Human Service Studies Major

The focus of the human services field is to help people, families and communities. This interdisciplinary program provides the knowledge and skills to work in a variety of settings. Our students and alumni work with populations that include children and families, the elderly, immigrants, veterans, people with addictions, people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, people who are/were incarcerated, or people who are homeless. Our students take part in applied, experiential learning that includes service-learning projects and a one-semester field placement at a human service agency. The coursework and applied learning prepare our graduates for employment or graduate study.

Career Potential

Case Worker
Case Management Aide
Family and Child Advocate
Community Outreach Worker
Child Care workers
Home Health Aide
Crisis Support Worker
Juvenile Court Liaison
Family Support Worker
Mental Health Aide
Adult Day Care Worker
Residential Counselors
Probation Officer
Social Service Liaison

What Will I Learn?

This major emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of human services by focusing on the mastery of concepts, theory and research from fields such as health, psychology, sociology, and communication. As a major, you will learn:

What factors contribute to the need for human service programs/interventions
How human service agencies and their programs address the needs of populations across the lifespan
How to interpret research and apply best practices in the prevention, intervention and treatment of complex social problems
Knowledge and skills that will help you to communicate effectively in the human services field
How to apply ethical principles in human services work

Special Features

Complete a field placement and culmination project in the field of human services

Get Involved

College is more than a classroom. Enhance your experience with extracurricular opportunities: Combine academic course work with out-of-class experiences that provide you direct contact with health and human service professionals. Such experiences include a well-developed internship program and independent study opportunities.