Berkeley City College's Social Work and Human Services program of community healing.
About
Berkeley City College’s Social Work and Human Services program prepares students for various careers such as caseworkers, navigators, behavioral specialists, and more. If you are passionate about addressing health disparities, trauma, and social injustice, this is the school for you.
Our program offers career-focused education with many flexible options. You can earn while you learn while taking classes to boost your skills, pursue a certificate, or begin working towards your associate certificate. We offer day, evening, and online courses to make it easier for our students to have a healthy work/life balance. Whether your goals are to transfer to a four-year university or are dreaming of a master’s in social work or public health, we are here to support your journey every step of the way.
Free Non-credit programs
We offer two 100% free non-credit programs designed to support your career and academic goals:
- Community Health Worker Certificate – Ideal for those entering the Human Services field or seeking a pay raise/promotion if already employed. This program builds foundational skills and prepares you for further academic study.
- Social and Human Service Work Readiness Certificate – Prepares you for internships and work-based learning at BCC. It also helps bridge skill gaps for those working in Human Services with a degree from another field.
Want to learn more?: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/noncredit#HUSV
Sign up for our interest list: https://tinyurl.com/FREE-NON-CREDIT
Paid Community Health Worker Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn! Our Community Health Worker Apprenticeship gets you into the workforce ASAP and combines relevant classroom experience, professional mentorship, and on-the-job training.
Click here to learn more.
Degree/Certificate pathways:
If you're ready to earn college credit, explore our 18-unit Social work and Human Services Certificate of achievement or pursue an AA-T in Social Work and Human Service.
Chat with a Real Human about our Program: HUSVCertificate@Peralta.edu.
Social Work and Human Services
Contact Information
About, Courses, Learning Outcomes
The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) in Social Work and Human Services prepares students for transfer to a California State University (CSU) as juniors in Social Work or a related major. Graduates receive priority admission to a local CSU and will need only 60 more units to complete a bachelor’s degree. See recommended course progression here: https://tinyurl.com/AATTCOURSES
Program Requirements:
- 60 transferable units, including:
- 28 units in major courses (Grade C or better required)
- 32 units in general education (IGETC or CSU GE)
- Minimum 2.0 GPA in CSU-transferable coursework
Courses
Core Courses (27-28 units total)
- HUSV 121 – Introduction to Social Work & Human Services (3 units)
- HUSV 510A/B – Mental Health Ambassador (0) (Prerequisite for HUSV 120A)*
- HUSV 120A – Social Work Internship Seminar (1)
- HUSV 120B – Social Work Internship Experience(2)
- MATH 013 – Introduction to Statistics (4)
- SOC 1 – Introduction to Sociology (3)
- PSYCH 1A – Introduction to General Psychology (3)
- BIOL 10 or BIOL 25 – Introduction to Biology (3) or Human Biology (4)
- ECON 1 or ECON 2 – Macroeconomics or Microeconomics (3)
Electives (6 units total; choose two)
- COMM 6 – Intercultural Communication (3) (Recommended)
- SOC 2* – Social Problems (3)
- SOC 5 – Minority Groups (3)
- ANTHR 3 – Social & Cultural Anthropology (3)
- CHDEV 51 – Child Growth & Development (3)
- ENGL 5 – Critical Thinking in Reading & Writing (3)
- HIST 7A/B – U.S. History (3)
- PSYCH 021 – Lifespan Human Development (3)
- IGETC courses
*Pre- Req non-credit courses
General Education (32 Units – IGETC or CSU GE):
Consult a BCC counselor to choose the best courses and verify transfer requirements.
About, Courses, Learning Outcomes
A two-semester, 18-unit program preparing students for entry-level roles in social work, public health, and human services.Units apply toward the AA-T in Social Work
Courses: (All stackable toward the AA-T degree)
- HUSV 121: Introduction to Social Work and Human Services (3 units)
- HUSV 510A/B: Mental Health Ambassador (0) (Prerequisite for HUSV 120A)*
- HUSV 120A/B: Social Work Internship Seminar and Experience (3)
- PSYCH 1A: Introduction to Psychology (3)
- SOC 1: Intro to Sociology (3)
- SOC 2: Social Problems (3)
- COMM 6: Intercultural Communication (3)
For program guidance, contact HUSVcertificate@peralta.edu
HUSV Faculty Members
Christina Tam, PhD, MSW
Program Coordinator
Ctam@peralta.edu
Dr. Tam is a Scientist at the Alcohol Research Group whose research focuses on social and contextual factors that contribute to racial and ethnic health disparities in health-related and social outcomes. Dr. Tam graduated from UCLA with a Master’s and PhD in Social Welfare and completed her postdoc in Public Health with UC Berkeley.
Yamini Oseguera-Bhatnagar, MPH
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Ybhatnagar@peralta.edu
Yamini is a strategist, organizer, and advocate with experience in public health since 2007. Her work spans youth development, women’s health, reproductive rights, and racial and gender justice. Passionate about community resilience, she holds a master’s in public health from San Francisco State University and is a UC Berkeley alum.
Sonja Herbert, MPH
Sonja Herbert is a public health educator and community organizer with over five years of teaching experience at Berkeley City College. She holds a master’s in public health from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s in history and Women’s Studies from Oberlin College. Passionate about social justice and community empowerment, she brings extensive experience in advocacy and public health initiatives to her work in the classroom.
Tyler Bennett
HUSV Alum
TylerBennett@peralta.edu
Tyler Bennett is a mental health educator, workforce development specialist, and advocate with a background in commercial and residential property management before transitioning into human services.
With extensive experience in culturally competent interventions, program development, and public speaking, Tyler specializes in addressing heavily stigmatized health topics, including suicidality, queer health, gender identity, and sexual health. His work focuses on empowering students and building inclusive, supportive communities both on campus and beyond.
RESOURCES:
How to enroll?
Apply to BCC: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/get-startedGet your Student ID & Login
Request the Canvas enrollment link at HUSVCertificate@peralta.edu
Any questions? Please contact mjoseph@peralta.edu
Ready to Apply?
Click the button below to begin your Berkeley City College application and earn your Social Work Human Services degree or certificate today!