2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Human Services - Bachelor of Science (42 Credits)

(42 credits plus 16 credits of experiential learning)

The Human Services Program prepares students to work with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of human services settings. Human Services majors concentrate on gaining a foundation in the liberal arts, human growth and development, the human services delivery system, and the social policies that shape service delivery and provide for social needs.

Students take a core set of courses that develop the skills for working in human services agencies and settings. A strong component of psychology and sociology courses imbedded in the major provides students with an understanding of human behavior and the social context of the lives of individuals served. Students will complete over 400 hours in the field.

Students will be able to:

  • critically apply human services perspectives, concepts and knowledge in a range of practice settings.
  • critically evaluate social policy.
  • critically evaluate practice approaches and professional identity within a culturally competent framework.
  • design, conduct and evaluate social science research.
  • demonstrate skills of ongoing, self-reflective practice that conform to professional standards, values and ethics.

Human Services majors graduate with the bachelor of science degree and the experience and competence which prepares them for entry-level positions with a range of human service populations in a variety of settings, including the juvenile justice system; health care settings and hospices; criminal justice agencies; community advocacy groups; the child welfare system; parent-action movements; group residences; recreational services; elderly services; policy and legislative agencies; substance abuse programs; crisis intervention services; and not-for-profit agencies and settings. Those students interested in professional careers in social work, psychology, counseling, management, policy/advocacy, or expressive arts therapy will be prepared for entry into specialized graduate schools. Optional specializations: At-Risk Individuals and Families, At-Risk Organizations and Communities, and Self-Designed Specialization.

Please note: a minimum grade of "C" is required in the internship seminars and the capstone course to progress in the major.

Degree Requirements

I. Required Core Courses (27 Credits):

CPSYC 1401Lifespan Development

3

CSWRK 2201Social Welfare Policy and Practice

3

CHMSR 2301Power, Privilege & Practice

3

CHMSR 3303Micro/Macro Assessment

3

CSOCS 3444Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3

CHMSR 3553Practical Ethics in Human Services

3

CHMSR 4300Design and Management of Human Services Organizations

3

CHMSR 4551Senior Capstone Seminar: Human Services and Counseling

3

Choose One (3 Credits)

CHMSR 1551Foundations and Systems in the Helping Professions

3

CHMSR 1552Introduction to Human Services

3

CSWRK 2101Introduction to Social Work

3

II. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (3 Credits):

Choose TWO.

CEDUC 3550Disability Studies

3

CPOLS 3450HBO's The Wire: The Politics of U.S. Urban Inequality

3

CSOCL 2115Politicizing Sex, Gender & Race: Transnational Perspectives

3

CSOCL 3445Sociological Lens on Systemic Inequities

3

CSWRK 2401Allyship for Disability Justice

3

CSWRK 3301Challenging Racism

3

CSOCL 3450 also has a CPOLS prefix that can be used to meet this requirement.

III. Experiential Component (16 Credits):

**450 hours internship**

CHMSR 2551Concepts and Skills in Professional Practice

4

CHMSR 3701Human Services Internship and Seminar I

6

CHMSR 4701Human Services Internship and Seminar II

6

Students who have substantial Human Services work experience may submit their resume to their advisor and the internship office for consideration of waiving one or more internship courses. Regardless of experience, students are required to take CHMSR 4701.

IV. Support Courses (9 Credits):

Choose TWO from at least two different prefixes & ONE must be 3000 level or above.

CHLTH 3300Child and Adolescent Health

3

CMGMT 3469Organizational Behavior and Ethics

3

CPSYC 3405Understanding Psychological Diagnoses

3

CPSYC 3439Organizational Psychology

3

CPOLS 3450HBO's The Wire: The Politics of U.S. Urban Inequality

3

CSOCL 2402Sociology of Family

3

CSOCL 2406Health, Illness, and Society

3

CSOCL 3016Social Issues in Aging

3

CSOCL 3445Sociological Lens on Systemic Inequities

3

CSOCS 3550Disability Studies

3

CSWRK 2401Allyship for Disability Justice

3

CSWRK 3301Challenging Racism

3

CSWRK 4101Principles of Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups

3

CSWRK 4102Principles of Practice: Organizations, Communities, & Systems

3

Students who wish to take CSWRK 4701 and/or CSWRK 4702 must have either taken one internship course or have been waived out of one or more internship courses because of substantial work experience in Human Services.

V. Optional Specializations

At-Risk Individuals and Families (12 Credits)

Choose FOUR

CPSYC 2402Child Homelessness

3

CPSYC 3422Trauma and Crisis

3

CSOCL 3016Social Issues in Aging

3

CSWRK 3350Forensic Social Work

3

CSWRK 3450Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions

3

CSWRK 3550Human Behavior in the Social Environment

3

CSWRK 4101Principles of Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups

3

At-Risk Organizations and Communities (18 Credits)

CPOLS 2401Drug Wars

3

CPOLS 3450HBO's The Wire: The Politics of U.S. Urban Inequality

3

CPSYC 3422Trauma and Crisis

3

CSOCL 3016Social Issues in Aging

3

CSOCL 3551Activism and Change in Communities

3

CSWRK 3301Challenging Racism

3

CSWRK 3550Human Behavior in the Social Environment

3

CSWRK 4102Principles of Practice: Organizations, Communities, & Systems

3

Self-Designed Specialization

Students may choose to work with a core faculty member to design their own specialization in an area of interest.  The specialization must include at least four courses that enhance the student’s knowledge and skill bases with a particular population or approach to service delivery.  (12-15 Credits)