What Can You Do With a Human Services Degree? Explore Careers

If you're considering a career focused on helping people navigate life's challenges, you may have asked yourself, "What is a human services degree?" Put simply, this training is designed to equip you with the skills needed to support individuals, families, and communities facing difficult circumstances — whether that's poverty, addiction, mental health struggles, domestic violence, or disability. Unlike more specialized fields like social work or psychology, a human services degree takes a broad, practical approach that prepares students and professionals to work across multiple settings and populations.  

What can you do with a human services degree, exactly? Graduates find meaningful work in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, healthcare facilities, schools, correctional institutions, and community programs. From case management and crisis intervention to substance abuse counseling and youth advocacy, the career possibilities are both varied and rewarding. A human services degree can help prepare you to make a positive impact within client service or program coordination. 

Key Takeaways:  

• Human services programs teach students foundational knowledge in psychology, sociology, crisis intervention, case management, and ethical practice while developing essential skills in communication, cultural competency, and problem-solving.  

• While human services and social work share similar goals, social work typically requires a master's degree and clinical licensure, whereas human services offer faster entry into the field with bachelor's or associate degrees.  

• Career options for human services graduates include community outreach coordinator, case manager, substance abuse counselor, youth advocate, residential counselor, and victim advocate. 

• Human services professionals work across diverse settings including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, healthcare facilities, schools, correctional institutions, and community-based programs. 

• Entry-level positions are accessible with a bachelor's degree, but graduates can advance their careers through certifications, specializations (in areas like gerontology or addiction counseling), or pursuing graduate education in social work, counseling, or public administration. 

What Is a Human Services Degree? 

What is a human services degree, and how does it differ from other helping professions? At its core, human services education combines theory with hands-on practice to prepare students for work in social service settings. Programs focus on understanding human behavior, social systems, and the various factors that contribute to individual and community well-being. Rather than specializing in one narrow area, human services training gives students a versatile foundation that applies across multiple populations and problem areas. 

What Human Services Programs Teach Students 

Human services curricula typically cover foundational subjects like psychology, sociology, human development, and social welfare policy as students learn about:  

• Crisis intervention techniques 

• Case management principles 

• Ethics in social services 

• Cultural competency when working with diverse populations 

• Specific issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health disorders, and poverty.  

Additionally, fieldwork or internship requirements give students real-world experience applying classroom knowledge in actual service settings before graduation. 

Skills Developed Through a Human Services Degree 

Beyond academic knowledge, human services programs develop essential interpersonal and professional skills that employers value. Students learn active listening, empathetic communication, conflict resolution, and how to establish appropriate boundaries with clients. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are sharpened through case studies and practical scenarios that mirror real-life challenges. Graduates also gain competency in documentation, resource coordination, advocacy, and working effectively within interdisciplinary teams. 

Human Services vs. Social Work: Key Differences 

While human services and social work are often conflated, they're distinct fields with different educational paths and professional focuses. Both aim to help vulnerable populations and improve quality of life, but social work is generally more clinical and requires specific licensing for independent practice. Human services take a broader, more generalist approach that emphasizes practical problem-solving and community-based support. Understanding these differences can help you choose the path that best fits your career goals and the time you're able to invest in education. 

Distinct Career Paths Explained 

• Social workers often pursue clinical roles that involve diagnosing mental health conditions, providing therapy, and developing treatment plans for individuals and families. 

• Human services professionals typically focus on case coordination, resource navigation, direct support services, and program implementation rather than clinical treatment.  

While a social worker might conduct therapy sessions with a client struggling with depression, a human services professional would connect that same client with mental health resources, housing assistance, job training, or other community support. Both careers are rewarding, but the day-to-day responsibilities and scope of practice can differ significantly. 

Education and Certification Requirements Compared 

Social work positions, especially clinical roles, generally require a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and state licensure — which involves supervised clinical hours and passing a licensing exam.  

In contrast, many human services positions are accessible with a bachelor's degree in human services, and some entry-level roles accept associate degrees or related experience. Human services don’t have the same universal licensing requirements, though certifications like the Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) can enhance career prospects. This difference in educational requirements means human services graduates can enter the workforce faster and with less student debt. 

Typical Careers for Human Services Degree Graduates 

So, what can you do with a human services degree once you graduate? The career options span multiple service areas and work environments, from direct client support to program coordination. The versatility of the degree means you're not locked into one narrow career path; you can shift between populations and service areas as your interests and experience grow.  For instance, human services graduates work with populations including:  

• Children and youth 

• Elderly adults 

• People with disabilities 

• Homeless individuals 

• Domestic violence survivors 

• Those struggling with addiction 

Community and Social Service Roles 

• Community outreach coordinator positions involve developing programs, building partnerships with local organizations, and connecting residents with available resources and services.  

