Social Services

Prepare for a career in social work, human services and behavioral health in a variety of public, nonprofit and private settings. Work with different populations including children, families, older adults, people with disabilities, and people in recovery from substance use or mental illness. Make a difference in the lives of others.

Director/Department Head:

Kelly A. Rose, M.A.

West Campus, H111

(520) 206-3178

krose@pima.edu

Advisors:

Erika Elias at eeelias@pima.edu (last names A-F)

Lynn Redpath at dredpath1@pima.edu (last names G-L)

Barbara Elgutaa at belgutaa@pima.edu (last names M-R)

Stephanie Maxwell at smaxwell7@pima.edu (last names S-Z)

Full-time faculty:

Kent Burbank, A.M. (MSW equivalent) and M.Div., kburbank3@pima.edu

Rachael Lord, MSW, rlord@pima.edu

Programs:

Liberal Arts, Social Services Concentration, AA

Social Services, AAS

Social Services Certificate

Social workers help people in need find strategies and solutions to improve their lives.

Social workers help enhance the wellbeing of children and families, the elderly, people with mental health or substance abuse challenges, and people who are poor – really anyone who needs a helping hand.

To be successful in social services occupations means being empathetic – understanding someone else’s feelings and perspectives – in order to help them. The ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing is also important, as is an appreciation of diversity of thought background and circumstance. Most important: you need to care.

At Pima Community College, you will learn about assessment, service delivery, community outreach, and intervention – the building blocks of social work – as well as about specific topics such as crisis intervention, youth services, behavioral health, substance use, and group facilitation.

Graduates often go on to complete a bachelor degree in social work or human services or may seek direct employment in places such as mental health clinics, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals and community organizations.

“Pima’s SSE department and faculty are very engaging with their students and do everything they can to ensure the SSE Pima student is well prepared for success in the social services field or in transferring to a university.”

—Lowell P. Hobson, Social Services AAS Graduate

Program Highlights

Attend full time or part time.
Take classes during the day or in the evening.
Prepare for the workforce with hands-on, experiential training.
Enjoy small class sizes and mentoring relationships with faculty.
Work with individuals, families and community groups.
Enhance your employment and promotion opportunities in human services and other careers.
Create a foundation for pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Services or Social Work.
The Aztec Resource Center and Food Pantry is managed by the Social Services department and provides hands-on experience working with students as a volunteer or internship.