The following degrees and certificates are offered as part of the Behavioral and Social Services program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech).
LWTech's Behavioral and Social Services program offers a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Behavioral Healthcare, an Associate of Arts (AAS) degree, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Behavioral and Social Services.
The AAS degree consists of 90 credits, and typically takes about two years to complete. The certificate program consists of 60 credits and can be completed in four quarters of study. The BAS consists of 90 credits and requires an additional two years to complete after AAS requirements are met. The exact length of any one student’s program will depend on whether they require preparatory courses in English or Math, whether they pass all classes, how many classes they complete per quarter, and whether they enter with transferable credits from another college.
Students who are not yet qualified for English 099 or Math 087 are advised to begin work towards those requirements as soon as possible, as they will need to add additional courses to complete the course sequence and thus the degree.
Supplemental course work / desired technical electives
BASBH students will complete three consecutive quarters of field practicum during their senior year. Field practicum is an integral part of the behavioral healthcare curriculum. Most students consider their practicum fieldwork to be the most valuable and significant part of their social work education. Students will remain at the same behavioral healthcare organization for the duration of their practicum whenever possible. Each quarter, students will complete 20 hours of classroom seminar and 90 hours of fieldwork.
Community mental health center administrators have been extremely supportive, recognizing the BASBH program as focused explicitly on their needs. LWTech’s faculty intend to work directly with leaders of local (King and Snohomish county) Behavioral Healthcare organizations to place students in these organizations for field practicums.
Possibilities: Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Atlantic Street Center, Catholic Community Services, Center for Human Services, Community House Mental Health, Consejo Counseling & Referral Service, Cowlitz Tribal Treatment, Downtown Emergency Service Center, Evergreen Health, Evergreen Manor, Evergreen Treatment Services, Friends of Youth, Harborview Mental Health Services, Integrative Counseling Services, Intercept Associates, Island Crossing Counseling Center, Lakeside Milam Recovery Centers, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Multicare Health System, Navos, New Traditions, Pioneer Counseling Services, Ryther, Seadrunar, Seamar Community Health Centers, Seattle Counseling Service, Seattle Indian Health Board, Snoqualmie Tribe, Sound Mental Health, Spectrum Health Services, Stillaguamish Tribe, Therapeutic Health Services, Transitional Resources, Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation, WAPI Community Services, YMCA of Greater Seattle, and Youth Eastside Services.
What if I want to go on for a Master’s degree? The BASBH provides a strong preparation for graduate work in degree programs such as
LWTech is collaborating with Washington state universities to establish articulation agreements to ensure our graduates a breadth of options to continue their professional education.
Behavioral and Social Services degree students will work through their courses together with the same group of students, known as a cohort. Students will enter the degree program either in the fall or the spring quarters only. They develop supportive relationships with a small group of students who will progress together, quarter by quarter, through a standard sequence of courses.
This model allows us to ensure that students have access to the courses they need in a predictable fashion. We can avoid scheduling conflicts with their other courses, ensure they have access to their pre-requisites, and plan for their work and personal lives. Cohort models have been shown to provide students with a shared support system and increase their likelihood of graduation.
Students still have individual options for their technical electives within the program, their academic core classes, and their general electives.
LWTech does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student's responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor.
Students who are first enrolling at the college in winter or summer quarters should contact the program faculty for advising on what courses they can take in preparation. Those starting in winter or summer will be encouraged to complete their academic core courses: Math, Communication, and Humanities.
The following is an example of how a student's course plan might look. Each student's plan is personalized, according to their prior coursework, college readiness, transfer credits, preferred electives, choice whether to take courses in the summer,and desire to study full-time or part-time. Students can start any season of the year, as well. Department faculty will work with you to develop your plan.
Many Behavioral and Social Services students choose to pursue a four-year degree in order to expand their job opportunities. LWTech offers its own applied bachelor's degree and develops articulation agreements with several colleges and universities to ensure our graduates can transfer easily into these other schools. Upon completion of the Behavioral and Social Services AAS at LWTech, students may transfer to the following baccalaureate programs at junior status:
Students should contact an advisor at the transfer college to determine specific transfer requirements.
Other 4-year programs which might interest our graduates include
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Mon-Thurs, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Closed to the public
Sat-Sun, Closed