Human Services Degree
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.
Contact Us
Contact us for questions regarding our Human Services Program.
Colleen Kumiega, M.S. ED
Assistant Chair, Division of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Professor & Internship Coordinator of Human Services
Call: (716) 926-8863
Bogel Hall Room 110
Contact Us
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.
Earn Your Law Degree Faster with Hilbert's 3+3 Program with UB
Want to become a lawyer but shave a year off your journey? The Hilbert College & UB Law School 3+3 Program allows you to earn both your bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor (JD) in just six years! Our 3+3 program saves you time and money while launching your legal career faster. Learn more about eligibility, benefits, and how to apply.
Explore our 3+3 Program
Human Services Degree Careers
Human services degree holders can choose from dozens of career options. Here are 10 popular human services careers worth exploring from the employment website Indeed:
- Behavioral therapist
- Child advocate
- Grant writer
- Caseworker
- Substance abuse counselor
- Probation officer
- Social worker
- Emergency services manager
- Occupational therapist
- Mental health nurse
What Is the Typical Human Services Salary?
Individuals who work in human services aren't in it just for the paycheck. Still, depending on the particular job title and level of education required, it’s possible to earn a competitive salary while helping others.
Overall, the median annual wage for workers in community and social service occupations was $48,410 in May 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
Individuals with a master’s degree in human services generally earn higher salaries, but there are many jobs in the field available to those with a bachelor’s or an associate degree in human services. Consider these popular positions in the human services field*:
Substance Abuse Counselor
Median Salary: $48,520
Number of Jobs: 351,000
Projected Growth: 22% from 2021 - 2031
Community Health Worker
Median Salary: $48,860
Number of Jobs: 126,700
Projected Growth: 12% from 2021 - 2031
Marriage and Family Therapist
Median Salary: $49,880
Number of Jobs: 65,300
Projected Growth: 14% from 2021 - 2031
Social Worker
Median Salary: $50,390
Number of Jobs: 708,100
Projected Growth: 9% from 2021 - 2031
School and Career Counselor
Median Salary: $60,510
Number of Jobs: 336,000
Projected Growth: 10% from 2021 - 2031
Occupational Therapist
Median Salary: $85,570
Number of Jobs: 133,900
Projected Growth: 14% from 2021 to 2031
*Salary, growth, and job numbers info based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Is the Typical Human Services Salary?
Individuals who work in human services aren't in it just for the paycheck. Still, depending on the particular job title and level of education required, it’s possible to earn a competitive salary while helping others.
Overall, the median annual wage for workers in community and social service occupations was $48,410 in May 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
Individuals with a master’s degree in human services generally earn higher salaries, but there are many jobs in the field available to those with a bachelor’s or an associate degree in human services. Consider these popular positions in the human services field*:
Human Services Degree Job Outlook
The employment outlook for human services jobs is strong. Overall employment in community and social service occupations is projected to grow 10% between 2021 and 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. That translates to about 294,600 new jobs over the coming decade.
In addition to jobs created by growth, opportunities can also arise from the need to replace workers who leave the profession. The BLS predicts an average of 318,400 openings each year due to growth and replacement needs.
Why Choose Hilbert for Your Human Services Degree?
Hilbert offers students interested in pursuing a career in human services three different degree programs and six concentrations to choose from, providing unparalleled flexibility and opportunities for customization.
Earn Your Associate Degree in Human Services in Two Years
In addition to the four-year bachelor’s-level program and the combined 4+1 program, Hilbert offers a two-year associate degree in human services that prepares you for entry-level positions or to continue studies in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
Earn Your Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Human Services in Five Years
Our innovative BS/MPA 4+1 program lets you earn your bachelor’s degree in human services and a Master of Public Administration: Health Administration in five years, saving you up to two semesters of graduate school. Students are admitted to the program after completing all undergraduate degree requirements, without the need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and begin taking graduate courses in their senior year.
Human Services Degree Curriculum
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree program take classes and seminars in psychology, sociology, counseling, human services methods, and statistics, as well as general education, writing, and public speaking classes. Juniors and seniors participate in internships and elective courses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a human services degree?
A degree in human services is a springboard to a career in any of a wide variety of areas, including family and children's services, mental health, substance abuse, elder care, or social services.
What is the average human services degree salary?
The median annual wage for workers in community and social service occupations was $48,410 in May 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
How long is the Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree program?
It takes eight semesters, typically four years, for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in human services. Students who enroll in Hilbert’s innovative combined BS/MPA 4+1 program can earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years.
What are the benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree in human services?
A bachelor’s in human services is a flexible degree that prepares students to work in any of a wide variety of in-demand helping professions right out of college or to pursue graduate studies in school or private counseling, social work rehabilitation, psychology, sociology, or another related field.
Apply to a Human Services Degree Program at Hilbert College