24 Best Human Services Master’s Programs

Key Takeaways:

This article ranks the best human services master’s programs, with Lehigh University and the University of Delaware as the top two.
A master’s in human services can lead to leadership, administrative, or supervisory positions in various fields.
Programs cover topics like counseling, program development, psychology, and management, with specializations available in areas like gerontology.
Most programs require around 30-36 credit hours and can be completed in 1-2 years, sometimes with an internship.
A human services master’s can lead to careers in community outreach, social advocacy, family services, and more.

hances are, if you’re looking at this website, you want to advance your career in Human Services into a leadership, administrative, or supervisory position. If you have an interest in, or work in, a community or non-profit agency, counseling, program development and funding, or others, you may want to earn a master’s degree in Human Services.

This ranking by Best Health Degrees lists schools holding regional accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education agencies such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) or Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as well as several others. Some programs may be accredited by the Council for Standards of Human Service Education (CSHSE). Tuition estimates come from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and represent school-reported tuition for the 2020-21 academic year.

Graduate students are limited in the type of aid they can receive, but you may want to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for consideration of loans or school-sponsored scholarships and/or assistantships. Many schools include the financial aid application on file as part of the admission process.

Our Method: Ranking the 25 Best Human Services Master’s Programs

To rank the 25 Best Human Services Master’s Programs, Best Degrees editors researched accredited, trusted programs of all kinds. From our initial pool, we ranked programs according to price, accreditation, reputation, and salary potential, using data from IPEDS and Niche, U.S. News and World Report, and other higher education rating publications.

1. Lehigh University

This well-known Pennsylvania university offers a Master’s (M.Ed.) Counseling and Human Services through the College of Education.

Accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), the 60-credit hour curriculum has core coursework in Assessment and Appraisal in Counseling, Diversity and Multicultural Perspectives, Counseling and Therapeutic Approaches, Human Development Across the Lifespan, Research, and others. Concentration courses examine family and group counseling, techniques used in counseling, as well as statistics. Specialty courses in such topics as Social Justice, Diversity, Trauma and Loss, Abnormal Behavior and Psychopathology, etc., are available. Field experiences are expected. The program can prepare you to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania.

You’ll submit an admission application, provide undergraduate academic transcripts (with at least a 3.0 GPA), letters of recommendation, an essay, and “an acknowledgment they understand the College of Education policy on clearances.”

Estimated Tuition Cost: $27,000/per academic year

Fast Fact: U.S. News and World Report ranks LU’s College of Education #56 in its Best Education Schools

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

2. University of Delaware

This is a 4+1 B.S./M.S. degree in Human Development and Family Studies program that allows you to complete your B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years.

Accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE), this curriculum includes 33 credit hours of study in Theories of Human Development, Program Planning, Assessment and Evaluation, Research Methods, Theories of Human Development, and others. With the guidance of your advisor, you’ll choose three elective courses from a field experience, Economics in Public & Nonprofit Sectors, Leading Organizations in Public and Nonprofit Sectors, Human Resources in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, etc. A thesis is part of the curriculum.

You can apply for admission to this B.S./M.S. program when you’ve completed 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework. The admission committee will consider your GPA, recommendation letters, personal interview, work experiences, as well as other criteria.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $34,164/per academic year

Fast Fact: UD is ranked #35/#676 in Niche’s Top Public Universities in America

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

3. Oklahoma State University – Tulsa

You can earn your Master’s in Applied Human Services in just 18 months with this hybrid program at OSU.

There are four specialties from which you can choose: Gerontology, Non-profit Management, Infant Mental Health, and Developmental Disabilities, and you can develop your own specialty by working with your academic advisor. There are core topics you’ll study in Issues in Family Science and Lifespan Development. You’ll take a total of 33 credit hours for your degree completion. Among the topics you’ll study are Aging and Families, Community and Family, Parent Education, Research Methods and Statistics, and a Master’s Capstone. You’ll have additional courses, depending on your specialization.

Admission requires submission of an application, letters of recommendation, resume/CV, professional goals statement, and official academic transcripts. A $50 application fee is required.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $14,372/Total Program Cost

Fast Fact: Niche ranks OSU #48/#131 Best Big Colleges in America

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

4. University of Pittsburgh

If you need a Human Services Management certificate, you should look at this program from the University of Pittsburgh.

