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BS in Human Services

 

 

Serve your community through a human services degree.

You want to make a difference in your community and in the world. Where do we start? At SWU, we believe that in order to be a great leader, we must learn to serve; and the human services degree program prepares you to be the best servant leader that you can be. As a human services major, you will study and master the fundamental and essential knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary to be a successful and effective human services practitioner in the field of your choice. Customize your degree with one of four concentrations, or map your own academic journey with a specialized concentration. As a capstone experience, you'll complete an internship experience (120 to 480 fieldwork hours) or an individually-designed research project!

The coursework in the human services degree program is designed to address the expected learning outcomes of the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (https://cshse.org) and the requirements to become a Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner (http://www.cce-global.org/HSBCP).

Employment of human and social service workers is expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2026 – this field is among the most rapidly growing occupations (from the Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Department of Labor Statistics). Increasingly, postsecondary education or even postgraduate education (e.g., a Master’s degree) is required to remain competitive in the field of social and human services.

Concentrations

Concentrations in the Human Services program are available in Administration, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Marriage and Family Services, and the option for a specialized concentration. See more details about concentrations below.

 

Administration concentration

The Human Services Administration Concentration prepares current and future human services professionals in the public and private sectors to effectively shape and develop organizations with the ultimate goal of improving services and the effectiveness and efficiency of not-for-profit organizations. Courses in this concentration provide students with a better understanding of management and organizational behavior that is rooted in Christian leadership principles.

Administration Concentration Courses:

  • SOSC 3073 — Management Issues
  • SOSC 3603 — Community Development
  • MGMT 3353 — Organizational Behavior
  • MGMT 2013 — Principles of Management

Counseling concentration

Human Services majors interested in the helping professions may want to explore the Counseling Concentration. Counselors assist individuals and groups with personal, family, mental health, substance abuse, and career issues with the purpose of helping individuals live a healthy and productive life. SWU’s focus on being a Christ-centered institution translates to looking at the field of counseling as part of our distinct calling.

The counseling career field has a wide range of specializations, such as drug and alcohol addiction, family therapy, career counseling, personal counseling, crisis intervention, school/student guidance, clinical counseling, rehabilitation, and even life coaching. These jobs can be found in a variety of organizations, such as K-12 schools, colleges/universities, hospitals, mental health clinics, correction facilities, social service agencies, private practices, and churches/mission organizations.

At SWU, students can lay the foundation for a counseling career by earning a bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology or a related field, which can lead to entry-level positions. Becoming a licensed professional counselor typically requires at least a master’s degree.

Counseling Concentration Courses:

  • PSYC 3713 — Introduction to Counseling
  • PSYC 3753 — Practical Counseling Skills
  • PSYC 3763 — Multicultural Counseling
  • PSYC 3733 — Group Dynamics

Criminal Justice concentration

The Criminal Justice Concentration is designed for human services majors interested in pursuing a human services career in professional settings involving human services and law enforcement. The concentration provides an excellent introduction to the field of criminal justice, which is very helpful for many human services fields where law enforcement is regularly involved. This concentration could also help prepare someone interested in criminal justice as a career.

Criminal Justice Concentration Courses:

  • CRJS 1253 — Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • CRJS 2283 — Police and Community
  • CRJS 3353 — Juveniles and the Law
  • PSYC 3353 — Forensic Psychology

Marriage and Family Services concentration

The Marriage and Family Services Concentration provides the skills and knowledge needed by practitioners to work effectively with many of the demands families and couples are facing today. Students within this concentration will have strong characteristics of empathy, compassion and an interest in evidence-based strategies geared toward behavioral change. SWU’s emphasis on a Christian ethic of care is perfectly aligned with the needs of respecting and valuing what is important to couples and families while providing the support and empathy that serves to empower change.

Students who complete the Marriage and Family Services Concentration often go on to further studies in human growth and development, human services, family policy, social work, and family counseling.

Marriage and Family Services Concentration Courses:

  • SOSC 2103 — Sex, Courtship, and Marriage
  • PSYC 3103 — Child Development
  • PSYC 3113 — Adolescent Development
  • PSYC 3133 — Adult Development

Specialized concentration

The Specialized Concentration is designed for students who might transfer in multiple human services credits from a previous institution or earned associate degree. A specialized concentration can be built for these students based on the transfer work. Your academic success coach or academic advisor can evaluate your transfer credits and help you know if this is an option for you.

 
 
 
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"SWU provided an atmosphere that allowed me to reach my educational goals! The professors were more than willing to work with me and that made a difference!"

Mandi Fritts, Class of 2011

 

What can you do with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services?

This program opens the door to many career possibilities including:

  • Community Outreach Organizations
  • Child and Family Advocacy
  • Department of Social Services
  • Adoption Case Management
  • Justice System Case Management
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Counseling/Therapy
  • Gerontology

GRADUATE EXPERIENCE

Our early childhood graduates have gone into a number of careers and have held jobs with employers such as:

  • United Way of Pickens County
  • The Dream Center
  • Department of Social Services
  • Life Management Center – Adoption Counselor
  • Greenville County Schools
  • Tamassee DAR School