Human Services (BS)
Lead through service with a Human Services degree.
The human services field is growing rapidly, and the world needs more servant-leaders like you to make a difference. At SWU, we believe leaders begin by serving, and the BS in Human Services degree prepares you with rigorous coursework, internships that give you real-world experience, and a holistic approach to human services education. In the Human Services program, you’ll study the core attitudes, knowledge, skills, and values required for success in the field.
You can customize your BS in Human Services with one of our concentrations, and you’ll graduate with a capstone experience centering on an internship or a research project. The coursework you’ll complete addresses learning outcomes set by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education and the requirements for becoming a Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner. If you’re interested in an MS in Counseling Psychology, you can take dual credit courses in your senior year to complete both your BS and MS in 5.5 years.
Concentrations
The Administration concentration focuses on preparing you to shape and develop organizations in the public and private sectors. Courses focus on building your understanding of management and organizational behavior alongside Christian leadership principles.
The Counseling concentration focuses on teaching you to assist individuals and groups with Christ-centered approaches to personal, family, and mental health, substance abuse, and career issues. Becoming a licensed counselor often requires a graduate degree; the Counseling concentration is a great first step.
The Criminal Justice concentration is designed for human services majors interested in pursuing a human services career in professional settings involving human services and law enforcement. The concentration provides an excellent introduction to the field of criminal justice, which is very helpful for many human services fields where law enforcement is regularly involved. This concentration could also help prepare someone interested in criminal justice as a career.
The Marriage and Family Services concentration will help you develop the skills to work effectively with families and couples. You will learn to employ evidence-based practices grounded in a Christian ethic of care.
The Specialized Concentration is designed for students who might transfer in multiple human services credits from a previous institution or earned associate degree. A specialized concentration can be built for these students based on the transfer work. Your academic success coach or academic advisor can evaluate your transfer credits and help you know if this is an option for you.
Prof. Joey Turner
Assistant Professor of Human Services
Contact“The best part of teaching at Southern Wesleyan University is getting to know students and being involved in activities and events they participate in.”
“As a human services major, you are constantly learning so many cool things. A big part of this love for my major is the professors. They are encouraging and so spiritually uplifiting. They have worked in the social work realm and can share real–world knowledge and experience of multiple different occupations. The human services major is broad and the possibilities are endless.”Sarah Leiden — 2023 Human Services Graduate
- Adoption case manager
- Child and family advocate
- Community outreach professional
- Counselor/therapist
- Department of Social Services
- Gerontologist
- Justice system case manager
- Nonprofit professional
Graduates of the Human Services program will be able to:
- Demonstrate and apply attitudes, knowledge, skills, and values related to significant facts, theories, and ethical issues within the human services field.
- Display attitudes, knowledge, skills, and values consistent with understanding and appreciating human diversity issues.
- Apply the critical thinking and research skills required to interpret and contribute to current human services practices.
- Understand and apply basic principles of case management in working with clients.
- Pursue employment or graduate study in fields related to human services.
