Empathetic and community-focused, human services professionals support individuals and communities. Working in child protection, mental health, criminal justice, and community education, practitioners in these areas work to foster respectful and supportive environments for people from diverse backgrounds.
If you seek a fulfilling professional path that encourages you to champion deeply held values like social justice and mental health advocacy, you could be a solid fit for human services. Given this field’s practical and emotional challenges, however, it is essential to know what is involved and whether you are up to the task. Read on to learn: What is a degree in human services, and why does this field matter?
What Is a Degree in Human Services?
The term “human services” describes a wide range of helping careers that focus on improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This may be accomplished by addressing what are often referred to as “human needs” — which refer not only to the functions needed for survival but also those needed to thrive. Examples of things that could be considered human needs may include nutrition, housing, healthcare access, safety, and support networks.
Human services rely on many mechanisms to help clients get their core human needs met amid various cultural or socioeconomic challenges. This may include client-specific services such as case management, but could encompass advocacy on a wider scale as well.
Given the range of these strategies and the ethical or cultural challenges that may impede progress, it is increasingly important for aspiring human services professionals to seek well-rounded training.
So, what is a degree in human services? This involves a blend of theoretical coursework and experiential learning, with the goal of exposing future human services professionals to the wide range of skills and concepts needed to work effectively in this field. Available at the undergraduate level, this degree program explores diverse concepts and emphasizes hands-on application.
Defining Human Services: Scope and Purpose
Breadth is built into the very concept of human services, both as an academic discipline and as a professional practice. To that end, human services professionals may provide a wide range of services, including everything from client assessments and case management to resource coordination and even policy development. However, they do not typically provide clinical mental health therapy or legal advice unless separately licensed or qualified.
The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) highlights the broad “objective of meeting human needs,” adding that this encompasses both the prevention and remediation of human problems, along with “maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations.”
The Evolution of Human Services Education in the United States
Human services education has evolved considerably alongside human services as a field. While many of the pillars of human services have existed in some capacity for centuries, our current conception of this field emerged in response to the Industrial Revolution and the dramatic economic shifts brought about by urbanization.
During this time, charitable organization societies (COS) coordinated widespread efforts to address social instability, drawing upon early versions of casework to assess (and respond to) needs in a systematic manner. The formalization of social work influenced emerging human services initiatives by promoting evidence-based practice and standardization in a field also focused on serving community needs.
While additional progress emerged in response to the New Deal’s expanded public welfare programs. Some believe the most significant shifts in human services occurred during the 1960s and 1970s, when human services began to be perceived as a distinct field. This led to the formalization of human services, along with the creation of relevant training programs promoting interdisciplinary yet career-focused study.
Today, human services education encompasses a unique blend of disciplines: psychology, sociology, and public health, integrating other niches when relevant to client concerns. Training often emphasizes systems thinking, ethical judgment, and cultural competence — using a blend of meaningful discussion, written reflection, and real-world exposure to relevant settings and situations.
Who Should Consider a Human Services Degree?
There is no ‘right’ candidate for earning a human services degree. This discipline could appeal to a broad audience and may provide valuable preparation for many professionals. In general, though, this program most benefits passionate individuals who feel drawn to serve.
Ideal Traits and Skills for Prospective Students
Warm and caring, by connecting authentically with clients and communities, human services professionals may strengthen the impact of their work. While anybody has the potential to develop the skills and qualities that shape these powerful connections, some people may show a natural aptitude in core areas such as:
- Empathy and compassion. As the cornerstones of human services, empathy and compassion may help students to understand their clients’ perspectives and experiences. While human services professionals tend to possess a wealth of compassion, they may further increase this through exposure to diverse communities, including their stories and traditions.
- Cultural competence. Human services students and professionals may find that curiosity and cultural sensitivity help them better understand diverse traditions and perspectives, which could influence how they approach interactions and decision-making.
- Communication. Success in human services relies on a strong rapport, which may be established through empathy and cultural awareness as well as verbal and written communication skills. Human services professionals may need to adjust their communication style to both account for differing client needs and challenges, as well as reflect other priorities such as advocacy and policy development.
Career Aspirations That Align With Human Services Degrees
The concepts covered in human services degrees could be considered widely relevant across the broad scope of helping professions and may help students make a positive difference within many aligned fields. For example, case management skills are crucial in social work and even in the nonprofit sector, while social science research skills allow human services graduates to uncover insights as research assistants or policy analysts.
The Academic Journey: What to Expect
What is a degree in human services when it comes to the academic experience? While the ultimate goal of the human services degree is typically to prepare compassionate individuals to thrive in helping professions, the journey itself may be rewarding, with coursework potentially delivering new perspectives along with actionable strategies for meeting clients’ unique needs.