• Community health workers serve as liaisons between healthcare providers and underserved populations, helping people access medical care and navigate health systems.  

• Youth program coordinators design and implement activities for at-risk youth through after-school programs, recreation centers, or mentorship initiatives.  

• Residential counselors work in group homes or treatment facilities, providing daily support and supervision to clients living in structured environments. 

Counseling, Case Management, and Advocacy Jobs 

• Case managers assess client needs, develop service plans, coordinate resources, and monitor progress for individuals navigating complex systems like healthcare, child welfare, or disability services.  

• Substance abuse counselors help people recover from addiction by facilitating support groups, providing crisis intervention, and connecting clients with treatment programs and sober living resources.  

• Victim advocates support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or crime by offering emotional support, safety planning, legal advocacy, and referrals to shelter or counseling services.  

• Career counselors in workforce development programs help job seekers identify their strengths, develop employment skills, and connect with training or job placement opportunities. 

Where Human Services Professionals Work 

Human services graduates find employment across a remarkably wide range of organizations and settings, both public and private. The field's versatility means you could work in a small grassroots nonprofit and then transition to a large government agency or healthcare system. Work environments vary from office-based positions to fieldwork that takes you into clients' homes, schools, shelters, or community centers. Understanding the different sectors that employ human services professionals can help you target your job search and identify the organizational culture that fits your working style. 

Work Settings Across Industries 

• Nonprofit organizations represent a major employer of human services graduates, including charities focused on homelessness, food insecurity, youth development, or specific populations like veterans or refugees.  

• Government agencies at local, state, and federal levels hire human services professionals for child protective services, public assistance programs, probation and parole, and aging services.  

• Healthcare facilities employ human services workers in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health clinics, and nursing homes to provide patient advocacy, discharge planning, and care coordination.  

• Schools and educational institutions seek human services graduates for roles as intervention specialists, truancy officers, and student support coordinators addressing behavioral issues and family crises. 

Sectors Employing Human Services Graduates in the United States 

• The social assistance sector is the largest employer, encompassing individual and family services, emergency relief services, and vocational rehabilitation programs that directly serve vulnerable populations.  

• State and local government agencies provide stable employment with benefits, particularly in child welfare, correctional institutions, and community development programs.  

• Healthcare and social assistance combined represent a growing job market as hospitals and medical centers increasingly recognize the importance of addressing social determinants of health.  

• Religious, grantmaking, and civic organizations also hire human services professionals to manage community programs, volunteer coordination, and direct service delivery in faith-based or community-centered settings. 

Advancing Your Career After Graduation 

Starting your career with a human services degree doesn't mean you're stuck in entry-level positions forever. There are clear pathways for professional growth and increased responsibility. Many graduates begin in direct service roles to gain hands-on experience, then move into supervisory, program management, or specialized positions as they build expertise. Career advancement often involves some combination of work experience, professional development, additional certifications, and further education. The key is understanding what options exist and strategically planning your next steps based on your interests and long-term goals. 

Entry-Level Opportunities With a Human Services Degree 

Fresh graduates may start out as:  

• Case aides 

• Program assistants 

• Residential counselors 

• Intake specialists 

These positions provide valuable exposure to client populations and service systems and entail direct client interaction, documentation, basic assessment, and working under supervision of more experienced professionals. While starting salaries can be modest, such roles offer crucial hands-on experience and help you identify which populations and service areas you're most passionate about pursuing long-term. 

In addition, entry-level positions might include working for:  

• Crisis hotlines 

• Homeless shelters 

• Food banks 

• After-school programs 

• Community health organizations 

Specializations, Further Study, and Professional Advancement 

After gaining experience, to increase their expertise and marketability, many human services professionals pursue certifications in specialized areas like:  

• Addiction counseling 

• Gerontology 

• Child welfare 

• Trauma-informed care 

In order to qualify for clinical roles or leadership positions, some graduates return to school for a master's degree in:  

• Social work 

• Counseling 

• Public administration 

• Nonprofit management 

Professional advancement can also come through developing program expertise — moving from direct service provider to program coordinator, then to program director or department manager. Meanwhile, joining professional organizations, attending conferences, and pursuing continuing education demonstrates commitment to the field and opens networking opportunities that can accelerate career growth. 

Start Your Human Services Career at University of the Cumberlands 

Looking to turn your passion for helping others into a meaningful career? University of the Cumberlands offers a comprehensive bachelor’s degree in human services that combines essential coursework in psychology, counseling techniques, and social service systems with practical field experience. The flexible online format lets you earn your degree while balancing work and family commitments, and you'll emerge ready to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. 

Request more information about University of the Cumberlands' human services program to take the first step toward a career centered on compassion and service.