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Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services | Undergraduate Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services

Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services

Pursuing a degree in human services or addictions counseling will give you the skills and knowledge to help individuals and communities in need. Students in Ottawa University's Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services program learn to help people cope with personal challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, mental health, and relational crisis. You will gain abilities in program implementation, client interviewing, cultural competence, data gathering, counseling, consulting, and case management in online and face to face courses.

Why Earn a Human and Social Services Degree?

“One of the many positive things about a degree in Human Services is the versatility of the degree. With a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Ottawa University, you can work with children and teens, adults, families, or the elderly. The settings you can work in are just as versatile including hospitals, community organizations, public welfare agencies, and private clinics such as substance abuse clinics or mental health clinics. We even offer amazing internship opportunities at facilities such as hospitals, battered women’s shelters, substance abuse clinics, and residential treatment centers for at risk youth. For online students, our faculty facilitates a unique hands-on experience through video counseling sessions and opportunities to learn about agencies and resources in your area.” Mary Alice Grosser, MSW, Professor in Charge of Human and Social Services

For more information about earning your degree at Ottawa University, contact us today!

Related Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling

Master of Arts in Counseling

Human Services Blog

If you would like to learn more about how to get involved in the helping profession, please visit our Human Services Blog Spot.

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What Can You Do with a Bachelors degree in Human Services?

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Human and Social Services is offered at the following locations.

  • Overland Park, Kansas
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Brookfield, Wisconsin
  • Online

Education and Qualifications for the Human Services Professional

Formal education is almost always necessary for advancement. In general, advancement to case management, rehabilitation, or social work jobs requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in human services, counseling, rehabilitation, social work, or a related field. These workers should have a strong desire to help others, effective communication skills, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage time effectively. As our students pursue their bachelor degrees in Human and Social Services, they often consider earning a Master of Arts in Counseling  or a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling.


Our courses introduce you to unique policies and programs that are designed to meet community needs among varied populations. You will develop skills in cultural competence by learning about issues of diversity and social equity. Our students also analyze the social, legal, political, and governmental forces that influence the delivery of human services. You may choose to specialize in advocacy, child and family services, corrections, gerontology, or mental health programs.

For curriculum and course descriptions, please download a Human and Social Services program overview.

Human Services Careers

The courses in Ottawa University’s Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services program introduce you to a world of career opportunities. Social and human service assistants help social workers, health care workers, and other professionals provide services to people to improve their quality of life. Careers in human services for private and public sectors include welfare agencies, church ministries, community development programs, youth and adult group homes, senior centers, retirement and nursing homes, case management agencies, and homeless shelters. Attending our accredited Human Services program provides our students with the skills and competencies necessary to obtain a fulfilling career in the behavioral health field.

Careers in Human Services

  • Counseling
  • Social work
  • Community outreach
  • Rehabilitation
  • Elder care
  • Government programs
  • Addictions counseling

Human and Social Services Services Major Courses


Introduction to Substance Abuse Disorders and Addiction Counseling | ADC 30000 (3 credits)
Examines substance use disorders and process addictions inclusive of compulsive sexual behaviors, eating disorders, and pathological gambling.

Introduction to Human Services | HUS 20553 (3 credits)
Broad overview of the profession of Human Services and the social welfare system. Examines historical developments of human services and social welfare and the knowledge, values and skills required to function in the role of a human services professional. Allows participants to evaluate their strengths as a potential human services professional. Introduces field experience.

Social Welfare: Issues in Human Services | HUS 30000 (3 credits)
Overview of emerging issues in social welfare. Topics including culture and diversity, social justice, privatization and emerging technologies in the field of social welfare.

Human Behavior in the Social Environment | HUS 30063 (3 credits)
Study of theories and knowledge of human development across the lifespan within the wider context of a range of social systems.  Social systems examined include individual, family, group, organizational, and community in which people live.  The ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being are emphasized.

Social Policy & The Community | HUS 30253 (3 credits)
Effects of social policy on practice; social policy analysis; process of policy formulation as it relates to human services and other social welfare professions.