Core Curriculum and Specializations Within Human Services Degrees
As an interdisciplinary program, the human services degree draws from numerous fields of study to examine how various systemic challenges and cultural factors influence individuals and the communities in which they reside.
A program’s core curriculum features a blend of psychological concepts, administrative practices, and ethical exploration. Through foundational courses, future human services professionals examine service delivery models as well as the myriad multicultural and social issues that influence their work with diverse clients.
Seminars encourage introspection, allowing students to synthesize diverse topics while gaining a more well-rounded understanding of human services and aligned disciplines. Students hope to come away understanding the complex systems that shape well-being, along with their potential role in addressing these systems’ core challenges or deficits.
While core courses strive to provide a basic understanding of human services and promote foundational skill development, context is key — especially given the sheer range of human services roles and responsibilities. Therein lies the value of specialized coursework, which reveals how core concepts play out in different settings or situations.
- Child and Family Studies. Centered on child development and family dynamics, this concentration regards how human services professionals work to protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals while taking steps to promote their optimal well-being both now and far into the future.
- Counseling. While human services professionals are not permitted to provide clinical counseling services, they may offer valuable support through active listening and by showing empathy. This concentration could help prepare aspiring counselors for future success by introducing them to the theories of counseling professionals. This, in turn, may provide excellent preparation for counseling-focused graduate studies, which may provide a foundation for counseling-focused graduate studies, which are typically required for roles in areas like clinical mental health or substance abuse counseling.
- Criminal Justice. Exploring the intersection between law enforcement, corrections, and human services, this concentration explores what it takes to strike a balance between public safety and rehabilitation.
- Diversity, Social Justice, and Multicultural Practice. Highlighting the value of cultural awareness in human services, this interdisciplinary concentration explores diverse perspectives, offering a cross-cultural glimpse into everything from social identity to religion, aging, and even women’s experiences of violence.
Practical Experience: Internships and Fieldwork
Practical experience brings critical concepts into the real world, revealing how lifespan development theories, research methods, and other essentials shape everything from program design to direct interactions with human services.
In a human services program, fieldwork often revolves around structured experiences known as practicums. Each may provide the chance to serve within a dedicated agency while linking theory and practice. Multiple practicums help expose students and interns to diverse human services environments, delivering a breadth of experience along with excellent networking opportunities.
Internships present an opportunity to take this to the next level, offering extended exposure to the human services field so that aspiring professionals may gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to support clients as they navigate complex challenges. Along the way, interns may develop professional relationships and enhance their resumes, gaining the confidence needed to support a successful transition into the human services workforce.
Diverse Career Paths in the Human Services Field
While a degree in human services does not guarantee an opportunity in a specific job or field, it may appeal to a diverse array of potential careers that leverage multidisciplinary training. Relevant opportunities could be available at all levels of the human services career ladder and may also involve a wide range of compelling specializations.
Entry-Level Positions
In human services, entry-level roles may provide ample opportunities for professionals to work directly with vulnerable populations. With a relevant educational background and skill set, the following roles may be within reach:
- Social services assistant. Supporting case managers or even social workers, social services assistants often handle administrative essentials such as paperwork and appointment scheduling, but may also work directly with clients to address practical challenges. This can be a common early role for aspiring advocates or program supervisors.
- Community outreach coordinator. Revolving around partnership development and community engagement, this role allows human services professionals to cultivate solid relationships with local organizations, thereby securing and mobilizing the resources needed to meet far-reaching client needs.
- Peer support specialist. Drawing upon lived experiences, peer support specialists bring a unique element of empathy to human services, forming connections that clients may otherwise struggle to establish. They offer encouragement and guidance, helping clients tackle immediate obstacles while also encouraging them to develop a wellspring of resilience.
Advanced Roles and Opportunities
While many human services professionals enjoy working directly with clients, some eventually seek to expand their influence via higher-level roles involving research, strategic planning, or policy development. Options worth exploring include:
- Case management supervisor. Offering practical support for hardworking teams of case managers, these case management supervisors oversee case critical operations, offering expert guidance with uniquely difficult cases while encouraging case managers to adhere closely to ethical standards.
- Human services program manager. In this role, professionals plan and implement programs that address community needs, program managers handle budgetary complications and regulatory compliance, with many also supervising staff members.
- Family services director. Committed to supporting family health, safety, and well-being, family services directors develop strategic visions and mobilize the support needed to make these visions a reality.
