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Human Services

Human service workers evaluate the needs of diverse groups of people in the community and connect them with vital resources.

Two young women sitting next to each other, giving thumbs-up signs.
Two young women sitting next to each other, giving thumbs-up signs.

Types

Associate
Bachelor
Minor

Location

On-Campus
Online

Credits

33*

Cost

$9,875
$220/credit hour

Making a lasting difference starts here.

Human beings have countless needs, and sometimes it takes someone trained to help us figure out how to fulfill them. That's where the field of human services comes in. It's a pretty self-explanatory industry: human services means serving humans, no matter their age, culture, or current situation. As people recognize their need for a hand up in life, human service workers step in to meet the need.

As you pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Human Services at Cumberlands, you will study with faculty members who are experienced professionals in  the field. Each one is equipped to offer their expertise through a curriculum based on a Christian perspective and an attitude of servant leadership. After you complete your  bachelor’s in human services program, you’ll be able to consider a variety of possibilities for employment or advanced study.

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$37,610

Average Salary

12%

Industry Growth

16:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

100%

Student-Focused
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog. 

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Human Services

A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from University of the Cumberlands is the perfect chance for you to build a foundation of knowledge and skills focused on one thing: serving others. No matter the background, race, gender, or beliefs of a person, each individual is worth helping in their time of need. But in order to serve them well (and keep from burning yourself out), you need good training from experienced advisors. That's where this degree comes in.

Course Requirements

All of the following (30 hours)

HSRV 131     Survey of Human Services

HSRV 234     Basic Counseling Skills 

HSRV 331     Individuals & Families Assessment     

HSRV 332     Group Dynamics     

HSRV 335     Research Methods     

HSRV 336     Human Services Administration     

HSRV 338     Case Management     

HSRV 436     Human Diversity 

HSRV 461/462* Internship and Seminar or HSRV 439 Professionalism with an additional 300-400 level course (to be approved by advisor) 

And one of the following (3 hours) 

HSRV 237     Human Behavior in the Social Environment 

PSYC 232     Child and Adolescent Development (for students taking counseling concentration) 

*Internship is a required course for the major and is viewed as an invaluable tool to prepare students for employment in human services. The Human Services Department reserves the right to require alternative coursework in lieu of internship placement when the Department feels this is in the best interest of either the student or the Department. Any student with extenuating and verifiable circumstances which may prevent him/her from successfully completing an internship placement may complete an Internship Exclusion Application and submit it to the Department Chair for consideration. 
**HSRV 335 Social Research is recommended for students going on to graduate school. 
NOTE: Courses used as part of a concentration area (below) cannot be counted in the 33-hour Core. 
 
INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT 
Students who do not meet the placement guidelines (including academic performance and recommendations) for HSRV 461/462 Internship and Seminar may enroll instead in HSRV 439 to fulfill part of the core requirements for the Human Services major. This course may also serve as an elective for minors. See the Department Chair for more information concerning internship placement. 

HSRV 236     Experiential Opportunities

PSYC 435     Abnormal Psychology 

COUN 445     Grief and Crisis 

COUN 432     Addiction and Recovery 

COUN 431     Spirituality and Values in the Helping Profession 

COUN 451     Marriage and Family Counseling 

COUN 458     Child and Adolescent Counseling 

SOCI 131     Introduction to Sociology 

HSRV 236     Experiential Opportunities

HSRV 402     Human Tragedies and Interventions 

HSRV 404     Understanding Child Maltreatment 

HSRV 430     Human Services in Schools 

HSRV 431     Spirituality and Values in the Helping Profession 

HSRV 432     Addictions and Recovery 

HSRV 433     Social Policy 

HSRV 437     Mental Health 

HSRV 438     Applied Interventions 

MATH 335     Introduction to Probability and Statistics 

HSRV 236     Experiential Opportunities

PSYC 435     Abnormal Psychology 

COUN 445     Grief and Crisis 

COUN 432     Addiction and Recovery 

COUN 431     Spirituality and Values in the Helping Profession 

COUN 451     Marriage and Family Counseling 

COUN 457     Drug Abuse Education and Prevention 

A Bachelor of Arts degree requires completing the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.

FREN 131        Elementary French I

FREN 132        Elementary French II

FREN 231        Intermediate French I

FREN 232        Intermediate French II

 

SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Minor in Human Services

If you have a heart for serving others but would prefer to major in a different area of study, then minoring in human services could be perfect for you. Supplement your major with a minor that teaches you better empathy, boundary-setting, communication, initiative, and servant-leadership skills. Employers are always on the lookout for "soft skills" like these, making you a more valuable employee to any company.

