Psychology, Human Services Concentration, B.A.

Program Description:

The Human Services Concentration in the BA in Psychology program is for students who are looking to advance their careers or develop a new career in professions connected to caregiving, human services, or social work.   This Concentration offers an applied psychological and interdisciplinary understanding of personal and social problems that can be address in the human services field.  Students gain skills and knowledge to facilitate employment in a wide variety of helping professions, and serves as a foundation for admission to applied graduate study in the mental health, community service, social work, and related fields.  

Learning Objectives:

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Human Services Concentration should be able to:

• Provide leadership in the delivery of human services in a variety of settings;

• Develop skills in case management, evaluating crisis situations and individual and family assessment;

• Acquire interpersonal communications skills to increase effectiveness in client relationships;

• Analyze social, political and economic forces affecting welfare and human services systems;

• Communicate well (in oral and written form) with colleagues and clients,

• Make ethical judgments and decisions as human service professionals, and

• Develop advanced skills in lifespan family services as well as nonprofit management.

Careers:

Students with a background in psychology and human services have a wide array of opportunities for professional entry-level positions, to advance their existing careers, and also to get ready for advanced (graduate) study. For example, with an aging population, careers in social services fields are expected to grow faster than average in the coming years-professions such as gerontological counselor, for example, which help serve the greater number of elderly people. The need for substance abuse counselors is growing as we learn more about addictions and the need for treatment. Other examples include:

• Rehabilitation Counselor

• School Counselor

• Social Work and Human Services Assistant

• Child, Family and School Social Workers

• Gerontological Counselor or Aide

• Career Counseling and Career Life Coach

• Human Services Worker

• Case Management Aide

• Community Support Worker

• Mental Health Aide

• Community Outreach Worker

• Rehabilitation Counselors

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

• Mental Health Counselors