A Bachelor of Science in Human Services is an excellent path to a career focused on helping others find solutions for their immediate and urgent needs. A career in human services means you will be on the front lines solving problems and intervening in ways that can significantly improve the lives of those you serve. Here are just of few of the benefits of earning your BS in Human Services:
1. Providing Direct Assistance to People in Need
Human services professionals are known for assisting those in the community who need a little extra help. It can range from helping a family receive food stamps, to teaching nutrition skills in a local community shelter, to helping those who have suffered physical trauma overcome specific issues. A BS in Human Services is perfect for the person who has a strong desire to help others.1 This type of work often does not just focus on one aspect of an individual’s life or troubles. Rather, human services professionals act as advocates to find solutions to many complex problems. There are any number of ways in which that can be accomplished, but a great first step can be earning a human services degree.
2. Wide Application
A BS in Human Services won’t limit you to a small number of career options. One of the most appealing aspects of this type of degree is its versatility. Those who earn a bachelor’s in human services can go on to careers in social work, social services, rehabilitation counseling, substance abuse treatment, and mental health counseling.1 A human services degree can be the perfect fit for someone who knows they want a career helping people—especially populations that are traditionally underserved—but is not sure exactly how. The versatility this focus of study brings can open many interesting doors down the road.
3. Expanding Opportunities
Hiring demand for those with a human services degree is expected to rise in the coming years. While some of the careers listed below could require a specialized degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, social service careers are anticipated to grow at a rate faster than the 4% national average.2 The projections through 2029 include:
- 173% increase for social service and human services assistants
- 17% increase for social and community services managers
- 13% increase for social workers
- 25% increase for substance use counselors
While a BS in Human Services does not guarantee a job, it is great training for a market that is expanding for the foreseeable future. In fact, some of the career options for those with a BS in Human Services include community support worker, mental health support worker or aide, community activist, child advocate, and even parole officer. Job settings might include hospitals, schools, or private and government human services agencies.
4. Positioning for Professional Counseling
For anyone considering a career in professional counseling, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services can give you a head start by preventing you from wasting time and money taking prerequisite courses in graduate school.3 Graduate schools also like to see students with experience. A human services degree from an accredited online college can give a student the flexibility to gain experience while pursuing their college degree, making them a very attractive candidate to graduate schools.
5. No Day Is the Same
Social service professionals work with a wide range of people from all walks of life, including the homeless population, foster parents, persons in prison, and low-income families, just to name a few.4 Those earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Services tend to find this diversity exciting. They also appreciate that no day at work is like any other. Every day presents different problems, as well as different solutions.1 The only constant is the desire to help everyone they work with.
A BS in Human Services is a degree that has numerous positive aspects. One of the best ways to earn your degree is through an accredited online college. It can provide you with the necessary skills to change your career path, while being flexible enough to not disrupt the most important aspects of your life. Earning a degree online can also allow you to gain experience that, when combined with your human services degree, can make you an incredibly strong candidate for a graduate counseling program.
A BS in Human Services provides benefits to the person who earn the degree, as well as to those they serve. It can be the first step toward a rewarding career focused on helping those in need, and can take the degree holder to any number of possible careers.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online BS in Human Services degree program. With Walden University, you can change your career path without disrupting the most important aspects of your life.
1 Source: www.publichealthonline.org/human-services/
2 Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
3 Source: https://counselor-license.com/education/human-services-degree
4 Source: https://chasethewritedream.com/human-services-degree/
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.