Master's in Human Services

A Masters in Human Services Program is an advanced degree focused on human needs. It’s designed for grad students who wish to help others live better lives. Human services degree holders could pursue many health and human services career paths. Do you hope to make a difference through care and advocacy? Consider earning an online Master of Human Services.

Masters in Human Services programs are multi disciplinary. So, they tend to touch on many social science topics. These may include family studies, criminal justice, human development, and more. These programs tend to cover community, health or social service topics.

What is a Human Services Masters Degree Program?

A Master of Science in Human Services is a graduate degree all about helping people. Well, that’s the simple answer. In reality, this field is complex. And it’s always changing. So your program could touch on everything from counseling skills to business smarts. You could study how to work with kids or the elderly. And you could learn how to manage services that make a difference.

Human services masters programs tend to be broad in scope. Maybe you’re interested in substance abuse or mental health counseling. Or maybe you’re eager to learn about family services or nonprofit management. Or one of many other areas of the field of human services. Your program may delve into all that and more.

Most programs explore the many ways to meet human needs. That means preventing problems. And finding solutions. You could discover how to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations. And, you could boost your multicultural knowledge. That’s key when working with people from diverse communities.

Human Services professionals advocate for and provide services to people in need. Their work may include helping the homeless get shelter, food, and health care. Or, assisting children in abusive homes. Many pros in this field work in leadership roles. Examples include community service managers. Or admins in human services agencies. They may work to improve public health and safety for the community.

By the way, you’ll need a Bachelor’s degree to apply. Usually, a master’s takes about two years of full-time study to earn.

What Type Of Masters Degree Program in Human Services is Perfect For You?

Look for a master’s in human services from an accredited school. Accreditation helps you know your school offers high quality learning.

One way to make this simpler: use the search tools on GradSchools.com! There are different ways to review your match results. For instance, you can search masters programs by city, state or country. This type of school search can help you find campus or hybrid programs. Or, search for online master of human services degrees.

Also look for programs that match your goals. Say you want to study Human Services Administration. Or earn a Master of Science in Human Services. You could even find a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling.

Finally, consider these factors when doing a program evaluation:

• Potential availability of financial aid
• School rankings and reputation
• GRE test requirements
• GPA requirements
• Transfer credits policy
• Whatever else you’re looking for in your ideal program

Masters of Human Services Potential Coursework & Specialization

A master’s degree programs in human services could build on your past knowledge. In fact, professional development tends to be a big focus. So if you’re already working in the field, you could enhance your skills. Most Masters in Human Services programs cover community, health, and social service topics. To start, you’ll take core classes in the field. Like, ethics, psychology, and cultural diversity. Students might also explore topics like:

• Communication
• Group dynamics
• Child development
• Counseling
• Society and law
• Policy analysis
• Statistics
• Program management

Students may be able to choose a field of specialization. And, they may need to pursue an internship, practicum, or field experience. Capstone projects may also be common.

Human Services: Concentration Areas For Masters Students

Some programs let you select a concentration. For instance, you could explore Child Development. Or Gerontology. Other focus areas may include:

• Business
• Family
• Social Work
• Counseling
• Healthcare
• Faith
• Education
• Organizational Leadership

FUN FACT: Yes, most social workers need a bachelor’s degree to start. But clinical social workers must have a master’s degree. And 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. They must also have licensure in the state where they practice.

What Could You Do With a Masters in Human Services?

Do you aspire to career paths that make a difference? Consider pursuing a human services master’s. Human services pros may work in many settings. Like, nonprofit organizations. Or human service organizations. Or the criminal justice system. Here are some human services careers you could pursue:

• Counselor
• Social worker
• Human resource manager
• Group managers
• Healthcare consultant
• Health Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Mental Health Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Probation Officer
• Correctional Treatment Specialist
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• School Counselor
•  Career Counselor
• Social and Human Services Assistant

And the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field is growing. Community and social service jobs should grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030. That’s much faster than average. The field should add about 346,900 jobs. Many of these new roles should be in the social work and counseling career areas. For instance, substance abuse and rehabilitation counseling. Also, the May 2020 median annual wage for community and social service jobs was $47,520. That was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations: $41,950. (Source: BLS.gov)

• Health Educators and Community Health Workers
• Mental Health Counselors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Probation Officers
• Correctional Treatment Specialists
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• School and Career Counselors
• Social and Human Services Assistants
• Social Workers

Furthermore, the BLS predicts that employment of community and social service occupations will grow 10 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the average for all occupations, and will be adding about 346,900 jobs. Most new jobs in this occupational group will be in the healthcare and social assistance industry. The median annual wage for community and social service occupations was $47,520 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950. (Source: BLS.gov)

Ready to Pursue a Masters Degree in Human Services?

Many career paths in human services call for a master’s. Why not explore online programs on GradSchools.com? You may find the grad program that’s perfect for your goals!

GradSchools.com offers 122 Master’s in Human Services