Human Services Degrees
The field of human services broadly describes a range of positions that involve providing and arranging services for people to improve their quality of life. It encompasses counseling, guidance, and supervision of those not able to take care of themselves independently as well as the coordination of services that a person needs to live a quality life. Graduates of a human services degree program will gain the knowledge and skills needed to counsel and support people in a variety of human services settings such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, elder care facilities, youth centers and criminal justice facilities, just to name a few. They will learn about human development and human behavior in a social context as well as ethical standards, counseling skills and community services.
Job opportunities for those with a human services degree are expected to be excellent, especially in the areas of elder care, substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment. Private agencies in particular are expected to be hiring more people because of a trend where government agencies contract out services to private providers.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – An associate's degree in human services will enable graduates to be employed in a variety of direct-care positions. These degrees are also a good basis for a more specialized human services bachelor's degree programs.
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree will prepare students for a variety of human service roles including some that require certification or licensing. These programs are also a strong basis for a master's degree in counseling or social work.
- Master's Degree – Master's degree programs in this field prepare students for leadership roles in the planning and/or management of human service organizations.
- Doctoral Degree – This level of program requires specialization in an area such as counseling, administration or criminal justice and prepares students for research or leadership roles in their area of specialization.
Schools
Human services degrees, which are also called health and human services degrees, can be earned at numerous colleges and universities across the country, mostly at smaller institutions. Online schools and distance-education departments of traditional schools also commonly offer this type of program. Many programs allow students to choose an area of concentration in such as gerontology, administration, addictions counseling or behavioral health.
Coursework
Below are examples of some courses students would take in a human services program:
- Lifespan Development – Covers the physical, social and emotional development from childhood through old age.
- Abnormal Psychology – Students learn about the symptoms, causes, impacts and treatments of the major categories of mental illness.
- Counseling – Examines major approaches to counseling and how counseling can be used to help people change behaviors.
- Substance Abuse Treatment – Explores methods and techniques to treat substance abuse patients. Covers assessment, treatment plans and group counseling.
- Case Load Management – Students learn the core functions of case management including intake, orientation, assessment, planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention and client education.
- Field Experience - Students gain real-world experience through placements in a human services setting.
Aptitudes and Interests
Students who choose a human services major should be interested in working directly with people who need support for a variety of reasons. They should be patient, compassionate, open minded, have excellent communication skills and be able to build trusting relationships.
Career Options
Graduates of a human services program may work in a wide variety of settings, often as a Human Services Assistant. Various job titles are associated with this role such as Social Worker Assistant, Mental Health Aide or Gerontology Aide. They may work with clients that have physical or mental disabilities, are elderly, or have addiction problems or other mental health issues. Those who specialize in addiction counseling may become licensed Addiction Counselors.
Related Majors
- Addiction Counseling - These programs have a specific focus on substance abuse and addiction counseling.
- Social Work - Focus is on how to restore a person's social functioning through counseling and coordination of support services.
- Mental Health Counseling - Students learn how to counsel individuals with mental health issues with the goal of improving their emotional stability and quality of life.
How To Evaluate Human Services Degree Programs
Below are some criteria to be considered when choosing a human services program:
- Career Options – Human service programs are often chosen by students who aren't ready to make a specific human service career choice. These students may want to find out if and when they can switch to a related major after starting the program in case they decide they'd prefer to obtain a more specialized degree.
- Specializations – Programs offer varying specialization areas so students should make sure the ones offered are of interest to them.
- Accreditation - Any program chosen should be accredited by one of the regional accreditation agencies so that credits can be transferred and so that employers will recognize the degree.
- Internships - The types of internship options available will vary between programs due to location and other factors. Choosing a program that has many diverse options may be a consideration for some.
- Career Services - The quality and success rate of a career services department at a candidate school should be researched.
Resources
Council for Standards in Human Services Education
The National Organization for Human Services
American Public Human Services Association
American Counseling Association
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