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I plan to go to University to get my Bachelors of Science in Sociology, and I am currently at community college. Would graduating with my Associates of Applied Science in Mental Health and Human Service help me with the Bachelors I am trying to pursue?
I am 24 and I want to get on a fast track to finish school. If I was getting my Associates of Arts I would just need to take KINE but the community college needs me to take more classes with them in order to get my associates so that is why I am thinking of switching to AAS to then later transfer to complete my Bachelors in Sociology.
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Daniela !
So you are working on your Associates Degree in Mental Health and Human Services, then transferring to obtain a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. The Associates in Mental Health and Human Services is drastically different than Sociology. It wouldn't hurt, but if you plan to be in the mental health and Human Services field, Psychology (rather than Sociology) would better prepare you for that. I also do not recommend doing a fast track for either major. Nothing substantial would be gained by cutting corners and speeding things up and you may miss out on vital project experience or work opportunities.
It's all going to also depend on exactly what you want to do with a Bachelors in Sociology. You didn't mention what career you hope to obtain. Allow me to explain. With Sociology, you will learn group behavior, cultural differences and ethics skills. That is always useful, don't get me wrong, and one should always take a sprinkling of sociology courses going into the mental health field, but it will not give you the knowledge or skills to work in the Human Services/Mental Health field that a Bachelors in Psychology would. With Psychology, you will learn the way the mind and brain work, the relationship of the brain, behavior and experience, research, statistics, observation and measurement techniques and how to analyze data, write reports and experience an internship working in the mental health/human services field. This would prepare you for your career as a mental health professional.
Keep in mind that when you apply for a job, many applicants will have a Bachelors in Psychology and that would indicate to the employer that the fore mentioned skills have been learned and practiced. The Associates degree major you have chosen is great coupled with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.
The biggest advice I can give you is to first visit your current college guidance counselor about this. Secondly, visit the four year college you intend to get your Bachelors Degree at. Go over this with the guidance counselor there. Be specific as to what type of work you are seeking. Because you did not specify exactly what your career goal is, it's hard to actually advise on this, but I can tell you that most of the people I know that work in the mental health/human services field do not have their degree in sociology, rather Psychology or Social Work.
Please try not to rush this study, also. Focus on getting the optimum education so that you can be fully prepared to work with all populations for all mental health issues. Of course you won't learn everything in college, but you can also go for extra trainings and online trainings as well. When asking for guidance about this, it's very important to state your career goals so that accurate advice can guide you in the precise direction.
Best wishes to you and don't hesitate to ask more questions here.
So you are working on your Associates Degree in Mental Health and Human Services, then transferring to obtain a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. The Associates in Mental Health and Human Services is drastically different than Sociology. It wouldn't hurt, but if you plan to be in the mental health and Human Services field, Psychology (rather than Sociology) would better prepare you for that. I also do not recommend doing a fast track for either major. Nothing substantial would be gained by cutting corners and speeding things up and you may miss out on vital project experience or work opportunities.
It's all going to also depend on exactly what you want to do with a Bachelors in Sociology. You didn't mention what career you hope to obtain. Allow me to explain. With Sociology, you will learn group behavior, cultural differences and ethics skills. That is always useful, don't get me wrong, and one should always take a sprinkling of sociology courses going into the mental health field, but it will not give you the knowledge or skills to work in the Human Services/Mental Health field that a Bachelors in Psychology would. With Psychology, you will learn the way the mind and brain work, the relationship of the brain, behavior and experience, research, statistics, observation and measurement techniques and how to analyze data, write reports and experience an internship working in the mental health/human services field. This would prepare you for your career as a mental health professional.
Keep in mind that when you apply for a job, many applicants will have a Bachelors in Psychology and that would indicate to the employer that the fore mentioned skills have been learned and practiced. The Associates degree major you have chosen is great coupled with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.
The biggest advice I can give you is to first visit your current college guidance counselor about this. Secondly, visit the four year college you intend to get your Bachelors Degree at. Go over this with the guidance counselor there. Be specific as to what type of work you are seeking. Because you did not specify exactly what your career goal is, it's hard to actually advise on this, but I can tell you that most of the people I know that work in the mental health/human services field do not have their degree in sociology, rather Psychology or Social Work.
Please try not to rush this study, also. Focus on getting the optimum education so that you can be fully prepared to work with all populations for all mental health issues. Of course you won't learn everything in college, but you can also go for extra trainings and online trainings as well. When asking for guidance about this, it's very important to state your career goals so that accurate advice can guide you in the precise direction.
Best wishes to you and don't hesitate to ask more questions here.
Thanks for sharing this with me. It is very helpful. I’m returning to school this summer to complete my associates of arts, that was the plan since I just need one more class to complete it. Now my advisor called me today and said that I need to take more classes at the community college in order to obtain the associates of arts degree. He mentioned taking classes I already took or switching my degree plan so I can then just transfer to the university. My plan is to get a my bachelors of science in sociology with a minor in Human Resources management. My career plan is to work in something along the work of Human Resources, or a government job. I really appreciate your answer it is very helpful.
Daniela
Hi, Daniela ! You are very welcome. Sociology very well fits in with Human Resources and a government job. I wish you all the best moving forward with your studies ! Have an awesome day !
Michelle M.
Updated
Rafael’s Answer
Hi Daniela! Graduating with an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) in Mental Health and Human Service can definitely be helpful in pursuing your Bachelor's degree in Sociology. I believe the coursework and practical experience from the AAS program can give you a solid foundation and insights into the field of mental health and human services, which can be important to understanding social dynamics and human behavior. Just make sure to check with the specific university you plan to transfer to and ensure that the credits from your AAS program will be transferable. Good luck with your studies!
Thank you for sharing this with me it was very helpful!
Daniela