Offered through the university’s School of Social Work, this certificate program is a collaborative effort between the school and the Network of Social Work Management (NSWM). You’ll complete two required courses in Community Organizing and Planning and Human Services Management and two elective courses in Grant and Proposal Writing and Human Resources, Supervision, and Financial Management. Additionally, the certificate requires you to have a field placement in a human services or community organization. This could be a private, nonprofit agency or a government-sponsored organization.

While the school website doesn’t provide specific admission requirements for this certificate program, it does suggest you contact for additional information.

Estimated Tuition Cost: Unknown

Fast Fact: The University of Pittsburgh ranks #58 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

5. University of North Georgia

Here’s a hybrid program in Master of Science Human Services Delivery and Administration that will help you advance your professional career into supervisory or managerial positions.

If you attend full-time, you can complete this 35-credit-hour degree in two years, with limited campus attendance. As part of the curriculum, you’ll take courses in Generalist Approaches to Human Services Practice, Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services Practice with Organizations, Advanced Human Services Practice with Communities, Administrative and Organizational Issues, Contemporary Issues in Aging, and others. You’ll also study research methods and two field practicum experiences and can opt for an internship opportunity, as well.

Along with the application and $40 fee, the Graduate School requires official academic transcripts and GRE test scores, three recommendations, a recent professional resume, and a written statement. This statement will need to address specific guidelines.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $4,140-$16,488/per academic year

Fast Fact: The university ranks #15 in U.S. News and World Report’s Top Public Schools category

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

6. University of Illinois

Located in Springfield, UI awards a Master in Human Services (HMS) and offers four concentrations in Gerontology, Child and Family Studies, Social Services Administration, or Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (the latter, accredited by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA).

This online/blended curriculum requires 24 hours of core studies in Social Policy and Human Services, Critical Perspectives in Human Services, Ethics and Professional Development, and Critical Perspectives in Human Services, as well as an internship and capstone project. Coursework also includes studies in the Psychology of Aging, Staff Development and Supervision, Ethics and Professional Development, Child Abuse And Neglect, Treating Children from Diverse Populations, Sociology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement, Grant Writing in Human Services, an internship experience, and more.

University admission requires an application and submission of official academic transcripts. Other documents may be requested as well. The program requires a personal statement, a Human Services Department application, an interview with the Concentration Area Coordinator, and two recommendations for admission.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $8,247-$14,021/per academic year

Fast Fact: UI-Springfield is considered #4 in Top Public Schools as ranked by U.S. News and World Report

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

7. University of Baltimore/Coppin State University

This is a 36-credit-hour Master in Human Services degree offered through a collaboration of the University of Baltimore and Coppin State University.

The curriculum is designed to prepare you for an administrative role in the field of Human Services and allows you to specialize in areas such as addiction counseling, Family Counseling, Applied Psychology, Negotiations and Conflict Management, Health Care Delivery Systems, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling. You’ll take prerequisite courses in topics such as Leadership and Decision Making, Leadership and Supervision, Strategies for HSER Planning, and Program Evaluation. Practicum experiences are also required for degree completion.

To apply for this program, you’ll make an application to the Coppin State University School of Graduate Studies. Admission documents include an application (and a $50 fee), academic transcripts from all schools attended, as well as three letters of recommendation. Other requirements may be applied.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $7,612-$10,789/per academic year

Fast Fact: U.S. News and World Report ranks the University of Baltimore #36 in Top Public Schools and Coppin State University ranks in the top 50 of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and #50-#62 in Top Public Schools

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

8. Amridge University

You can earn a M.S. in Human Services from this Montgomery, Alabama school in 30 credit hours (four semesters). The human services master’s program will qualify you to work as a life coach in a church, governmental, or community agency.

This is a non-licensure program and has 18 required credit hours and 12 elective hours for completion. Among the required courses are Basic Counseling Techniques/Helping Relationships, Professional Ethics and the Law, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, as well as Research and Evaluation. You’ll be able to choose from elective classes in Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Systemic Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, Theories of Personality Development, Psychology of Grief, Death, and Dying, etc. Note: If you want licensure in Marriage and Family Counseling, you’re encouraged to talk with the Dean of the School of Human Services.

