development.
Even at the associate level, a social work education benefits from practical experience. So you will often find one or two courses that offer a practicum or internship at social services agencies. These put you out in the field, working with licensed social workers delivering real assistance to people in need. It’s a way to both get a sense of the kind of work you can do, and to show you the practical applications of the knowledge you are building in the classroom.
Exploring the Jobs and Possibilities That a Social Work Associate Degree Can Unlock in Florida’s Human Services Sector
One thing you can be sure of after earning an associate degree in social work in Florida: you won’t be applying for social worker jobs in clinical practice or any other advanced role where state credentials are required or expected.
According to the 2019 Florida Behavioral Health Workforce Survey from the Florida Department of Children and Families, only around 4 percent of the surveyed professionals had an associate degree as their highest level of educational attainment.
An associate degree simply doesn’t give you the qualifications or prepare you to earn the state-issued Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) credentials.
But you will be perfectly qualified for many of the different kinds of support roles that help social workers accomplish their goals. That can include job titles like:
- Human Services Eligibility Case Manager
- Human Project Manager
- Human Services Counselor
- Youth Care Specialist
These positions are restricted from actually practicing social work as defined by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. But in these roles, you can still deliver critical services such as:
- Handling intake and service needs assessments
- Assisting clients in filling out paperwork for needed social services
- Managing service delivery and social services office administration
- Scheduling and coordinating appointments
- Keeping appropriate records and filing paperwork for various agencies and assistance programs
Of course, most graduates from associate programs in social work will almost immediately move up to their bachelor’s studies. With only two years left to earn a BSW at a school willing to accept your transfer credits, it’s a fast path that can land you in an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work degree program before you know it.
With an associate degree in hand, you are looking at only three years of extra schooling to earn the advanced degree it takes to qualify for full social work licensure in Florida.
As an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) you can bump up into even more direct and crucial positions, like becoming a substance abuse therapist with the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network in Belle Glade, delivering treatment directly in the correctional environment. Or you can take on discharge planning and advising roles at health organizations like the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville even without a license as long as you earn an MSW.
While an associate is a perfect and inexpensive stepping stone to actual social work careers with some additional education, it’s also a broad preparation for all sorts of human services and behavioral health careers. With a taste for what goes into assisting marginalized people in Florida, you may apply your education to careers ranging from human services administration to public health to mental health counseling.
The important part is to take those first steps to start getting that crucial college education under your belt. An associate degree in social work will launch you toward a better future for yourself and other Floridians who need your help.