Associate of Social Work
If helping people is your passion, Lake Area Tech now offers an Associate of Social Work degree, beginning Fall 2025. The Social Work program will replace the following options within the LATC Human Services Technician degree: Activity Technician/Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Youth Offender. Social workers are dedicated professionals who are committed to helping individuals, families, and communities overcome societal challenges. They provide support through counseling, advocacy, and connecting clients to essential resources.
This two-year program is the first of its kind in South Dakota and will prepare students to enter a variety of social work settings including shelters, healthcare facilities, schools, counseling offices, and governmental offices. Typically working under the direction of a social worker or other licensed social service professional, our graduates will connect clients to resources and benefits, help coordinate services and/or treatment plans, conduct home visits, and serve as an advocate for some of our communities’ most vulnerable populations.
According to Lightcast projections, South Dakota’s need for Social Work and Human Services Assistants will increase by 13.4% in the next 10 years. In addition to Social Work Assistant positions, graduates of the program will be qualified for a number of high-demand social services positions within South Dakota State Government, including Family Services Specialists and Victim Advocates.