Statistics for the Social Sciences | HUS 36000 (3 credits)
Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistical techniques used in the social sciences. Topics include data collection procedures, measures of dispersion, correlation designs, probability, statistical inference, and analysis of variance. Cross-listed with PSY 36000 Statistics for Social Sciences.

Marriage and Family | HUS 30654 (3 credits)
Study of the function of marriage and family in contemporary American society, including the why of intimate relationships, couple/parent/child adjustment, three generational relationships, and the process of break-up and remarriage. Cross-listed with PSY 30654 Marriage and Family.

Group Work in Human Services | HUS 32000 (3 credits)
Develops both knowledge and skills in facilitating group experiences used in the human services and helping professions.  Particular emphasis on group processes for the psycho-emotional-social development of group participants. 

Ethics in Human Services | HUS 40454 (3 credits)
Examines ethical theories and application to practice and management of social service agencies. Explores relationship between federal/state regulations and the effect on client and provider.

Skills and Techniques in Human Services I | HUS 40553 (3 credits)
Examine systems framework, skills, analysis of issues and current intervention strategies for working with individual clients and groups in diverse social service settings. Develop and enhance interviewing and effective communication skills. Opportunity for observation and participation in direct practice within a social service setting. Awareness of technology and art of human services practice.

Skills and Techniques in Human Services II | HUS 40554 (3 credits)
Emphasis on skill development working with individuals, groups, families and community resources. Interviewing and/or counseling clients; in-depth analysis of case management in social service professions. Students will have the opportunity to begin direct practice in a social service setting as part of class work.

Seminar in Human Services | HUS 49000 (4 credits)
Capstone course that provides student opportunity to integrate and synthesize key concepts and theories through analysis and evaluation of current topics and issues impacting the human services profession and its clients. Examines policy and legislation, agency mandates, trends in treatment, and evaluates the same for sustainability in society from three areas: equity, economic and environmental. Prerequisite:  Most or all of the core required courses in the major must be completed or consent of instructor.

Psychopathology | PSY 30353 (3 credits)
Study of biological, psychological and sociocultural influences contributing to abnormal behavior patterns. Includes history, identification, diagnosis, and treatment of various psycho-pathological disorders.

Introduction to Sociology | SOC 10453 (3 credits)
Introduces theory and method in social sciences as they relate to key concepts in the field of sociology including socialization, culture, status, stratification, conflict, and change.

Ethnic Relations & Multiculturalism | SOC 30653 (3 credits)
Focuses on inter-group and intra-group experiences of various ethnic populations within the United States. Includes impact of integration, discrimination, prejudice, and social dynamics of conflict and assimilation to various groups. Prerequisite: SOC 10153 Social Thought or SOC 10453 Introduction to Sociology.
 

Wisconsin Social Worker Training Certificate


Skills and Techniques in Human Services III | HUS 40555 (3 credits)
Course focuses on continued skill development in working with groups and families.  Students practice skills by role playing and receiving feedback from instructor and classmates.  Topics include facilitating support and therapy groups as well as couples and family counseling sessions.

Internship: Human Services | HUS 41053 ; HUS 42053 ; HUS 43053 (12 credits)
Practices and expectations include goal and objective setting, journal writing, site meeting with the on-site supervisor and academic supervisor, on going monitoring, and final formal evaluation.


Download a Human and Social Services program overview.

Full Degree Catalog

University Accreditation

Ottawa University, as a whole, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Specific degree programs within our institution have also been accredited by relevant bodies within the field:

We are proudly recognized for our commitment to student excellence by the following designations:

Why Choose Ottawa
Almost all courses in Ottawa University’s programs are available online and accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. We make it easy for you to transfer credits in order to help keep tuition costs down. We also offer courses in accelerated 8-week terms in order to reduce your time to completion. These are just a few of the reasons why we are proud to be the best, fastest, and most affordable option locally in the Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Phoenix areas, as well as serving students nationally through our online degrees.

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