Are Online Human Services Degrees Legitimate?

For professionals who have a passion for mental and physical wellness, earning a human services degree can be a great jumping-off point in a career.

Human services is defined as education within psychology, social services, sociology, or political science. These programs will typically lead the student into professional careers where they are helping the public in some way.

If a student is interested in earning their degree from a distance, the good news is that there are plenty of online human services degrees that are legitimate with a positive reputation in the industry. However, there are certain things that a student should look for when choosing their degree.

In this article, we will discuss the aspects to consider in online human services programs and offer a few suggestions for top universities.

Do Employers Respect Online Human Services Degrees?

Many employers are more concerned with the experience and coursework that's relevant to the job, rather than where the program was completed. Keep in mind that there can be some advantages of in-person coursework, such as classroom discussion and one-on-one time with professors.

Likewise, if you plan to work in a patient-facing profession such as psychology or social services, you may have to complete an in-person practicum or get certified upon graduation.

With that said, most employers are more interested in the relevant coursework and experience completed that round out a well-qualified applicant. You can always emphasize these aspects of your r?um?while on the job search.

What To Look For in an Online Human Services Degree Program

Human services can be completed online or in person. However, without having a campus to visit, it can sometimes be a challenge to understand which online programs are best.

Students can search for programs with accreditation and a good reputation to start. Here are the top features to look for in a high-quality online program in human services.

Accreditation

Online universities can obtain accreditation, just like in-person counterparts. The accreditation can be earned at the national or state level and typically ensures that the university is following up-to-date standards in that specific program.

Students interested in human services should verify their program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE).

Reputation

Having a good reputation can say a lot about online colleges. This may determine whether or not students feel like they earned a good education and had plenty of opportunities post-graduation.

There are several online ranking systems for universities. The U.S. News and World Report publication regularly publishes a list of top-ranked online colleges.

A positive ranking typically determines that a school has been rated highly in these areas.

Graduation Rates

Determining a university's graduation rates can be a great check to understand the overall success and emphasis on student-centered learning. Graduation is determined by the number of students currently enrolled and how many of them graduate on time.

Colleges with high graduation rates indicate more student resources like inexpensive learning materials, rentable technology and devices, free tutoring, or other student support services.

Colleges with low graduation rates sometimes indicate fewer resources and lower-quality academic programs.

Differences Between Online and Traditional Human Services Degrees

An online human services degree tends to be more convenient and less expensive. Even though your courses may teach the same concepts as in-person alternatives, they may come with a lower price tag.

Online human services degrees consist of courses that are pre-recorded and can be completed at any time during the day or week. This style of asynchronous learning makes it easier for students to balance work and higher education.

A traditional human services degree may require students to complete their work full-time on campus or in a hybrid model. An online human services degree may be available entirely online, allowing you to complete it from anywhere you have a WiFi signal.

Benefits of Earning Your Human Services Degree at an Online School

There can be several benefits to earning a human services degree online. For one, online degrees are usually less expensive than in-person programs, even though they usually teach the same course load. Online students may have the added benefit of not having to buy physical textbooks, saving additional costs on learning materials.

Asynchronous classes also provide more convenience. When you don't have to attend a physical classroom, you can complete your work when it is most convenient for you.

Featured Online Human Services Degree Programs

The best online human services degree programs have accreditations, high college rankings, and resources for enrolled students and alumni.

Find a college with a mix of relevant coursework, undergraduate or graduate degree offerings, and access to internships in a related field.

1. Liberty University

From associate to bachelor's degrees, Liberty University offers several undergrad programs emphasizing religious counseling. Liberty University is a well-respected online college with CACREP-accredited programs available to students learning human services.

• Online AA in psychology
• Online BS in Bible and Christian counseling
• Online BS in Biblical Counseling
• Online BS in human services
• Online BS in psychology
• Online BS in social work

2. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a popular online college that teaches a variety of disciplines from its remote learning portal. SNHU allows students to transfer up to 90 credits at a time, making it a great transfer school.

The online bachelor of arts in human services is broken up into eight-week semesters for easy completion and offers three different areas of concentration:

• Child & family services
• Gerontology
• Substance abuse
• Online BA in human services

3. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is one of the most popular online colleges in the U.S. The catalog of relevant programs teaches the essentials to success in any area of human services.

According to a WGU study, 65% of students complete their degree within 24 months of starting. The program consists of 41 courses, plus a capstone project to demonstrate the student's graduation readiness.

• Online BS in nursing
• Online BS in health information management
• Online BS in health and human services
• Online BS in healthcare administration
• Online BS in health science
• Online BS in psychology

4. Walden University

Walden University offers a Bachelor of Science in human services completely online. Students can choose from six different concentrations and learn within a program developed with the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) standards in mind.

5. Post University

Post University's Master of Science in counseling and human services prepares professionals for the next step in their careers. This 26-month program teaches students the ethics and theories behind human behavior analysis.

Students can choose concentrations in alcohol and drug counseling, or clinical mental health counseling.