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2025-2026 College Catalog > Credit Programs > Programs of Study > Degrees > Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

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Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

 Type: Career, Degree (AS)

Open Admissions

Division: Human Services & Emergency Response Pathways

Graduates from this career program are prepared for a variety of employment opportunities working with adults or children with developmental disabilities in residential, vocational, educational, family support and recreational programs.

Students interested in participating in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship, or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider, may be required to undergo criminal background checks, including a national as well as local check (i.e. Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI)). Depending on the contents of these criminal background check(s), a student's participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider may not be allowed, and therefore may impact a student's ability to complete program requirements. Furthermore, please note that eligibility to participate in the program and/or clinical affiliation, internship or field placement as a result of screening requirements, such as criminal background checks, is not a guarantee of eligibility to sit for professional credentialing examination(s) or employment upon graduation.

If you have questions related to program admissions or applications, please contact info@northshore.edu or call 978-762-4188.

 

First Year

Fall

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMP101Composition 1

3

DVD101Introduction to Developmental Disabilities

3

HUS101The Human Services Worker

3

LA-ELECTIVE
Liberal Arts Elective

3

PSY102Introduction to Psychology

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

Course NumberTitleCredits
SPE102Speech

3

HUS102Helping Skills in Human Services

3

OPN-ELECTIVE
Open Elective

3

HUS137Field Placement & Seminar 1 for Human Services Practitioner

3

DVD103Developmental Disabilities: Special Topics

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Second Year

Fall

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMP102-150
Composition 2 Elective

3

 

SOC106Introduction to Sociology

3

OR

SOC114Community Issues and Civic Engagement

3

 

LA-ELECTIVE
Liberal Arts Elective

3

DVD122Field Placement and Seminar 2 in Developmental Disabilities

3

 

BIO108The Body in Health and Disease

3

OR

BIO211Anatomy and Physiology 1

4

 

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

Course NumberTitleCredits
HUS104The Field of Human Services: An Overview

3

HUS130Life Changes and Crisis: Adaptation and Intervention

3

HUS124Supervision and Leadership in Human Services

3

OPN-ELECTIVE
Open Elective

3

PSY210Abnormal Psychology

3

Total Credit Hours:15
Program Note
Communication and Mathematics proficiency required to graduate.
See guided pathway sheets for advising information specific to your area of focus.

Total Credit Hours: 60

 
Program Student Learner Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of developmental and intellectual disabilities, including diagnosis and lifelong impact.
  • Recognize and use research based methodology and effective treatments/therapies when working with individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and other caregivers.
  • Utilize a strength based, resilience and humanistic perspective to empower individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
  • Assess, critique, and improve work and application of Individual Support and Behavioral Support Plans necessary to be effective in disabilities services.
  • Develop professional ethical standards.
  • Identify, evaluate and utilize effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity; how to provide ethical and culturally sensitive care.

Occupational Skills required

  • Active listening
  • Actively seeking to help people
  • Social perceptiveness
  • Oral communication
  • Documentation
  • Critical thinking
  • Complex problem solving
  • Ethical judgement and decision making
  • Monitoring
  • Coordination skills
  • Time management

Experiential Learning Required in Program
 
  • DVD122 - Field Placement and Seminar 2 in Developmental Disabilities

Experiential Learning Optional in Program
  • HUS130 - Life Changes and Crisis: Adaptation and Intervention

MOST COMMON LINKED OCCUPATION TITLE - ALL EDUCATION LEVELS

  • Counselor and Case Manger

MOST COMMON LINKED OCCUPATION TITLE - ASSOCIATE'S OR LESS
  • Social and Human Services Assistant

Top Transfer Institutions
  • Lesley University
  • UMASS Online
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • Salem State University
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Cambridge College
  • Assumption College
  • Endicott College