Bachelor of Arts in Human Services

If you want to help people, you’ve come to the right place. Human Services majors specialize in working with and helping others, whether that be through advocacy, behavioral health, mental health, or caring for youth, elderly, or the disabled. Now is a good time to study Human Services, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates faster than average growth in the career outlook for counselors and social workers from 2024-2034. Come learn how to spark change in the lives of others with us.

Why be a Human Services major?

Here’s what makes the 91´«Ã½’s Human Services major unique:

• Holistic approach: Rated as a Top 40 College for Human Services, our program is holistic and dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities. You will explore human development across the lifespan alongside the community resources, social environment, and policies that influence well-being. Our interdisciplinary major draws on psychological and sociological perspectives to equip you to work in a range of helping professions, from individual counseling and case work to policy advocacy. If you enjoy those courses, you can take that knowledge even further with a Master’s in Counseling through our partnership with Pace University.
• Health Care Advocacy: You can specialize your degree by declaring a concentration in Health Care Advocacy. This concentration prepares you to assist and advocate for patients and families within the health care system. You will take courses on health care policy and administration, and on the patients' experience in the healthcare system.
• Hands-On Experience: During your study of Human Services, you will complete an internship - a tremendous opportunity to develop hands-on experience while being introduced to a number of settings in Human Services. In collaboration with the Center for Academic and Career Services, our faculty will help you find a great placement to fit you goals!
• Experiential Learning Opportunities: Outside of the classroom, you can start making a positive impact immediately. You will have an opportunity to get involved whether through a research project or hands-on lesson for class, by joining one of our volunteer-based clubs like Aging United or Habitat for Humanity, or positioning yourself academically to become a member of our Human Services Honor Society.

+Adult Degree: The 91´«Ã½ offers the Human Services major in our Adult Degree Program. It’s the same great education, just on your own schedule. Learn more here.

What to expect as a Human Services major

42 credits

Learn about Human Services academic requirements and courses .

As a Human Services major, you'll take courses on human behavior, counseling and casework practice, family dynamics, and policy analysis. You will also be able to choose major elective courses based on your career interests, including topics such as addiction, mental health, aging, disability, and poverty.

You will find your focus on professional opportunities will be expansive, and will be trained to work with individuals and families across the lifespan (infants, children, adolescents, young adults, midlife adults, older adults, and end-of-life-care). Areas of interest will include, but are not limited to, child services, working with adolescents, working with individuals with disabilities, addictions and recovery, and hospice care. A number of our students are employed within private and government agencies that focus on policy, research, practice, and program development. 

Course highlights include Sociology and the Family; Race, Gender, & Inequality; Theories of Social Casework; Psychology of Death and Dying; Addictions Across the Lifespan; a Senior Research Seminar; and more.

Be prepared for your future

The best way to learn is through real life, which is why we have all of our Human Services majors complete at least one internship. These experiences help you to figure out who and how you want to help after graduation. Some past Human Services major internship placements have included county social welfare agencies, nursing homes, domestic violence programs, addictions and substance abuse agencies, preschool programs, court systems, and adolescent programs.

After graduation, most of our Human Services majors go on to graduate school for Master-level training in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field, while others dive right into the workforce at nonprofit or government agencies in mental health, disability learning and advocacy, elder care, and more.

Here’s how some of our Human Services alumni are using their degrees:

• Selines Torres ’06, Care Coordinator at Cancer Services Program of the Hudson Valley
• Valerie Capalbo ’09, Behavior Analyst at Positive Behavior Supports Corporation
• Lauren O’Neill ’16, Manager, Labor Relations at Eversource Energy
• Jennifer Stosch ’17, School Social Worker for Islip Public School District
• Megan LaPerche ’19, Human Resources Recruiter at Graystone Programs, Inc.