A human services degree from Hilbert College prepares graduates to go out into the world and make a positive difference serving people of all ages who are experiencing various social, emotional, and economic difficulties. Our society’s needs are great and growing, which is why the human services profession is one of the fastest growing in the nation.
Hilbert’s program equips you with the skills, knowledge, and values to work with vulnerable people and populations, whether you earn a two-year associate degree in human services or enroll in our innovative combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in human services program, which can be completed in just five years. We prepare our graduates to work in areas, such as family and children's services, mental health, substance abuse, elder care, or social services. A human services degree from Hilbert also provides a solid foundation for those who plan to pursue graduate studies in school or private counseling, social work rehabilitation, psychology, sociology or another related field.
Our skills-oriented, interdisciplinary program includes classes in counseling, ethics, interpersonal communications, effective interviewing and the treatment of problems affecting individuals, families, and communities. It also provides internship opportunities where you’ll earn credit while gaining valuable real-world experience
What Can You Do with a Human Services Degree?
The field of human services is broad and encompasses a variety of professions. For every human need—such as access to mental or physical healthcare, food or shelter, or help overcoming substance abuse—there is a human services career designed to meet it. Graduates with human services degrees go on to help children, older adults, victims of abuse and other vulnerable populations to heal and obtain the services they need to thrive. Our graduates work as social workers, substance abuse counselors, probation officers, emergency service managers, caseworkers and grant writers, and in dozens of other helping professions.
Human Services Degree Benefits
You’ll gain many benefits by earning a degree in human services, not the least of which is being prepared to enter a rapidly growing field that offers flexibility—particularly for those with a bachelor's degree in human services—and the opportunity for personal and professional growth. A human services degree is a springboard that opens doors to many in-demand, rewarding careers helping others.
Six Ways to Specialize Your Human Services Degree
The human services program offers six concentrations, giving you the flexibility to pursue a career in any of the following areas:
- Generalist
- Substance abuse/chemical dependency
- Law and human services
- Child and family practice
- Family violence
- Rehabilitation services
You’ll learn by doing in Hilbert’s extensive internship program, which lets you earn college credit while having real-life experiences working with children, adolescents, and other populations in various settings—from drug and alcohol rehabilitation units to schools, social services agencies, hospitals, and other providers.
Our faculty have extensive experience in a variety of agencies and schools, and are active in related volunteer roles in their communities. The National Association of Social Workers and the Erie County Coalition Against Domestic Violence have cited Hilbert professors for excellence.