Public and Community Service

Public & Community Services

Protect, Save, Guide, Listen, Serve, Policy

About This Pathway

The Public & Community Services pathway centers on careers that help people of all ages maintain or regain emotional and mental health. You could become a social worker or counselor or apply your skills in analysis and attention to detail in the criminal justice field or in the courts. You could care for people and their families when they die or join the ranks of first responders in firefighting or as a paramedic or EMT.  Laying the groundwork for a career in political science, psychology, or sociology is also an option.

Programs of Study

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice program prepares students for a career in such areas as law enforcement, corrections, and homeland security. 

Emergency Medical Technician

The Emergency Medical Technician program is designed to provide an introductory learning experience for persons interested in the field of pre-hospital emergency medicine. 

Fire Science Technology

The Fire Science program is designed to provide both in-service and pre-service students with sound technical and academic experiences, enabling them to assume positions of responsibility as members of fire departments or as technical employees of industrial firms and insurance companies. 

Human and Family Services: Transfer Major

This Associate of Arts transfer degree is designed for students transferring to the University of Northern Iowa to study Human and Family Services.

Human Services

The Human Services program prepares students for entry-level jobs or for transfer to a four-year degree program. 

Mortuary Science

The Mortuary Science program will prepare students who have earned a minimum of an Associate Degree to work within the funeral service profession. 

Paralegal

Paralegals perform a variety of legal tasks under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals are also known as legal assistants. 

Paramedic

The Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program prepares individuals to use critical thinking skills to provide medical treatment for patients with illness or injury-related disease. 

Political Science: Transfer Major

This Associate of Arts transfer degree is designed for students transferring to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa or St. Ambrose University to study Political Science. 

Psychology: Transfer Major

This Associate of Arts transfer degree is designed for students transferring to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa, Clarke University, St. Ambrose University or Upper Iowa University to study Psychology. 

Realtime Court Reporting

The Realtime Court Reporting Program (Court Reporting and Captioning) prepares students for various careers using realtime reporting skills through capturing and converting the spoken word to text. 

Sociology: Transfer Major

This Associate of Arts transfer degree is designed for students transferring to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa, Clarke University, St. Ambrose University or Upper Iowa University to study Sociology. 

Liberal Arts

Students planning on transferring to a four-year college/university may complete their freshman and sophomore requirements at Des Moines Area Community College. 

---

Nondegree Training

High School Programming

Get Involved

 

---

Pathway Success Team

Each Pathway has experts ready to support your success at DMACC.

Meet Your Team

Award Information

AA: Associate in Arts Degree. An AA is a degree made up of 64 credits you can earn at DMACC with the intent of continuing your education at a 4-year college or university. An AA is a relatively inexpensive way to take care of your general education requirements.

AS: Associate in Science Degree. An AS is also a degree made up of 64 credits you can earn at DMACC with the intent of continuing your education at a 4-year college or university. An AS is a relatively inexpensive way to take care of your general education requirements.

AAS: Associate in Applied Science Degree. An AAS is a degree made up of 64-86 credits you can earn at DMACC that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry.

Certificate: A Certificate of Specialization has a maximum of 48 credits and can typically be completed in 52 weeks that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry. Certificates are not intended to have a general education component.

Diploma: A Diploma has 30-48 credits and can typically be completed in 52 weeks that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry. Diploma’s are primarily discipline specific, with a small amount of general education required.

Nondegree: Continuing education coursework to support your desire to update or learn new skills, advance in your current job, or renew a professional license.

A field of study without any award type listed after the discipline indicates coursework opportunities available at DMACC.

• View full list of DMACC degree, diploma & certificate programs
• View full list of DMACC nondegree programs
• View f​ull list of DMACC student c​lubs