You’ll make an admission application, along with a $50 application fee, as well as academic transcripts from all schools you’ve attended. The GRE/GMAT test scores are not required for admission.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $11,700/per academic year

Fast Fact: Amridge is a distance education-only university

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

9. Eastern Illinois University

Anxious to get your career started? As an undergraduate at EIU, you can enter the accelerated 4+1 Master of Science in Human Services in Program Administration degree in which you can share undergraduate and graduate credits.

The human services master’s program concentrates on several facets of human services such as experiential learning, teaching, research, and theoretical application. Some of the curriculum classes include Leadership and Administration in Human Services Programming, Public Policy and Grant Writing for Human Services Programming, Research Methods in Human Services Program Administration, Current Issues and Trends in Human Services Program Administration, etc. A capstone project/internship is required to complete the program. The 33 credit hour coursework can be completed in 18-24 months.

To qualify for the accelerated program, you’ll be required to have a minimum of a 3.25 GPA, completion of at least 15 credit hours in your major along with 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework at EIU. Graduate admissions ask for an application ($30 nonrefundable fee), official academic transcripts, and other documents as may be needed. The GRE test scores are not required.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $7,503-$18,007/per academic year

Fast Fact: Money ranted EI #121 in its 2020 Best Colleges ranking

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

10. St. Joseph’s College New York

Taking a research-based approach, this M.S. in Human Services degree has a 30-credit-hour curriculum and will develop competencies useful in the workplace.

Among the courses you’ll take are Strategic Leadership in an Information Age, Leadership Ethics and the Law in Human Services, Financing the Mission of Human Services Work, Executive Leadership, and Models of Invention. You’ll also study Leading Policy Initiatives in a Political Environment, Leadership Dimensions of Human Behavior, Integrative Analyses in Human Services Leadership, and others. The entire curriculum is 30 credit hours. This program is also offered online.

The admission process calls for a $25 non-refundable fee along with an application fee, letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, verification of employment describing current job duties, and a current resume. You’ll also be required to have an interview with the Enrollment Management Office and complete a 250 word, written statement, explaining how the master’s degree will improve your career.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $19,350/per academic year

Fast Fact: Niche considers this Brooklyn college #312/#1,572 in its Best Value Colleges in America

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

11. Winona State University

Calling Winona, Minnesota home, WSU provides a Human Services Professional Masters (HSPM) and can lead to a counseling degree program.

The general curriculum offers courses in Multiculturalism and Diversity, Group Theory and Practice, Ethical Practice and Social Change, Career Development and Appraisal, as well as Microskills and others. You’ll also take classes in a Professional Focus Area: Addiction Counseling, Leadership Education, Professional by Design (departmentally approved classwork), or a Multicultural Education Certificate Program. A Capstone Project, Master’s Thesis, or Professional Presentation of Research will complete your degree. There are 34 credit hours needed for the completion of this program.

You’ll begin your admission process by completing an application (with a $20 application fee) and submitting official academic transcripts. After admission to WSU Graduate School, you’ll need to discuss your application to the HSPM program with the department.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $7,710-$11,631/per academic year

Fast Fact: WSU received a #10 ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s Top Public Schools category

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

12. East Tennessee State University

If you want an M.S. in Human Services program that is interdisciplinary, you may want to explore this 36-credit hour degree from ETSU.

The curriculum will take 24 hours in core requirements in topics covering systems and leadership, ethics as well as social justice, theories in family development, psychological development through the lifespan, counseling techniques and case management, and research and evaluation. The program also calls for 9 hours of elective studies approved by your advisor. Elective subjects from which you can choose are child development, substance abuse counseling, educational psychology, divorce consequences, homelessness, and more. The program concludes with a 3 credit hour capstone project.

The ETSU Office of Graduate Studies requires an application and official academic transcripts for admission. Additionally, you’ll need at least a 3.0 GPA for your undergraduate degree and will need to provide letters of reference, an essay describing your experiences, and a current resume. Once all documents are received and reviewed, you may have an interview with the graduate human services faculty.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $8,640-$23,760/per academic year

Fast Fact: ETSU is ranked as one of U.S. News and World Report’s Top Public Schools

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

13. National Louis University

You may not be familiar with this Chicago, IL university, but it has a history dating back to 1886. NLU has an M.S. in Human Services Management degree that focuses on best practices and application.

