What Can I Do with a Health and Human Services Degree?

What Can You Do With a Human Services Degree?

Degrees in the field of health and human services are available at various levels and typically have a focus on helping the most disadvantaged members of society, so many of the careers which are a good fit for this degree have that same goal. Human services is often considered to be highly related to social work, for example, so a degree could help to land a position as a social worker or social worker's assistant. Many types of addiction recovery or mental health counselors could also benefit from a degree in health and human services. They might also, with enough experience, allow for a career as a social and community services manager, leading organizations that help to deliver these services to those who have a need. The exact careers available will depend heavily on the level of the degree earned.

A Career as a Social Worker's Assistant

Social and human service assistant is one option for a career with a health and human services degree. As an entry-level position within the field, this job often prefers candidates with an associate's degree or certificate in human services. Social and human services assistants support social workers and psychologists by figuring out precisely what sort of help clients will benefit from, helping clients get signed up for and learn about relevant services that might be available to them, and potentially assisting them in filing necessary paperwork to secure these services. They might also specialize in working with a particular population, such as the elderly or children. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for social and human service assistants was $33,750 in 2018. The growth predicted for the profession over the 10 year period between 2018 and 2028 was 13%, much faster than the national average.

A Career as a Substance Abuse Counselor

Substance abuse counselors generally hold at least a bachelor's degree, and a degree in human services is one option that could lead to this career. Substance abuse counselors generally work with people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, but could potentially help those suffering from other addictions, such as food or gambling. They often work for independent clinics and might see clients face-to-face individually, or as part of a group session. States require that substance abuse counselors be licensed, which may necessitate extensive residency or internship experience, although exact details vary from state to state. The BLS reports that the median annual income for substance abuse counselors, behavioral disorder counselors, and mental health counselors was $44,630 in 2018. Growth for the profession between 2018 and 2028 is currently predicted to be 22%, much faster than the national average for all professions.

A Career as a Social and Community Service Manager

Social and community service managers are leaders of organizations offering human services to the public. A bachelor's degree is generally the minimum level required for such a position, although larger organizations may prefer a candidate with a master's degree. Before becoming a manager of an organization, community services managers typically worked as social workers or other human services professionals for a number of years. As leaders, they are responsible for working with government and the community to determine what services would provide the most benefit, plan community outreach to encourage the use of offered services, and ensure the organization has consistent funding. BLS data from 2018 indicates that the median annual income for social and community service managers was $65,320. Projected growth in this profession for the period from 2018 to 2028 is 13%, much faster than the US average for all professions.

What Will I Learn While Earning a Health and Human Services Degree?

Health and human services degrees are available at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's levels, with each degree level offering different career options. Associate's degree programs are brief, typically completed in about 2 years, and may qualify you for lower-level positions such as social work assistant. A bachelor of arts in human services is a 4-year degree which offers the standard level of education in the field. Master's degrees in human services are the highest level commonly required, and may be needed for high-level positions, or required for licensing reasons in some states. Courses featured in health and human services degree programs may include:

• Developmental psychology
• Intro to social work
• Substance abuse treatment and research
• Community health practice

In general, required courses for human services degrees focus on psychology and social work. Ethics and legal information may also be covered, with master's degree programs having a greater focus in these areas, as well as techniques in management and organizational leadership. Programs at all levels often have a strong basis in writing.