Human Services Degree Online Programs

Human services degree online programs empower learners with skills and knowledge to help and serve people in the community.

A human services degree program provides students with skills-based training enabling them to enter into a broad range of service careers that includes social services, community support, psychology and even counseling. Training may include learning various interviewing and assessment techniques, managing client cases, group counseling and crisis intervention.

Graduate degrees in human services provide more knowledge related to leading, organizing and planning. In addition to the skills acquired during the online program, students must have a strong desire to work with people, and be willing to form personal and professional relationships with their coworkers and clients.

Why earn your human services degree online?

Human services education is well-suited for online learning. The online learning environment allows you to easily interact with other human service professionals to share information, discuss real-world applications of coursework and gain insight into career options. Students currently working as human services professionals can gain the skills and education needed to advance their career. Other reasons why learners may enroll for an online program include:

• Options to earn a human services associate's degree in two years or a bachelor's degree in 4-5 years (or less). Some online programs provide options for learners to complete a master’s degree in as little as 16-24 months.
• Some online human service degree programs do not require you to complete a field experience, or clinicals. Even if this is not required, this type of real-world experience may be useful in obtaining your first human services job.
• Access to experienced instructors and human service professionals, no matter where you live.
• Opportunities to develop online learning skills that will also serve you well in your future career.

Online Human Services Degrees and Program Specializations

Human services is a broad field that covers residential care, homeless shelters, correctional facilities and hospitals and clinics. Degree programs provide students with an equally broad curriculum that will prepare them for entry-level positions in many of these fields. Schools may also offer specific courses that focus on topics relevant to one or more of these areas, such as poverty, domestic violence and the elderly. Students can use their elective courses to focus on specific areas of interest, or select a wide range of subjects.

• Certificates in human services
• Associates degree in human services
• Bachelors degree in human services
• Masters degree in human services
• Doctoral degree in human services

Online Colleges with Human Services Degree Programs

Capella University is an accredited online college with multiple degree disciplines that include the following human services degree online programs:

• Masters in Human Services - General Human Services
• Masters in Human Services - Counseling Studies
• Masters in Human Services - Marital, Couple, and Family Counsel/Therapy
• Masters in Human Services - Mental Health Counseling
• Masters in Human Services - School Counseling
• Masters in Human Services - Social and Community Services
• Masters in Human Services - Gerontology
• Masters in Human Services - Health Care Administration
• Masters in Human Services - Management for Nonprofit Agencies
• Masters in Human Services - General Human Service
• Masters in Public Health - Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Masters in Public Health - Management and Policy
• Masters in Public Safety - Criminal Justice
• Masters in Public Safety - Emergency Management
• Masters in Public Safety - Public Safety Leadership
• PhD in Human Services - Health Care Administration
• PhD in Human Services - Management of Nonprofit Agencies
• PhD in Human Services - Social and Community Services
• PhD in Human Services - Counseling Studies
• PhD in Human Services - Counselor Education and Supervision
• PhD in Human Services - General Human Services
• PhD in Public Safety - Criminal Justice
• PhD in Public Safety - Emergency Management
• PhD in Public Safety - Public Safety Leadership

Liberty University is the world's largest Evangelical university. As one of the very few accredited online Christian universities, Liberty offers these graduate human services degree online programs:

• Master of Arts in Human Services - Business Management
• Master of Arts in Human Services - Christian Ministries
• Master of Arts in Human Services - Executive Leadership
• Master of Arts in Human Services - Health and Wellness

Ashford University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI). Ashford offers the following online human services degrees:

• BA/Social Science - Human Services
• BA/Organizational Management - Public Administration
• BA/Organizational Management - Human Services Administration
• BA/Organizational Management - Public Safety Administration
• MA/Organizational Management - Public Administration

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university. It was also ranked number one by the Online Education Database in 2007. Grand Canyon University offers the following online human services programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Counseling - Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse

Walden University as an accredited institution, Walden is also one of the largest online universities. Walden offers bachelor's, master's, MBA, and PhD programs with specializations in psychology, public administration, teacher preparation, nursing, and human and health service among others. Their human services degree online programs include:

• B.S. in Human Services - Child and Adolescent Development
• B.S. in Human Services - Courts and the Legal System
• B.S. in Human Services - Criminal Justice
• B.S. in Human Services - Cultural Studies
• B.S. in Human Services - Global Social Justice and Civic Engagement
• B.S. in Human Services - Leadership and Administration
• B.S. in Human Services - Psychology
• B.S. in Human Services - Self-Designed
• B.S. in Psychology - Human Services
• M.S. in Mental Health Counseling
• PhD in Human Services - General
• PhD in Human Services - Counseling
• PhD in Human Services - Clinical Social Work
• PhD in Human Services - Criminal Justice
• PhD in Human Services - Family Studies and Intervention Strategies
• PhD in Human Services - Human Services Administration
• PhD in Human Services - Social Policy Analysis and Planning
• PhD in Human Services - Public Health
• PhD in Human Services - Self-Directed
• PhD in Human Services - Social Policy Analysis and Planning
• PhD in Health Services - Community Health Education and Advocacy
• PhD in Health Services - Health Management and Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Health - General

Planning for a career in human services

After finishing your human services degree online, you will be ready to help and educate people in the community, shelters, hospitals and clinics. Here are steps to help you turn your online degree into a successful career:

• Take advantage of your school's career resources before you graduate. The school's career center may help you prepare your résumé, learn interview skills, find jobs that suit you or look for graduate schools. Some schools also have networks of alumni that are excellent contacts for exploring your options and landing that first interview.
• Take advantage of fieldwork placements. Some schools offer opportunities to spend time in a clinic or shelter as part of your coursework. This practical experience not only provides first-hand experience in the field, but also allows you to identify specialties that you enjoy or dislike.
• Talk to your instructors and advisors about careers in human services. They can provide you with insight about different fields, share their experiences and help you start to focus your career as you near graduation.

The many roles of human services professional

Human services professionals work for a variety of organizations. They find work in the integrated professions of public health, social work, medical administration, psychology, and counseling, as well as leadership, management, and evaluation and analysis roles. Much of the work is challenging, but those who stick with the profession often find it rewarding because of the ability to help people find health, safety and success in life. Their daily job activities also vary-keeping client records, helping people obtain services, leading group meetings and activities, or educating clients about life and health skills.

The large number of possibilities means that health services professionals must continually learn, as well as work closely with other coworkers. In addition, the demands of the job sometimes can be overwhelming, often leading to career burnout.

Dedication to the career, however, pays off. Job opportunities for health services professionals will continue to rise faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is largely due to the increased number of services required by a growing elderly population. Salaries for these positions tend to be lower than other professions, but health service workers are often more committed to helping the people in the community than to a large income.

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