Some of the topics you’ll cover in this human services master’s curriculum are funding and financial management in human services, program development and evaluation, recognition and analysis of organizational problems and resolution, human resources management, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. The program is also designed to train you in working with boards of directors, delegation, risk management, working with the media, as well as supervising employees. NLU consulted industry leaders in developing this degree.

Admission will require an application and academic transcripts (with a 3.0 GPA) in addition to the department’s required three references, written goals (professional and academic), and faculty review.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $11,646/per academic year

Fast Fact: Ranked #845/1,572 in Niche’s Best Value Colleges in America

14. University of Dayton

Through the University of Dayton’s School of Education and Health Sciences, you can earn a Human Services (MSE) degree in this 30-credit hour program.

This non-licensure human services master’s program is a good one to consider if you’re a nurse, clergy member, substance abuse counselor, etc. Core classes in this major include Career Counseling, Couples & Family Counseling, Theories & Techniques of Counseling, Counseling Techniques Lab, as well as Professional Seminars with Clinical Implications. There are foundational courses that are required as well in Counseling Diverse Populations, Research & Evaluation in Human Services, Personality & Human Development Across the Lifespan, and Human Services Administration.

As with other universities, you’ll need to submit an admission application and official academic transcripts. You’ll need to provide three letters of recommendation as well as a personal statement. If you have an undergraduate GPA below 2.75, you’ll be asked to provide GRE/MAT scores. Finally, once all documents are received and reviewed, you’ll have a faculty interview.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $17,730/per academic year

Fast Fact: The University of Dayton ranks in the top 50 of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Value Schools

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

15. McDaniel College

This Maryland college offers an M.S. in Human Services completed in 30 credit hours, including an internship. The curriculum was designed specifically for mid-to-upper managerial professionals and combines studies in management, psychology, and special education.

Studies include Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, Orientation to Human Services Management, Introduction to Special Education, Medical and Physical Aspects of Severe and Profound Disabilities, Research Methodology, Introduction to Agency Management, etc. The internship is a live-in experience with Target Community and Educational Services, Inc. (Target) which provides support services to adults and children with disabilities in Maryland’s Carroll and Montgomery counties. Per the website, “Students who participate in the Target internship are provided with an 80% tuition scholarship, a stipend for interns starting at $25,000, free room and board, a generous health and dental care package, and a variety of other benefits.”

Admission requires an application with a non-refundable fee, a program plan in conjunction with your program coordinator, and official academic transcripts. If you qualify, you can also apply for admission to an accelerated five-year program that combines undergraduate and graduate coursework to award B.S. and M.S. degrees.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $9,468/per academic year (master’s degree only)

Fast Fact: McDaniel College is ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Value Schools

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

16. West Liberty University

Offered through this West Virginia university’s College of Education and Human Performance, WLU has a 30 credit hour Master of Arts in Education (MAE) with a concentration in Leadership in Disability Services.

This hybrid human services master’s program is designed to improve your leadership skills to assist people with disabilities. Required coursework has Research Methods, Assessment and Data Literacy, Professional Writing, and a Capstone Project. Other classes necessary for this degree are Advocacy, Communication, Public Policy, Creative Leaders and Innovative Thinkers, Nonprofit Management, etc. Among the electives are Characteristics of Autism, Autism Assessments and Interventions, Introduction to the Student who is Gifted, and others. West Liberty University also offers a 15 credit hour Graduate Certificate in Human Services Management.

You can apply for admission without an application fee and will need to submit academic transcripts showing an undergraduate degree with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $6,780-$8,112/per academic year

Fast Fact: U.S. News and World Report places West Liberty University #28 in its Top Public Schools ranking

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

17. Wilmington University

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at this Delaware school provides an M.S. in Human Services developed for working in government agencies, for-profit service providers, and nonprofit organizations.

You can complete your human services master’s degree in as few as 11 months and can attend at one of WU’s four locations or online. You’ll begin your studies with core classes in Law and Practice in Human Services, Research, Design and Evaluation of Programs in Human Services, and either a thesis, guided practicum experience, or capstone project. The program offers two concentrations in either Administration of Human Services or Human Services Practice in which you’ll complete additional core courses before taking 9 credit hours in elective classes. Some of the elective courses from which you can choose are Administering Disability Services, Leadership through Films, Technology and Information Management in Human Services, Volunteer Management, and several others.

