Family & Human Services

Early Childhood Education and Human Services fields involve working to enhance the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

Early childhood education relates to teaching young children (formally or informally) up through age eight, while infant/toddler education, a subset of early childhood education, denotes the education of children from birth to age two. In recent years, early childhood education has become a prevalent public policy issue as municipal, state, and federal lawmakers consider funding for preschool and pre-kindergarten. The NIACC Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students for a rewarding career nurturing the growth and development of children.

Human services is an interdisciplinary and applied social science discipline that involves the study of social technologies, service technologies, and social innovations that are designed to help individuals, families, and the communities they live in. Students in human services gain the knowledge they need to work at all levels of society to promote the autonomy of individuals or groups, make informal or formal human services system more efficient and effective, and advocate for positive social change.

Many students pursue internship opportunities while taking classes to receive real world experience in their chosen field. Small classes allow for an intimate feel for students to gain confidence in working with individuals and families. Students can obtain a certificate or diploma in Family & Human Services but also are prepared to further their education and earn an Associate or Bachelor’s degree.