Impacting Communities: The Role of Human Services Professionals
Human services professionals may make meaningful contributions to the individuals and families they support. On a broad scale, they may empower communities, advocating for wide-scale changes that improve vulnerable populations’ quality of life. How they accomplish this may vary somewhat depending on their specialization, but many commit to serving communities through these core functions:
Addressing Social Issues and Advocacy
Intimately familiar with the many challenges that today’s vulnerable populations face, human services professionals advocate assertively for fair treatment and equitable access to critical services. They tend to recognize that, while their individualized services may make a difference, additional action is needed at the societal level and especially through public policy. They may contribute by getting involved with industry associations or in community development campaigns.
Enhancing Community Well-Being and Resilience
Community resilience describes the ability of local populations to withstand and recover from difficult circumstances, including crises. Human services professionals may strengthen this by fostering inclusive environments and enhancing support networks. Their efforts aim to help community members are able to access critical resources, but they also build both trust and a sense of belonging.
Selecting the Right Human Services Program
Do you feel drawn to human services? As you prepare for a future in a meaningful field, think carefully about where and how you plan to develop critical skills. Examine potential programs to determine which provide the most well-rounded preparation — and which align with personal goals or priorities.
So how could a degree in human services fit your goals? Keep these considerations in mind:
Accreditation and Quality Indicators
Accreditation may offer peace of mind, verifying that human services programs uphold robust educational standards. However, accreditation is not the only indicator of a quality program. Other quality indicators may include faculty members — their experience and credentials, along with their reputation for supporting students .
Preparing for the Future: Continuing Education and Professional Development
While undergraduate human services coursework could form a solid foundation, this field calls for an ongoing commitment to learning and development, with the recognition that new opportunities and challenges are continually emerging.
Advanced Degrees and Certifications
A bachelor of science (BS) in human services may provide a strong start in an important field, but some graduates go on to pursue additional degrees or certifications. Many credentials are available through the previously mentioned NOHS, including the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) and numerous micro-credentials. However, these credentials may also have additional requirements outside of education.
In addition, the master of science (MS) in counseling and human services expands on many concepts covered in the human services undergraduate degree, but with a greater focus on advanced counseling theories and therapeutic techniques.
Lifelong Learning and Skill Enhancement
As new issues emerge, human services professionals may need to adjust their mindset accordingly — developing new skills or exploring recently published research to promote informed and consistently ethical practices. The credentialing recertification process may support this effort via continuing education, although it is also worthwhile to attend conferences or work with mentors.
Emerging Trends in Human Services
The human services field has changed notably over the last several decades and continues to shift in response to new challenges and opportunities. Amid so many changes, human services professionals must remain agile, continuing to explore new opportunities and refine their practice so they may meet their clients’ evolving needs.
Technological Advancements and Their Impact
Like many helping professions, the human services field is increasingly tech-driven, drawing from cutting-edge solutions to identify at-risk individuals and populations while also expediting responses and even helping to personalize interventions. While human connection remains top of mind, this is now supported through innovative strategies that free up human services professionals to interact directly with clients. Promising opportunities include AI-powered platforms, cloud services, and data analytics tools.
Policy Changes and New Directions in Human Services
At the federal level, each new administration carries distinct priorities, introducing legislation that often reflects drastically different mindsets regarding human services. Policy shifts can affect funding and access to services, and priorities may change over time. Moving forward, the professional community may need to step up to bridge the gap, promoting grassroots movements to raise awareness and advocate for policies that benefit their communities.
Navigating Challenges in Human Services Careers
While the human services profession has the potential to offer many compelling opportunities, it is essential to be mindful of this field’s many challenges. A proactive approach may help human services enhance their well-being so that they are better positioned to support the well-being of others.
Burnout and Self-Care Strategies
Burnout is a common phenomenon in helping professions, with many hardworking individuals experiencing stress and fatigue on a daily basis. This is often accompanied by (or even caused by) compassion fatigue, in which human services professionals begin to struggle with empathy following years of emotional exhaustion.
Self-care is a must in such an emotionally demanding field. While the public’s perception of self-care centers on wellness practices, human services professionals may achieve this by setting boundaries and prioritizing work-life balance.
Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making
Ethics are built into the very foundation of human services, with professionals expected to obtain informed consent and to protect clients’ confidentiality. In their effort to fully support clients, however, these professionals may encounter numerous ethical dilemmas. For example, many struggle to balance their desire to support client safety with the clients’ need for respect and autonomy.
Human services professionals might find valuable ethical guidance from frameworks established by industry authorities. These guidelines reveal the specific steps and safeguards professionals may use to protect client dignity. Beyond this, professionals should commit to self-reflection or even mentorship, as these help shed light on ethical challenges while ensuring that integrity is built into every decision.
Discover a Bright Future in Human Services
Do you feel called to support your community in the ways outlined above? Begin this journey by pursuing your Bachelor of Science in Human Services. If you feel compelled to develop advanced skills while continuing your education at the graduate level, consider exploring our Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services. Learn more about the human services programs at Post University or take the next step and apply today.
