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Human Services, Master of Science

Program Purpose

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

1. Integrate theories, knowledge, skills and values of human services into the operation of human service organizations in a manner that demonstrates flexible thinking.
2. Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
3. Apply decision-making and problem-solving skills as well as critical thinking to the administration of the human services organization.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the structure and dynamics of teams, organizations and communities in diverse environments in a pluralistic society that reflects respect for our multicultural world.
5. Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, evaluate, assess and research the needs of human services communities and organizations.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of information management and information technology as it relates to human service delivery systems.
7. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate the legal and ethical issues that impact and influence human services, and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues and standards in the field.
8. Demonstrate a commitment to self-directedness, self-discipline, and lifelong learning as a scholarly practitioner in human services.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of budgeting for grant writing and fundraising as it applies to a non-profit or governmental human services organization.
10. Demonstrate knowledge, ability and skills to manage both professional and volunteer staff members in a human services organization.

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.

Course Requirements

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.   

Human Services Core Courses (9 Credits)

All students must satisfactorily complete the following core courses:

Research, Design and Evaluation of Programs in Human Services

Law and Practice in Human Services

Guided Practicum in Administration of Human Services

OR

Capstone Project in Human Services Administration

OR

Thesis in Human Services

Student Selects One of the Following Concentrations

Administration of Human Services Concentration Core (9 Credits)

Administration of Human Service Organizations

Contemporary Issues in Administration of Human Services

Financial Management in Human Services

OR

Human Services Practice Concentration Core (9 Credits)

Survey of Human Services

Human Services Helping Skills

Human Behavior & Human Systems

Electives (15 Credits)

Select any five from the following courses:

Structure and Dynamics of Relationships, Organizations, Communities and Societies

Topics: Administering Faith-based Human Services

Technology and Information Management in Human Services

Administering Disability Services

Communication in Human Services

Leadership through Films

Social Policy, Advocacy and Human Services

Financial Management in Human Services

Managing Children and Family Services

Principles of Creating a Human Service Organization

Alcohol and Other Drugs Program Management

Grant Writing & Grant Management in the Human Service Environment

Administering Programs for Senior Adults

Fund Development & Fundraising in the Human Service Environment

Volunteer Management

Social Inequality, Social Change, and Community Building

Case Management Interventions and Strategies

Case Management: Advocacy Skills & Client Services

Ethical Practice in Case Management

21st Century Globalization

Culture & Communication

Ethical Financial Leadership in Human Services

Responding to Human Trafficking

Investigating Human Trafficking & Interviewing Victims

Introduction to Social & Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Literacy

Adult Stages of Being

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.