Human Services Associate Degree Online

As a student of one of our online human services associate degree programs, you’ll have the opportunity to develop the foundation of knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the helping profession. Our curriculum focuses on the areas of professional helping skills, behavioral theory, and current social issues. Students are equipped to conduct ethical practice, establish appropriate boundaries, and apply their skills within professional environments that offer services to people.

• Mission and Goals
• What can I do with a Human Services Degree?
• Degree Requirements for Assocaite of Human Services Degree
• More Information on Associate of Human Services Degree

Mission and Goals

The purpose of the Online Human Services Program is to give students the foundational knowledge and skills required to work within the social services helping profession.  The coursework emphasizes self-awareness and understanding of personal values, with the goal of fostering appreciation of diversity and the needs of humanity.  Areas of emphasis are professional helping skills, behavioral theory, and current social issues. Online human services students will be equipped to conduct ethical practice, establish appropriate boundaries, and apply their skills within professional environments that offer services to people.

ONLINE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM GOALS:

• Develop appreciation of self-awareness & the diversity of humanity
• Gain a core knowledge base in human behavior theory, research methods, and social welfare policy in preparation for a career and/or graduate study
• Learn healthy professional boundaries & best ethical practices
• Demonstrate professional helping skills within the classroom & apply the skills within a professional environment

Back to Top

What Can You Do with a Human Services Degree?

You can pursue a variety of careers with a human services degree, including but not limited to:

SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICE ASSISTANTS¹

Employment of social and human service assistants is expected to grow 17% by 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.

Much of the growth will be due to the needs of an aging population. An increase in number of older adults will cause growth in demand for social services. The elderly population often needs services such as adult day care and meal delivery. Social and human service assistants, who help find and provide these services, will be needed to meet this increased demand.

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICE OCCUPATIONS²

As more people seek treatment for their addictions and more drug offenders are sent to treatment programs rather than to jail, the result will be an increase in demand for community and social service occupations who work in treatment programs or work with people with addictions. Employment of community and social service occupations is projected to grow 12%, faster than the average for all occupations, and center around counselor and social worker occupations. Currently, the median annual salary for these community and social service occupations is $48,410.

CAREERS

• Human Service Worker
• Social Worker
• Case Work Aide
• Clinical Social Work Aide
• Family Service Assistant
• Social Work Assistant
• Addictions Counselor Assistant
• Public Health Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Social Service Worker
• Adult Daycare Case Manager
• Life Skills Instructor
• Intake Interviewer
• Home Health Case Manager
• Mental Health Case Worker
• Probation Officer

"17 Percent"  Projected Growth Rate for Social and Human Service Assistants by 2030

¹Social and Human Service Assistants
²Community and Social Service Occupations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of social services is expected to fill almost 64,000 openings by 2026. 

Back to Top

Degree Requirements for Associate of Human Services 

Throughout the online human services degree programs, we will work with you to help facilitate an appreciation for and awareness of the diversity of humanity.  You’ll gain a core knowledge base in human behavioral theory, research methods, and social welfare policy in preparation for a career and/or further study. Learn to integrate healthy professional boundaries and best ethical practices while developing helping skills within the classroom.  Upon successful completion of an associate in human services, you’ll be able to apply the skills within a professional environment.

Human services classes are designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the ways an AAS or AS degree in human services can be useful.  Courses include, but are not limited to, Intro to Sociology, Basic Helping Skills, Human Behavior, Group Dynamics, Individual and Family Assessment, Case Management, and Human Diversity and Ethics. Since you’re completing your associate in human services online, classes are convenient and provide a degree of flexibility to your schedule.

As part of University of the Cumberlands' Associate’s degree requirements, each student must complete at least 61 semester hours, including those within the major and the coursework required to fulfill the degree requirements.

• 31 semester hours required in the sections of General Education
• 18 semester hours required in Associate Core Requirements
• 12 semester hours required from Elective Courses

General Education Sections 

• The English Language
• Christian Faith and Values
• Natural and Mathematical Sciences
• Cultural and Aesthetic Values
• Humanities
• Social Sciences

Associate Core Requirements 

Human Services Core Courses (33 hours): 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 & Ethics
• HSRV 461/462* Internship and Seminar or HSRV 439 Professionalism with an additional 300-400 level course (to be approved by advisor) 

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) 

Elective Courses 

You may choose any of the courses that are offered within UCumberlands Online. If a course has a pre-requisite, as long as you meet the requirements, and have not previously taken it, you can take the class. Your elective choices are vast and not limited to your degree.

Back to Top

More Information on Associate of Human Services Degree

Admission Requirements 

Learn the specifics of how to get into the program for Associate of Human Services. Check out the admission requirements page to learn more. 

TUITION

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees. 

ACCREDITED, ONLINE, FLEXIBLE 

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

Faculty 

Be guided by experienced professors as you get through your schooling career. Learn more about Associate Human Services Faculty. 

FAQ'S 

Do you have more questions about Associate of Human Services degree? Check out our FAQ page to learn more! 

Back to Top

For more information about the benefits of an Online Human Services Degree at UC, fill out the form on this page. Let’s talk about our test-optional college admissions process, scholarship opportunities, and more!