Course Requirements

HSRV 236     Experiential Opportunities

PSYC 435     Abnormal Psychology 

COUN 445     Grief and Crisis 

COUN 432     Addiction and Recovery 

COUN 431     Spirituality and Values in the Helping Profession 

COUN 451     Marriage and Family Counseling 

COUN 457     Drug Abuse Education and Prevention 

Choose two classes from the following:

HSRV 236     Experiential Opportunities

HSRV 332     Groups Dynamics 

HSRV 432     Addictions and Recovery 

HSRV 433     Social Policy Analysis 

Associate of Science in Human Services

An associate degree in human services from Cumberlands will lay the groundwork you need for a variety of careers in the human service/social work field. Learn the essentials of human service work, from basic counseling skills, to sociology, to group dynamics. Whether you're taking classes on campus or online, you'll graduate with the knowledge and skills you need to step into an entry level career in human services or continue your education. what's more, this associate degree can be completed entirely online in as little as one year.

Course Requirements

SOCI 131     Introduction to Sociology 

HSRV 131     Survey of Human Services 

HSRV 234     Basic Counseling Skills 

HSRV 237     Human Behavior & the Social Environment 

HSRV 332     Groups Dynamics 

HSRV 331     Individuals and Families Assessment 

Take the Next Step

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The mission of the human services program at Cumberlands is to provide students the foundational knowledge and skills required to work within the helping profession.

Develop practical skills to serve others well.

Enhance your self-awareness and increase your understanding of your personal values.

Foster an appreciation of diversity and the needs of humanity.

Gain an understanding of behavioral theory and current social issues.

Learn to conduct ethical practice and establish appropriate boundaries.

Anchor: Career Outcomes

Human Services Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Human Service Assistant: $37,610

Human Service Assistant: $37,610

Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.

Social Worker: $50,390

Social Worker: $50,390

Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.

Mental Health Counselor: $48,520

Mental Health Counselor: $48,520

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.

Career Counselor: $60,510

Career Counselor: $60,510

School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.

Probation Officer: $60,250

Probation Officer: $60,250

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitating law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.

Community Health Worker: $48,860

Community Health Worker: $48,860

Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being. Community health workers promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

We apply a “generalist” approach to our human services major program. That means we believe social workers should share common knowledge, values, and skills that are generally transferable from one setting, population, geographical area, or problem situation to another. We work to ensure that, as a human services major, you will be prepared to integrate your knowledge, values, and skills to promote and enhance the social functioning of individuals, families, and communities.

Whether you decide to earn your BA degree or your BS degree in human services from University of the Cumberlands, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of careers, including:

  • Social service worker
  • Life skills instructor
  • Adult daycare case manager
  • Probation officer
  • Mental health caseworker
  • Intake interviewer
  • Home health case manager
  • Drug abuse counselor
  • Family support worker
  • And many more!

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise! For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Each course lasts eight weeks, called a bi-term. There are two bi-terms per semester, and three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer). Many classes are asynchronous, meaning there is no set login time; you can work on schoolwork whenever you find time. Cumberlands provides free rental textbooks to online students as part of its One Price Promise.

The bachelor's degree in human services at Cumberlands supplies you with a broad range of topics relating to human services, such as sociology, basic counseling skills, human behavior and the social environment, drug abuse and prevention, case management, and more. Our faculty not only teach the information, they also encourage students through coursework and class participation to begin practicing critical thinking and problem solving as it regards human service situations.

While a human services degree from UC would prepare you for a role as a social worker, you are certainly not limited to one career field by this degree. In fact, a human services degree opens up a world of career options to you! You will be ready to pursue positions in therapy, life skills instruction, intake interviewing, family support, and more. The realm of human services is vast. Cumberlands will offer you the foundational education you need to cover your bases and launch into a career with a solid groundwork already laid.

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Human Services

Get to know your future human services professors at Cumberlands!

Scarlet Thomas

Scarlet Thomas

Adjunct Professor
Human Services
Social Work

Scarlet Thomas

Contact Information

scarlet.thomas [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Elissa Price

Elissa Price

Field Education Coordinator/Assistant Professor
Human Services
Social Work

Elissa Price

Contact Information

Elissa.Price [at] ucumberlands.edu
Library Basement #007
Dr. Gina Bowlin

Dr. Gina Bowlin

Director of Behavioral Health | Adjunct Professor
Human Services
Social Work

Dr. Gina Bowlin

Contact Information

Gina.Bowlin [at] ucumberlands.edu
Browning Annex
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