You’ll need to be admitted by the graduate school at Wilmington University and the College. The graduate admission requirements include an application ($35 fee), providing official academic transcripts, choose either the Administration of Human Services or Human Services Practice concentration. You’ll then meet with an Admission Specialist.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $8,784/per academic year

Fast Fact: Forbes rates WU #392 in its 2020 Private Colleges ranking

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

18. Webster University

Here’s an M.A. in Human Services offered through Webster University located in St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is a private institution with campuses located across the U.S. and abroad.

With a 36-credit hour curriculum, you’ll study human services ethics, policy, and research, skills, and theories. Among the core courses you’ll take are Foundations of Human Services, Organization and Systems Leadership or Organizational Behavior, Research and Assessment in Gerontology or Applied Research, Human Growth and Development, Social Welfare Policy, etc. You’ll be required to complete two field experiences and the program culminates with a capstone project.

An undergraduate degree (with at least a 2.5 GPA) is required for admission to this graduate program as well as a Graduate School application. The process also requires academic transcripts from all schools you’ve attended. Webster University has a rolling admission process and this program is also offered online as well as on the St. Louis campus.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $13,500/per academic year

Fast Fact: Webster University ranks #15 in Regional Universities for the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

19. Albertus Magnus College

Albertus Magnus College, a Catholic institution founded in 1925 in New Haven, CT, offers a Master of Science in Human Services (MSHS).

The curriculum requires 39 credit hours and includes required coursework in Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Services, Writing in the Social Sciences, Case Management, Multicultural Issues in Human Services, Psychopathology, Theories of Counseling, Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics, Program Evaluation, and Counseling Techniques. You’ll also earn 3-6 credits in a field experience and 3 hours in a capstone project. Electives are part of the curriculum in a variety of subjects such as human resource management and counseling (addiction, career, etc.)

General admission instructions include submitting an application (and a $50 nonrefundable fee), a bachelor’s degree with a 2.8 GPA, a current resume, two letters of recommendation, all academic transcripts, and proof of immunizations. A 500-600 word essay is required on why you’re applying, any experience you may have, and your expectations for this program.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $21,120/per academic year

Fast Fact: U.S. News and World Report names this school #66 in its Best Value Schools category

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

20. Texas Southern University

You can earn an M.S. in Human Services and Consumer Sciences through TSU in a thesis or non-thesis academic plan.

Core courses include an Introduction to Graduate Studies in Human Services and Consumer Sciences, Readings in Areas of Specialization in Human Services and Consumer Sciences, Special Topics, Advanced Research, etc. You’ll also be able to choose specialization electives from one of the following: Foods and Nutrition, Child and Family Development, and Human Services and Consumer Sciences. As previously mentioned, this program offers thesis and non-thesis options. If you choose the non-thesis option, you’ll be asked to complete a research project or mini-thesis.

Criteria for admission to TSU’s Graduate School require submission of an application (and a $75 nonrefundable fee), GRE test scores, three letters of recommendation, a resume, personal essay, as well as two copies of academic transcripts. The college’s admission deadlines for this program are July 15, November 15, and May 1.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $4,767-$11,824/per academic year

Fast Fact: Located in Houston, TX, TSU is ranked #46 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities by U.S. News and World Report

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

21. Lincoln University

If you’re looking to advance your current career, you may want to explore this M.A. in Human Services at Philadelphia/Lincoln University, PA’s Lincoln University.

Requiring 30 credit hours of study, you can earn this degree within 12 months. You’ll study Clinical Assessment and Testing, Counseling for Career Development, Writing Skills for Human Services Practitioners, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Life Span Development, Tools and Models for Human Services Managers, Planning and Effecting Community Change, Action Research, Professional Ethics in Client Care, and others. Field experience is also part of this graduate curriculum.

To apply for admission to this master’s degree, you’ll submit an application, official transcripts, and a current professional resume. While the school does review applications on a rolling method, you’re strongly urged to make applications before the priority deadlines of July 15 and November 15 for not only admission but financial support if you qualify.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $10,106-$17,636/per academic year

Fast Fact: Ranked #20 in U.S. News and World Report’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities ranking, Lincoln University claims Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, as one of its alumni

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

22. Southwestern Assemblies of God University

If you want to enhance your skills in nonlicensed counseling as clergy, addiction and substance abuse, caseworkers, etc., you’ll want to review the M.S. in Human Services Counseling provided by this Waxahachie, Texas university.

