The field of Human Services is ideal for individuals interested in working with or helping others (e.g., the homeless, people with disabilities, children or adolescents) in a broad variety of contexts. Human Services workers operate in a variety of organizations including community and non-profit organizations (e.g., halfway houses, missions, non-governmental organizations), social work, and governmental agencies (e.g., Department of Social Services or mental/behavioral health agencies). Human services workers engage in a broad range of activities, including organizing and leading group activities, assisting clients in need of counseling, crisis intervention, or social support, helping clients become involved in their own well-being, assisting adults who need supervision with personal hygiene and daily living skills, working with clients as case managers, or administering a food bank or emergency fuel program.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook states that “employment of community and social service occupations is projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations." A growing elderly population and rising demand for social services is expected to drive demand for these workers. Job opportunities are expected to be good. Job opportunities for human service workers are expected to be excellent, particularly for applicants with appropriate postsecondary education.
Job opportunities for human service workers are expected to be excellent, particularly for applicants with appropriate postsecondary education.
Southern Wesleyan University offers this program in both the traditional, face-to-face format as well as an entirely online bachelor's in Human Services. The Human Services major contains a core set of courses that provide students with experience in assessment and diagnosis, case management, program evaluation, human development, social issues, and professional ethics. In addition, students have the opportunity to focus on areas of particular interest, with currently available concentrations such as counseling, non-profit administration, family services, and criminal justice. One important element of the SWU Human Services degree program is the opportunity for an internship or practicum, in which the student serves in an agency to gain exposure to the typical day-to-day experience of a human services worker.
The online Human Services degree at Southern Wesleyan University was recently ranked in the top 20 for Online Bachelor’s in Human Services Degrees by BestColleges.com based on academic outcomes, affordability, and the breadth and depth of online learning opportunities.
Recent SWU Human Services graduates work in a broad range of positions, including addictions counselor, Child Protective Services worker, missionary (e.g., working with victims of human trafficking), AmeriCorps service member, director of a soup kitchen, medical case manager, director of programs at the United Way, early interventionist (working with children with special needs), community outreach advocate, and Human Services specialist at the Department of Social Services. Click here to read some of their success stories!
