Grow as a practitioner and lead meaningful change for individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
Lead Bold Social Change With a Master’s in Human Services From Walden
Do you have a passion for helping people—and a desire to make a difference? Become the next-level practitioner and leader you want to be with Walden’s MS in Human Services program.
In our highly interactive and applied master’s in human services program, you’ll build real-world skills that are essential to supporting diverse communities. Gain the confidence to lead departments and organizations of people who are serving the greater good.
A master’s degree in human services prepares students to evaluate and oversee programs, work with nonprofit organizations, and work directly with people in need.
Skills That Matter
Gain highly applicable skills such as grant writing, motivational interviewing, assessment, and cultural humility.
Experiential Curriculum
Discover an interactive learning experience that brings concepts to life through virtual simulations and animated case studies.
Multiple Specializations
Choose from a broad range of specializations and tailor your coursework to your professional interests and goals.
Professional Portfolio
Turn your assignments into a comprehensive digital portfolio that you can showcase once you graduate.
Program Details
Curriculum
Minimum Degree Requirements
- 48 quarter credits
- Foundation course (3 cr.)
- Core courses (25 cr.)
- Elective/specialization courses (15 cr.)
(includes Grant Writing course) - Capstone (5 cr.)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for this master’s program, you must have a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, from an accredited school and meet the general admission requirements. All applicants must submit a completed online application and transcripts. More information for international applicants.
Be Immersed in Experiential Learning
Walden’s online master’s in human services program features simulation technologies and other tools to help you master critical skills in a safe and supportive environment. Build confidence as a human services practitioner and leader while learning how to apply new competencies to your current and future roles. You’ll have the opportunity to work with tools such as:
- Hart City, a virtual city that allows you to visit different locations, find resources, and complete assignments using these resources. See perspectives of different agencies and populations as well as the bigger picture of how it’s all connected.
- Virtual simulations to help you practice intake interviews, educational sessions, and working with clients and community members.
- Animated, real-world case studies that help you apply what you’ve learned in your studies.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your final courses tuition-free, depending on your program.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
General Program
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 48 quarter credit hours | $530 per quarter hour | $25,440 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $850 |
| $26,290** | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$5,300 $20,990* |
||
*Represents minimum time to completion, General program or specialization other than Criminal Justice, Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention, Family Studies and Interventions, or Military Families and Culture, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 20 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,000 and $1,400.
Program Outcomes
What’s the Career Impact of Earning an MS in Human Services?
From food and clothing assistance for those in need to abuse victim advocacy, human services are vital to helping people live safe, stable, and happy lives. Organizations that deliver these community services need advanced-level practitioners and qualified leaders to help them fulfill their mission.
With a master’s in human services degree, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to meet this need. Open the door to rewarding new opportunities and become a catalyst for sustainable social change.
A master’s degree in human services can academically prepare you for work such as:
- Working for a nonprofit organization to address food insecurity in a community.
- Helping people who are struggling with multiple problems of living, such as food insecurity, addictions, mental health issues, disabilities, homelessness, employment, and healthcare needs.
- Assisting individuals seeking services and programs provided by governmental agencies.
- Leading a department or organization of human services practitioners.
A master’s degree in human services can academically prepare you to work in settings such as:
- Community health and support centers
- Nonprofit agencies
- Departments of health and human services
- Schools
- Government agencies
Career options may require additional experience, training, licensure or other factors beyond the successful completion of this online master’s in human services program.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of Walden’s online master’s in human services program will be prepared to:
- Articulate the role that human services leaders play in promoting social change and advocacy for individuals, families, and communities in need.
- Interpret and apply human services research to inform the practice of human services delivery systems.
- Synthesize findings from research to develop culturally and contextually relevant interventions and direct services.
- Use knowledge of formal and informal networks in the development and evaluation of human services delivery systems.
- Apply legal and ethical standards in the administration and delivery of human services systems.
- Discuss how personal values and attitudes affect leadership, planning, and advocacy activities.
Meet Your Academic Team
Testimonials
It was difficult going back to school when I was close to my 50s, but it was worth it.
I chose to continue my education and pursue my MS in Human Services to open more doors for my career.
Walden’s advisors made me feel comfortable in choosing to attend Walden over other online programs.
Related Articles
FAQ About Walden’s Online MS in Human Services
With a master’s in human services—like the one earned online at Walden University—you can gain the knowledge to work at the program level of social and human services agencies and be a change agent for improved services. Human services professionals function as program managers, administrators, and directors. Their responsibilities often include:
- Managing staff and the daily activities of the human services agency or department.
- Coordinating with other human services and social services agencies.
- Researching to determine whether services are effectively reaching target populations.
- Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing services.
- Recommending and implementing improvements in the delivery of existing services.
- Adjusting human services programs to meet the community’s changing needs.
Online graduate degree programs give you an exceptional level of convenience and flexibility. In fact, in an online MS in Human Services program—like the one at Walden—you can complete the majority of your degree program from home. In addition, you can attend classes and handle coursework at a time of day that works best for you—meaning you can earn your master’s while continuing to work full time.
Careers in social work and human services are both motivated by a desire to improve the lives of people in need. They can take place in similar settings, including home health agencies, hospitals, and health clinics. Nevertheless, there are differences. One of the biggest differences between social work and human services jobs is licensure. To be in social work practice, you need a license; to work in human and social services, you do not. In addition, time to completion tends to be longer for social work programs due to a larger credit requirement. Career paths may also differ: Social workers generally work more directly with clients, while human and social services professionals tend to work with organizations to direct needed resources to vulnerable, underserved populations.
MS in Human Services programs may offer a wide variety of focus areas, to help you center your career on the social issue you most want to address. At Walden, these specializations include:
- Community and Social Services – Prepares you for community social work in non-licensure roles.
- Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention – Prepares you for emergency management leadership and/or helping communities that have suffered a natural or man-made disaster or are experiencing an ongoing crisis.
- Gerontology – Prepares you to help older adults with issues ranging from home care to finances.
- Military Families and Culture – Prepares you to help active-duty members and/or veterans of the armed services and their families.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2028, employment of social and community service managers is expected to grow by 17%, much faster than the average for all occupations.*
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social and Community Service Managers. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth, and are subject to change.
With an advanced degree in human services, one could pursue a number of careers, including:*
- Human services professional
- Agency coordinator
- Foster care counselor
- Family services specialist
- Emergency management manager
- Medical and health services manager
- Development director
*Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social and Community Service Managers (SOC code 11-9151). Retrieved September 2021. National long-term job growth projections and salaries may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth or salaries, and are subject to change.
Note on Licensure: The MS in Human Services program, including its specializations, is not designed to lead to professional licensure, including licensure as a professional therapist, counselor, social worker, or psychologist.