Human Services Degree Online Programs

A human services degree online program equips students with the credentials necessary to join the integrated professions of public health, social work, medical administration, psychology, and counseling, as well as leadership, management, and evaluation and analysis roles.

Unlike pursuing a specific area of human services, such as a degree in psychology, having a human services degree is a qualification designed to equip students to enter into a broad range of service careers.

Most human services degree holders go on to become human or social service assistants, social workers, community support workers, psychologists, or counselors among other professions that involve serving people in the community.

Online human services degrees are available at the undergraduate and graduate level; you can earn a bachelors in human services, masters in human services or a PhD degree in human services.

Online Colleges for Human Services Degree

Various online human services degree programs are available, including bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s, and certificate programs. Best of all, they take place online.

Capella University offers a variety of specific programs, including various combined psychology and counseling specializations. Capella offers the following online human services degrees:

• 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 - Mgmt of 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 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. In addition, Liberty University is an accredited online Christian college offering quality education in associate's, bachelor's, master's, MBA, doctorate, and post-graduate certificate degree programs, including the following online human services degrees:

• Master of Arts in Human Services - Marriage and Family
• 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 Administration
• 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 Emergency Management
• Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology

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

• M.S. in Mental Health Counseling
• Master of Public Health (M.P.H)
• 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 Health Services - General
• PhD in Health Services - Community Health Promotion and Education
• PhD in Health Services - Health Management and Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Health - General
• Ph.D. in Public Health - Community Health Promotion and Education
• Ph.D. in Public Health - Epidemiology
• PhD. in Public Policy and Administration - Health Services

Human Services Education and Training

Online human services degree programs cover a wide range of subjects and specialties, ranging from counseling methods to psychology and sociology, social work, health and fitness, and human growth and development, as well as case management and interviewing techniques. Doctorate and master's courses may include modules in criminal justice, clinical social work, administration, and social policy analysis and planning. In addition, you may choose to specialize even further if you have a particular interest in a certain social issue, such as child abuse.

As part of their education curriculum, human services degree students master a variety of critical skills to help them carry out their duties effectively, as well as advance their careers. These skills may include planning and organization, counseling, management and administration, understanding substance abuse, child development, oral communication, report writing, and research, as well as intuition skills to help them recognize trends and patterns in human behavior.

In addition, depending on the specific area of specialization, obtaining a state license may be required before gaining employment as a human services employee.

Careers in Human Services - Projection and Salaries

Currently, the human services job market is growing much faster than the average job market in the U.S., due to a range of human issues, including substance abuse and a booming senior population.

The Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 08-09 edition states that in May, 2006, over 60% of human and social service assistants were employed in healthcare, with a salary range of $15,000-$45,000 per year. In 2006, counselors earned a minimum of $47,530, with the highest earners making over $75,000; while child, family, and school social workers earned a minimum of $35,000 and a maximum pay in excess of $62,000 for some social workers.

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