The nationally accredited human services option prepares students for diverse entry-level careers in fields such as family social services, youth or aging programs, volunteer management and crisis services. The human services option provides excellent preparation for graduate studies in human development and family sciences, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work. Course work includes family relationships, human development across the life span, proposal writing, and human service foundation skills, ethics and administration. Students tailor their elective courses to focus on particular issues or populations. All students gain real-life experience through at least two supervised internships in human services agencies.

Future Students

• Visit Undergraduate Academic Advising to pursue this program.

Current Students

• Use the general catalog to view courses offered in the program.
• Use an option sheet (pdf) to track your progress in completing course requirements.
• Schedule an advising appointment.

Prospective careers

*May require post-baccalaureate/graduate/professional education to qualify or certify for employment.

Private or Public Human Service Agency
Personnel Officer
Crisis Intervention Worker
Adoption Agency Counselor
Youth Program Specialist
Neighborhood Outreach Worker
Activity Director
Housing Service Workers
Emergency Relief Worker
Coordinator of Volunteers
Residential Treatment Center
Social Worker*
Caseworker
Marriage and Family Counseling

Additional resources

• HDFS Internships
• Labs/facilities
• Clubs and organizations
• Study Abroad

Further Information

Council for Standards in Human Service Education

The Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) has approved accreditation of the Bachelor's degree in Human Development & Family Sciences with a Specialization Option in Human Services.

Career Opportunities

The HDFS program in Human Services trains students for careers in the field upon graduation and prepares them for further study in graduate programs such as Human Development and Family Sciences, Social Work, Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

Our graduates work in fields such as social services, employment, housing, child welfare, community prevention, youth recreation, youth leadership development, gerontology, mental health, and public policy, with job titles such as case worker, family support worker, family life educator, therapeutic assistant, alcohol counselor, probation officer, residential treatment worker, life skills instructor, and psychological aide. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (2003), job opportunities for Human Service workers are expected to be excellent, ranking among the most rapidly growing occupational fields between 2000 and 2010.

A career in Human Services is not for everyone. Although the pay is relatively low at the entry level, the work can be emotionally draining. Few careers offer as many opportunities to directly impact lives in such a profound manner. Human Service professionals believe strongly in advocacy and the difference that each of us can make. In the end they change this world for the better . . . one individual, family, and community at a time.

If you have what it takes for a career in Human Services, the HDFS program will give you the knowledge, practical experience, and training to excel in the field.

The Human Service profession is dedicated to improving the human condition by intervening during crises, preventing future crises, helping people access resources, and advocating for change in the systems that affect the lives of those in need. The primary purpose of Human Services is to empower individuals, families, and communities to survive, function and thrive, even in the face of adversity.

Strengths of the HDFS Human Services Program

• A strong base in the most current research and theory in human development, family studies, and social policy and programs
• Courses focusing on practical skills such as communication, fundraising, and agency management
• An emphasis on hands-on learning and real world experience through the HDFS Internship Program

What is the Philosophical Approach of the Human Services Program in HDFS?

• A foundation in human services including history, models of delivery, characteristics of effective helpers, client problems, crisis intervention, the helping process, systems theory and ethics.
• A multidisciplinary approach including human development, counseling, social work, psychology and sociology.
• A strength-based philosophy recognizing the importance of physical, mental and psychological wellness and crisis prevention.