Human Services
HDFS Undergraduate Option
Enhance quality of life for all
Corvallis Campus
Ecampus
OSU-Cascades
Fulfill your desire to help others with a degree in human services
Help individuals and families get the support they need to survive and thrive — whether you're studying on campus or online.
With the human services option in Oregon State’s human development and family sciences major, you'll prepare for careers in social work and other helping professions.
Advocate for those who are often overlooked. Connect people with critical services. Build a future rooted in care and compassion.
Study on campus or fully online through Ecampus.
Sample human services courses
- Children and youth with disabilities
- Family violence and neglect
- Family policy
- Professional helping skills
With the human services option, you’ll ...
- Learn culturally aware techniques to promote human dignity, social justice and empowerment.
- Develop helping skills such as empathy, rapport building and active listening.
- Learn about barriers and access to social and human services.
- Complete at least two internship experiences in the human services field.
Your experience as a HDFS undergrad student
Learn alongside curious peers and faculty while building the real-world skills needed to lead change and promote healthier lives.
Internships
With an internship built into the program, you’ll gain valuable experience and practical skills before you graduate.
Careers in human services
All human services careers are concerned with meeting human needs and improving quality of life on an individual and community level.
Want to become a social worker? Starting with an HDFS – human services degree is a great first step, and you can earn it on campus or fully online through Oregon State Ecampus.
Once you graduate, you’ll be prepared to pursue a career and/or graduate work in fields such as human development and family sciences, counseling, marriage and family therapy, nonprofit administration, social work and more.
Start with the human services degree and become:
*These roles may require post-baccalaureate/graduate/professional education to qualify.
- Activity director
- Adoption agency counselor
- Caseworker
- Child, family and school social workers
- Child life specialist
- Counselor
- Crisis intervention worker
- Emergency relief worker
- Family advocate
- Housing service worker
- Human service specialist
- Juvenile probation officers
- Marriage and family therapist
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers or counselors
- Neighborhood outreach worker
- Parent educator
- Residential treatment center worker
- Social service specialists
- Social worker
- Volunteer coordinator
- Youth program specialist
Request info
Future social worker
A degree in HDFS-human services is the perfect place to start.
“I was concerned and disturbed by the living conditions of my unhoused neighbors, so I pursued the HDFS program.
What keeps me moving forward on my human services and social work path is the knowledge that as communities and individuals we can make changes that improve the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Marie Quist-Plamer, HDFS – Human Services, ’23
Major: HDFS: Human Services
Now: Master of Social Work, Portland State University
Plans to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
HDFS undergrad major options
Explore other human development and family sciences major options.
Select an option that matches your interests and career goals, whether it’s working with children or seniors, or providing services for families and communities.
Child development option
Corvallis campus
With the child development option, you’ll learn how to help children reach their full potential and to support their development in early childhood settings.
Human services option
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
With the human services degree option you’ll help individuals, families and communities survive and thrive.
Early childhood option
OSU-Cascades
The early childhood option prepares students to promote lifelong development, learning, and well-being of children and families.
HDFS undergraduate minor
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
Add the human development and family sciences minor to learn how people change across their lifespan within the contexts of families, schools and communities.
Accelerated Master's: Applied Behavioral Health
Corvallis campus
The accelerated master’s in applied behavioral health lets you begin graduate-level coursework while still an undergrad — saving you time and money as you work toward your MS in human development and family studies.
Minors and certificates
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
A health minor or certificate will give you unique skills and perspectives on how to ensure health and well-being for all — in any future career.
Contact us
Have questions about classes, clubs or campus life? Our peer ambassadors are happy to help. Call or email them.
For program or admissions info, email the College of Health recruitment team.