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The Master of Science degree in Human Services is geared toward working professionals who seek the knowledge and skills to lead non-profit organizations, for profit service providers, and government agencies that provide social services to a wide variety of client populations. The course of study will provide recent graduates in the behavioral sciences with the necessary tools to succeed in the human services arena. The program provides the theoretical, methodological, and practical knowledge needed to pursue a degree beyond the master’s level. The degree has been developed in close consultation with the professional practitioners in the field and weaves the themes of scholarship, professional experience, ethics, and technology into the courses to meet the goals and objectives of the program. The program will prepare scholarly practitioners who are poised to pursue careers or enhance their current positions in a variety of human services positions.
Program Design
Courses have been designed in accord with the standards of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education. The core of the program is anchored in the identified disciplines of research, theory, and ethics with a balance of professional practice that gives the program a real world flavor. This core will provide the student with the academic quality and rigor required as a base from which to build, according to individual interests and needs in a specific area of human services. Elective course offerings provide the students with the flexibility to choose from topics that will best prepare them to meet their own goals and aspirations. Faculty provides individual attention, which gives each student the opportunity to design a personal plan of study within the program. Courses have been carefully selected and designed in consultation with human services professionals and practitioners to ensure that the most current issues and topics are included in the curriculum. The faculty is carefully recruited from the field to ensure that the class presentations are as current as the events in the profession that day.
Additionally, the program has a built-in flexibility that respects the professional and personal commitments and responsibilities that today’s learners have while pursuing their goal of advanced academic studies. Classes are presented in semester-long, seven-week block, weekend modular, and online offerings to conveniently fit the busy schedules of the students. It is anticipated that students, taking courses year-round, could complete the degree in 12 months at an accelerated rate or in 18 to 24 months following a more traditional schedule. Students will build a personalized schedule in consultation with their individual faculty advisor. The personalized guided practicum, individual capstone project, or Thesis in Human Services allows the student additional flexibility and choices.
Program Competencies
Program Requirements
To qualify for the Master of Science in Human Services degree, a student must satisfy the fully admitted requirements and complete a minimum of 33 credit hours, maintaining a grade point average of 3.0. All students must satisfactorily complete the six core courses in residence that includes a 120-hour guided practicum, capstone master’s project, or master’s thesis in human services depending on the work history of the student. The remaining five courses are taken as electives from any of the courses offered in the program and based upon the student’s concentration. Credits may be awarded toward the degree through the transfer of relevant graduate level course credits from another regionally accredited college or university.
Graduate Certificate in Case Management for Human Services (optional)
Graduate students enrolled in the Master of Science in Human Services have the option to complete the entire Case Management in Human Services Certificate (15 credits) and receive both the Certificate and the degree upon graduation. Any electives from the Case Management in Human Services Certificate will count towards the 5 Master of Science in Human Services electives requirement. Graduate students may choose any one or more of the Case Management in Human Services courses as electives toward the completion of the Human Services degree program.
Graduate Certificate in Financial Management in Human Services (optional)
Graduate students enrolled in the Master of Science in Human Services have the option to complete the entire Financial Management in Human Services Certificate (18 credits) and receive both the Certificate and the degree upon graduation. Any electives from the Financial Management in Human Services Certificate will count towards the 5 Master of Science in Human Services electives requirement. This graduate-level certificate prepares current and future human services leaders with the tools to understand and oversee the financial aspects of their organizations. The knowledge gained from the courses in this certificate will help ensure the human services agency's well-being and solid return for its stakeholders.
The Master of Science in Human Services is intended to provide students with the academic capital needed for successful careers in human and social services. The degree also provides a sound foundation for entry into other professional endeavors and/or the opportunity to meet an intellectual interest in this very challenging field of study. Depending upon student interest, students may select from one of two concentrations within the Master of Science in Human Services: Administration of Human Services or Human Service Practice. The course requirements for each concentration are designed to better align with specific career goals and experience of each student.
All students must satisfactorily complete the following core courses:
AHS 6630 Research, Design and Evaluation of Programs in Human Services
SOC 6323 Law and Practice in Human Services
AHS 8100 Guided Practicum in Administration of Human Services
OR
AHS 8200 Capstone Project in Human Services Administration
AHS 8300 Thesis in Human Services
AHS 6610 Administration of Human Service Organizations
AHS 6640 Contemporary Issues in Administration of Human Services
AHS 7645 Financial Management in Human Services
AHS 6600 Survey of Human Services
SOC 6610 Human Services Helping Skills
SOC 6620 Human Behavior & Human Systems
Select any five from the following courses:
AHS 7610 Structure and Dynamics of Relationships, Organizations, Communities and Societies
AHS 7615 Topics: Administering Faith-based Human Services
AHS 7620 Technology and Information Management in Human Services
AHS 7625 Administering Disability Services
AHS 7630 Communication in Human Services
AHS 7634 Leadership through Films
AHS 7640 Social Policy, Advocacy and Human Services
AHS 7650 Managing Children and Family Services
AHS 7655 Principles of Creating a Human Service Organization
AHS 7670 Alcohol and Other Drugs Program Management
AHS 7675 Grant Writing & Grant Management in the Human Service Environment
AHS 7680 Administering Programs for Senior Adults
AHS 7685 Fund Development & Fundraising in the Human Service Environment
AHS 7690 Volunteer Management
SOC 6600 Social Inequality, Social Change, and Community Building
SOC 6601 Case Management Interventions and Strategies
SOC 6604 Case Management: Advocacy Skills & Client Services
SOC 6605 Ethical Practice in Case Management
SOC 6606 21st Century Globalization
SOC 6607 Culture & Communication
SOC 7100 Ethical Financial Leadership in Human Services
SOC 7610 Responding to Human Trafficking
SOC 7650 Investigating Human Trafficking & Interviewing Victims
SEI 6600 Introduction to Social & Emotional Intelligence
SEI 6610 Emotional Literacy
SEI 6620 Adult Stages of Being
SEI 6630 Social & Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.
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