Iowa Western Community College

Jumpstart your career in the field of social work with Iowa Western’s Human Services Pre-Social Work program. This program is designed for students who will earn an Associate of Arts degree and then transfer to four-year institutions that carry social work programs accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.

Social workers play an important role in the lives of people who are going through difficult times. You’ll be trained to help solve personal, family, and community problems as well as assisting clients in dealing with everyday life events.

You’ll work closely with Iowa Western faculty advisors who will guide you through your degree and assist you with your future transfer and career plans. Iowa Western graduates have earned positions in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, and public agencies.

Challenging. Demanding. Exciting. Those words appropriately describe the field of law enforcement, and if it’s a field that interests you, Iowa Western’s Criminal Justice program is the perfect choice. In two years, you can earn an Associate of Arts degree and become a probation officer or state trooper, or you can choose to transfer to a four-year institution to work toward a bachelor’s degree.

Iowa Western instructors have work-related experience in criminal justice, so you’ll gain first-hand knowledge of what’s involved in this field. Guest speakers and tours of correctional facilities also help prepare you for entry into law enforcement.

Day, night, and online classes are available, giving you flexibility with your personal schedule. Upon request, job placement help is offered. Who is hiring? To name a few: the Omaha Police Department, the State Patrol, the Border Patrol, U.S. Capitol Police, and private security companies.

It takes a special personality to serve as a human services professional, and if you’re that kind of person, consider improving your chances in the field by enrolling in Iowa Western’s Human Services Generalist program. You’ll be trained in such areas as domestic violence, crisis intervention, child welfare, and assisting the elderly as you work toward an Associates of Arts degree.

The job market in this field is wide open, and you can start immediately after picking up valuable knowledge in addictive studies. Service learning projects give you access to community resources and provide opportunities to become familiar with several different agencies. Those hands-on experiences, combined with classroom instruction, will best prepare you for this field.

While students are able to enter the job force immediately after graduating, many are encouraged to transfer to a four-year institution to improve professional advancement chances. Some classes in this program are offered at night and online.