Online Education (master Of Science In Human Services)

By Author: John Srob
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A growing number of people are relying on social services — from the baby boomer population entering its golden years, to those affected by the ongoing economic problems, to those seeking treatment for mental health and addiction issues. This can translate into a growing need for individuals in human service organization management positions.

Our Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a concentration in Management is designed to prepare you for such a role. Managing human service organizations requires specialized knowledge in the areas of grant and proposal writing, program evaluation and balancing resources — skills that can help you thrive in an administrative role in a variety of human services settings.
Individuals working in human services, social services or public works, usually focus on populations in need of assistance, such as the mentally disabled, low-income families, substance abusers or the homeless. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Services teaches students how to interact with clients and run various types of human services programs. Read on for more information about the human services ...
... degree program.

The Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management is designed for adult learners who wish to relate their practical career experience to business and management theory.
The 41-credit, upper division, academic program places special emphasis on developing the knowledge and skills essential for the management of human services whether in the not-for-profit or for-profit organization. Providing a wide-ranging and detailed foundation in the management of human services organizations, the program offers coursework in the following areas: management and supervision, legal and ethical issues, community resources development, communications and grant writing, human resources, finance and budgeting, marketing and fundraising, statistics, and strategy.

The core curriculum is structured sequentially, with students taking one course at a time in the designed sequence. By combining academic learning with community service projects, the program allows for service-learning opportunities in which students can apply concepts learned in their courses to practice.

What you'll learn

The BSHS program curriculum at employs an interdisciplinary approach for assimilating theory, knowledge, skills and core competencies of today's human service professional. The conceptual framework of the program draws from a range of human service domains such as counseling, biopsychosocial development, human systems and social change, social work, psychology, and management theories. The program is designed with experiential components, integrated within the academic foundation, to provide students with experience as service providers in a range of human service settings in both private and public sectors. The Human Services program’s interdisciplinary design builds core skills and competencies based on established methods for delivering a variety of direct service roles in the wide-ranging field of human services. In addition to completing core curriculum courses, students must declare and complete courses in an area of concentration selected from the following: 1) Management, 2) Addictions, 3) Family and Child Services, 4) Gerontology. Upon graduation from the program students will be qualified for Registry as Mental Health Facilitators with the National Board for Certified Counselors-International and prepared academically to sit for the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner examination administered by the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Bachelor of Science in Human Services Degree Overview
Core Coursework
Most human services degree programs teach students about the real world applications of human services programs, as well as the administrative side of running these programs. To gain an understanding of how human services programs work, students first learn about different populations in need, such as the mentally and physically disabled, children, the elderly and low-income families. Next, students may take classes on potential human services programs, including criminal justice, emergency medical, child development, health services and community outreach.
After receiving instruction on various programs and populations, students learn how to deal with individual clients. To train students to talk with clients in a professional manner, human services degree programs provide courses in behavioral psychology, interpersonal relationships, intervention strategies and counseling. Other core classes provide training on the fundamentals of running human services programs, including research methodologies and statistics, public service management, program funding and legal issues related to human services.

Courses Covered In Human Services / Management Major Include:

Introduction to Human Services
Communication Skills for the Human Services Professional
Organizational Behavior
Models of Effective Helping
Management: Theory, Practice, Application
Human Lifespan Development
Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making
Case Management
Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Services
Quality Management and Productivity
Financial Analysis for Manager I
Advocacy and Mediation
Organization Psychology
Technology in Human Services
Cultural Diversity and Special Populations
Research and Statistics
Building Community in Organizations
Marketing
Program Design and Proposal Writing
Interdisciplinary Capstone Course

Concentration Options
Since students who have a degree in human services go on to multiple career paths, most degree programs allow students to specialize by choosing career path-based electives or degree concentrations. For example, students interested in helping the mentally disabled may choose elective courses focusing on social psychology, child psychology, psychological disorders or mental health institutions. Alternatively, students who want to work in social reform programs may choose courses related to social services and non-profit organizations.

At the end of the course sequence, students are required to complete a capstone course which integrates material from all of the previous coursework through a focus on strategy. Students obtain the Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management degree by using the management core to build upon other traditional and non-traditional learning experiences. A minimum of 128 undergraduate credits is required for the BS-HSM degree.

Gain the skills and experiences they'll need to succeed in a wide range of career opportunities in public, private and non-profit organizations
Enhance self-awareness, build confidence and develop a strong sense of direction through a careful blend of Bachelor of Science in Human Services Degree program courses, general education and elective courses
Make connections across disciplines so they're better prepared to respond to a diverse and constantly changing global marketplace
Participate in internship and cooperative education programs that offer real-life work experience before they graduate with their bachelor's in human services degree
Learn from faculty members who have advanced degrees and years of relevant experience in the field of human services.

Training Experience
Many human services degree programs require students to gain real-world experience through internships and externship programs. Usually these programs last for 1-2 semesters, although students can elect to participate in additional internship opportunities. Through these experiences, students learn how human services professionals work with other industries, how to evaluate individual cases and how to work with various populations in need.

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.