Core classes are offered during the regular workday and require work release time for those attending. Computer core classes are taken for a letter grade. There are approximately 25 core courses offered in the areas of supervision, child support, income maintenance, and general skills such as interviewing, family assessment, collaboration, strategies for change, safety in human services, computer skills, etc. Any full time employee may take any or all of the core courses with agency approval. Core courses are offered at Stark State College on a quarterly basis and are scheduled during the work day Monday through Friday.
Courses run one day per week on the same day each week until the course is completed.
If the course has a practicum, it generally is scheduled four to six weeks after the course work has been completed and is always on the same day of the week as the class was held. Agencies MUST approve participation in these classes as work release time is required, and students must submit a course approval form along with the registration form each quarter to the HSDI office. Each student is issued a Certificate of Attendance at the end of each class day. In the TOPS program, elective courses are all other credit-bearing courses offered at Stark State College on a semester basis. These courses will be paid for by the TOPS program ONLY if your agency director or designee approves them as being related to your current or future job function within the agency.