Rural Human Services

Certificate Program

Gain the skills to serve rural Alaska communities and make a positive impact in peoples’ lives. The certificate in rural human services at UAF provides education and training in areas such as substance abuse, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, interpersonal violence, grief and healing. Alaska Native culture is integrated throughout the curriculum, with Native Elders forming part of the instructional team. You will also have the opportunity to earn a number of certifications and credentials through your coursework.

Who is the certificate in rural human services designed for?

This training program is designed for village-based human service workers in Alaska. It’s a great fit for rural residents who are natural helpers and healers in their communities, as it will further develop skills and credentials in the helping profession. The education model used is specifically intended to fit the educational needs of the adult Alaska Native learner.

How is the rural human services program delivered?

The human services certificate program is delivered through monthly one-week intensives (face-to-face classes where you can interact with professors, Elders, and  peers) over two academic years. Many of our students are employed and are supported to attend the monthly intensives.

Earn your associate degree in human services at UAF

The rural human services certificate meets 50% of the requirements for the associate degree in human services. This allows you to easily take the next step in your education if you choose to.

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Why Study Rural Human Services at UAF?

  • Pick up certifications and credentials for ASIST suicide intervention training, Behavioral Health Aide I or II, Chemical Dependency Counselor I, and Mental Health First Aid. 

 

  • Become part of a supportive and inspiring learning community, led by faculty who have taught for the program for more than 20 years and an instructional team that includes Native Elders.

  • Benefit from our numerous partnerships and collaborations throughout Alaska, including an active advisory council from across diverse regions of the state.


Hands-on learning in the rural human services program

In the human services program, we encourage you to apply your learning to your life and in your community. For example, a 125-hour practicum includes a project that you will design that relates directly to a community need. Projects have included suicide prevention activities, interviewing Elders on life before colonization, and using arts and crafts and talking circles to help women who have experienced trauma to share their stories. 

 

Looking at our history helped me feel there are other ways to heal, not just western ways. Rural human services gave me a spark of hope that if I could learn all this and use my life to learn, then I could pass that on…I thought, ‘We (Alaska Natives) are not as bad as we have been thinking’ because of the way human services was taught…there is hope as we learn and pass it on in our communities and that way other will feel that hopefulness.

 

Human Services Jobs

This training program prepares you for entry-level human services jobs in a variety of employment areas such as:

  • Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
  • Behavioral Health Aide (BHA) Program
  • Head Start
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Community-based suicide prevention programs
  • Substance abuse counseling
  • Case management services

Each state has its own unique requirements for authorization. If you are planning to seek a professional license or certificate in a state other than Alaska, please see the state listings website.

If you are interested in continuing your education, you can also apply your credits earned in the human services certificate program toward the Associate of Applied Science in Human Services at UAF. The credits for the certificate complete 50% of the associate degree requirements.

 

Rural Human Services Program Technical Requirements

Students pursuing this degree are required to have access to the internet, and will use their UAF-issued email address for all academic communication. Additional software, such as the Concur travel platform, may be required. 

  1. Once you've been admitted, you'll set their University of Alaska credentials (username and password). Visit the Nanook Technology Services\ website for additional information.
  2. Then, you'll use your credentials to login to your UA email account at . You'll use this email account for all academic communication.
  3. Some portions of this degree may require you to travel. If you're traveling by airplane or staying in a hotel or on-campus residence hall, you must submit an expense report after these expenses are incurred. You'll use your UA credentials to login to UAF's Concur travel platform and submit expense reports on your student profile. Expense reports must be submitted before you will be able to travel again.

 

Explore Classes in the Rural Human Services Certificate Program

Courses for the certificate in rural human services focus on developing counseling and case management skills to address key social issues such as interpersonal violence, mental illness and recovery, substance abuse, grief and family systems. Alaska Native values and culture are integrated throughout the curriculum.

View all required classes for the certificate in human services

Other UAF Programs You Might Be Interested In

 

Get Started on Your Rural Human Services Certificate

Take the next step toward earning your certificate in human services at UAF. We have the resources to help you get started.

Talk to an Advisor

Have questions? Our expert advisors are here to guide you every step of the way. Let us know how we can help.

Transfer to UAF

Transferring to UAF? We can walk you through the process and help make sure you get the most out of the credits you’ve earned.

Apply Now and Request More Information

Earn your certificate in rural human services at UAF. Submit your application online today.