Online Master’s In Human Services

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A human services degree features an interdisciplinary program in scope and by definition. It focuses on the timely and coordinated delivery of diverse services that bring about profound and lasting change for individuals and communities. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists several jobs under the community and social service occupations umbrella. These include social and human services assistants, rehabilitation counselors, health educators, and community health workers. The BLS projects the field to grow 12% from 2019-2029, much faster than the average growth of 4% for all jobs.

Graduates of a human services program can look forward to entering a growth-oriented job market with above-average salaries. Degree-holders may enjoy many opportunities for professional and personal fulfillment.

Master's in Human Services Questions

What Are the Goals of a Human Services Degree?

Students can pursue a human services degree at all levels. At the master's level, some schools offer a master of arts while others offer a master of science. The latter focuses on specific arenas such as administration or healthcare management. The former offers more flexibility and focuses on topics such as abnormal psychology or ethics. Both program types offer concentration areas such as policy analysis, nonprofit management, and intervention and leadership.

Why Get a Human Services Degree?

Pursuing a master's degree in human services requires significant time and monetary investment. However, well-crafted programs yield a myriad of professional and personal benefits, five of which we describe below.

Courses in Human Services

A master's degree in human services typically comprises 30-46 credits. Many full-time students earn the degree within two years. Some online programs follow an accelerated schedule, cutting completion time to as few as 18 months.

A well-developed human services master's degree expands learners' knowledge of the field while improving their research and communication skills. Culminating activities vary by program, but many require an internship and thesis. Some schools ask candidates to complete a capstone project proposing implementable solutions for existing challenges communities or organizations face.

While each program creates its own curricula, schools commonly offer the courses below in a master's degree in human services.

• Social Services Administration

  The class gives enrollees an overview of human services organizations. Through case studies and experiential activities, students learn how to manage human services agencies efficiently and effectively. The course immerses learners in topics such as resource development, diversity management, financial and strategic planning, and team building.

• Social Policy and Human Services

  Learners examine the history of social welfare policy and the emergence of modern systems. The course helps enrollees develop an individual framework for human services professionals' roles in today's society. Students learn how legal and political systems impact social institutions and policies.

• Interviewing and Assessment Skills in Human Services

  The course develops assessment and communication skills needed to maintain a positive client relationship. Enrollees learn how to take advantage of common informal and formal assessment methods. The class includes a field component where students practice their interviewing skills with real clients.

Career and Salary Outlook for Human Services

Human services practitioners work with diverse client groups including children, adolescents, and families. They help individuals struggling with mental health or addiction problems and elderly patients coping with medical conditions or end-of-life issues. Several factors influence the career and salary outlook for each specific human services sector, including the state of practice and the field's regulatory policies.

• Social and Community Service Managers

  A social and community manager's responsibilities include overseeing programs to ensure stakeholder objective adherence, writing funding proposals, and planning and implementing outreach programs. They also continually evaluate the needs of the communities and organizations they work for to identify necessary services.

• Medical and Health Services Manager

  The specific duties of these professionals depend on their facility's size and type. Their work includes preparing and monitoring budgets, maintaining records of services rendered, and making sure their facility maintains relevant compliance.

• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

  These professionals work directly with clients and their support community to develop treatment plans addressing the addiction or behavior disorder. They make sure clients can access additional resources to aid their recovery and progress. These include job placement services, group counseling, and social amelioration programs.

Source: BLS

Scholarships for Human Services Students

Institutions with master's in human services programs may offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships or fellowships. Professional associations and private nonprofits also administer human services financial aid programs. We list three such scholarships below to jump start your own search.

Most Affordable Online Master's in Human Services Programs

Emma Yenko

With an undergraduate degree in communications and a master's in education, Emma finds writing for the education vertical to be the perfect niche.