Even though this degree doesn’t lead to licensure, you will gain interviewing skills, knowledge of legal and ethical issues in human services, as well as theories in individual and family therapy. You’ll study Methods and Techniques in Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Integration Issues in Behavioral Sciences, Marriage and Family Counseling, Counseling in a Pluralistic Society, Personal Lifestyle and Career Development, Ethical and Legal Issues, and others. You can sign up by completing a form on the website to receive the entire degree plan.

The Graduate School requires an application and fee, references, academic transcripts, and an essay as part of the admission process.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $10,710/per academic year

Fast Fact: Ranked #95-124 in U.S. News and World Report’s Regional Universities West

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

23. Chestnut Hill College

Starting as a women’s college in Philadelphia, PA, Chestnut Hill College provides an M.S. in Human Services, 36 credit hour degree.

The program will acquaint you with a variety of skills in leadership, financial responsibilities, and human resources. This curriculum has core courses in Leadership Development in Group Relations, Public Policy, Human Diversity in Human Services, Organization Management in Human Services, and more. There’s a wealth of electives from which you can choose including Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Family Services, Eldercare Management, Working with Children and Youth, Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Practices, Volunteer Administration, and others. You’ll also participate in field experiences. Classes meet in the evenings and on weekends.

Admission to this degree program requires an application ($55 fee), two letters of recommendation, a professional goals essay, academic transcripts, and other documents as requested. If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, you’ll be required to submit GRE/GMAT test scores.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $17,400/per credit hour

Fast Fact: Money ranks CHC #646 in its Best Colleges 2020 category

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

24. Pacific Oaks College

This Master’s Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College is offered at school campuses in Pasadena and San Jose, as well as online.

The degree requires 30 credit hours and can be completed in two years and provides the option of four specializations in Social Change, Leadership in Education and Human Services, Early Childhood and Development, and Ecological Specialization. Depending on your specialization, you’ll take such courses as Authentic Assessment, Modeling Family Engagement, Play, Language, and Literacy Development, Bicultural Development Across the Lifespan, and Engaged Aging: Development and Societal Issues, etc. Fieldwork experiences are also required.

Along with an admission application (and fee), you’ll need to have an undergraduate degree, and provide academic transcripts, a personal statement, as well as a resume.

Estimated Tuition Cost: $21,074/per academic year

Fast Fact: Pacific Oaks College is a private institution founded in 1945 on Quaker values and traditions

Interested? Learn more about this human services graduate degree here!

Why Should I Get a Master’s in Human Services?

Human Services is a field with broad career options and a good choice if you’re interested in working in the social aspect of individuals and communities. If you’re currently working in the field, a master’s degree will help advance your professional career.

While you can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, many employers are attracted to candidates who have advanced degrees like a master’s degree. Additionally, a master’s degree can open diverse career opportunities in leadership, management, and supervision. A master’s degree will usually equate to a higher salary, as many, if not most, employers will offer more in salary and other compensation for employees with an advanced degree.

An M.S. or M.A. in Human Services provides in-depth studies that will allow you to navigate established social systems and organizations to help community members gain access to programs available. You’ll take courses in sociology, psychology, organizational development, grant writing, behavioral health, aging and gerontology, child and family services, addiction and substance abuse, etc., which will prepare you for leadership and administrative roles in the Human Services field.

National, average salaries for master’s prepared Human Services professionals are reported to be $62,301 (PayScale) and $60,180-$85,550 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). BLS reports the field to have a much faster-than-average job increase of 17% between 2019-2029.

What Can I Do with a Human Services Master’s?

The Human Services field is vast and offers numerous career options, depending on your interests. Whether your interests lie in community outreach, social advocacy, program development and evaluation, family dynamics and issues, drug and substance addictions, organizational development and change, counseling, etc, an M.S. or M.A. in Human Services is a desirable degree for a leadership position.

Human Services programs will typically offer specialty areas in gerontology, child and family issues, counseling, behavioral health, community program development, crises management, leadership and administration in non-profit agencies, case management, and many more. Depending on where you live, you may be required to be licensed for some Human Services positions.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published an excellent article on Human Services that will provide you with some other considerations as you decide on a master’s program.