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Mom sitting with her son holding up her SNHU degree with the text Mo Gray '22

Human Services Degree Online Bachelor's Program

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Register By: October 21 Classes Start: October 23

Earn a Human Services Degree

  • $330/credit (120 credits)
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • Receive credit for prior learning
  • Experiential-learning opportunities
  • Make a difference in your community
  • No application fee or SAT/ACT scores required

Online Human Services Degree Program Overview

Help individuals and communities in need by mastering the art of advocacy and the fundamentals of effectively helping populations in need with an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Human Services degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Earning your online human services degree gives you more than an understanding of how compassion meets policy and process. It offers the personal rewards that come from helping to improve the lives of individuals, families or entire populations.

Your online human services degree courses are taught by practicing human service professionals who bring years of experience to their teaching. You’ll develop the research and communication skills needed to identify and assess community resources for your clients, conduct community assessments and interview and assist clients who need services. Upon graduating, you'll have knowledge and skills that can help position you for success in the field of human services.

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What You'll Learn

  • Social, political and historical trends
  • Cultural awareness and communication strategies
  • Legal and ethical standards
  • Human services policies and the importance of advocacy for the traditionally underserved

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Earn a Human Services Degree Online at SNHU

Southern New Hampshire University's online BA in Human Services is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help individuals, families, and groups in need.

Concentration Options

Career Outlook

With an aging population and the increased demand for substance abuse treatment and mental health and health-related services, graduates of the BA in Human Services program can expect to see great opportunities in their field.

This program will help position you for roles like:

Caseworker

Typically, a caseworker is employed at a social services office to oversee the wellbeing of at-risk, disadvantaged individuals or families. Caseworkers are often tasked with making home visits, assessing case reports, monitoring child visits, and providing support and guidance to their clients. 

Community Outreach Worker

Community outreach workers act as a liaison between community members and community-based organizations that focus on issues like health or education. People who act as community outreach workers are often responsible for facilitating lifestyle programs, fundraising and providing citizens with resources.

Group Home Worker

Group home workers offer assistance, companionship and care to those living in group home facilities. Their responsibilities may include things like monitoring residents' activities, coordinating services for residents and teaching residents life skills. 

Mental Health Aide

Those who work as mental health aids help clients with mental illnesses or addictions. They provide information on services, like support groups and 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness. Typically, mental health aids are licensed clinical social workers. 

Probation Officer

Probation officers supervise people who have been placed on probation instead of sent to prison. They work to ensure the probationer is not a danger to the community and help in their rehabilitation through frequent visits. In addition, they write reports that detail each probationer’s treatment plan and their progress since being put on probation. 

Residential Counselor

Residential counselors are responsible for supporting, guiding and caring for residents. These people often live in shelters, rehabilitation centers or assisted living facilities, and residential counselors oversee their day-to-day activities, while enforcing rules, writing behavioral reports and encouraging socialization. 

Most human service organizations are government agencies or nonprofits. While some exist to serve many populations living in an area, there are also many human service organizations that specialize in helping at-risk populations overcome specific issues.

Human services professionals work in community, residential care or institutional settings. You may find yourself providing direct services such as leading a group, organizing an activity, or counseling or advocating for those struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and health conditions. You may handle administrative support tasks, too.

Amanda Morris with the text Amanda MorrisWith a degree in human services, you may even find yourself in a role of advocacy in your own home and community. Amanda Morris '21 enrolled at SNHU because she wanted to help children and families like her own.

"As a parent, I know the amount of advocacy that is required to ensure that your child is receiving the services and support that they need to be successful in life," said Morris. "This program has provided me the tools I needed to make changes within my own community for my children. I have been able to more successfully advocate for my children’s rights to a free and appropriate education, as well as advocate for our local brain injury organization through meeting with local legislatures."

Earning an online human services degree is also excellent preparation for a graduate degree in human services or a master's in psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, public health, public administration and related degrees.

Job Growth and Salary

Prospects for occupations in the human services field appear promising in the coming years, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for social and community service managers is projected to grow 12% through 2031 — much faster than the average for all occupations.1

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Salary

The median annual salary for social and community service managers in 2021 was reportedly $74,000.1

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Human Services Degree

Laura Gaughan wearing a graduation cap and holding her SNHU diploma.Courses To Prepare You for Your Career

Laura Gaughan '21

“Recently earning my bachelor’s in human services came at a great time and definitely gave me the advantage over other applicants. I have learned so much in college that I can apply to my new job – not only the human services content but on-the-job skills such as time management.”

Courses & Curriculum

Through authentic learning experiences, you'll practice and apply what you learn so you have the confidence and proficiencies to become a human services professional. Coursework covers assessment, evaluating client outcomes, advocating for policy change, developing a care plan and finding a career in human services.

Lacey May with the text Lacey MayTaught by industry experts, you'll be learning from instructors with real-world experience. "I loved that the majority of my professors held doctoral degrees and had worked in the field," said Lacey May '20. "Bringing not only textbook knowledge but also real-life (information)."

The bachelor's in human services requires the completion of a capstone experience. The capstone challenges each student to demonstrate how his or her new skills can be applied in a real-world setting. Throughout their studies, students in the BA in Human Services program are encouraged (but not required) to pursue relevant experiential learning and internship opportunities.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

General Education

All undergraduate students are required to take general education courses, which are part of SNHU's newly redesigned program, The Commons. The goal of The Commons' curriculum is to empower you with some of the most in-demand skills, so you can succeed not only in your academic career, but in your personal and professional life too.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

University Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $990 $330 $9,900
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $693 $231 $6,930

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

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