Administration of
Human Services

Master of Science

About This Program

Program Purpose

The Master of Science degree in the Administration of Human Services is geared toward working professionals who seek the knowledge and skills to lead non-profit organizations, for profit service providers, and government agencies that provide social services to a wide variety of client populations. The course of study will provide recent graduates in the behavioral sciences with the necessary tools to succeed in the human services arena. The program provides the theoretical, methodological, and practical knowledge needed to pursue a degree beyond the master's level. The degree has been developed in close consultation with the professional practitioners in the field and weaves the themes of scholarship, professional experience, ethics, and technology into the courses to meet the goals and objectives of the program. The program will prepare scholarly practitioners who are poised to pursue careers or enhance their current positions in a variety of human services organizations.

Program Design

Courses have been designed in accord with the standards of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education. The core of the program is anchored in the identified disciplines of research, theory, and ethics, with a balance of professional practice that gives the program a real world flavor; and depending on individual interests and needs in a specific area of human services, this core will provide the student with the academic quality and rigor required as a base from which to build. Elective course offerings provide the students with the flexibility to choose from topics that will best prepare them to meet their own goals and aspirations. Faculty provides individual attention, which gives each student the opportunity to design a personal plan of study within the program. The courses for this degree have been carefully selected and designed in consultation with human services professionals and practitioners, to ensure that the most current issues and topics are included in the curriculum. The faculty is also carefully recruited from the field to ensure that the curriculum content reflect current trends in the discipline.

Additionally, the program has a built-in flexibility that respects the professional and personal commitments and responsibilities that today's learners have, while pursuing their goal of advanced academic studies. Classes are presented in semester-long, seven-week block, weekend modular, and online offerings to conveniently fit the busy schedules of students. It is anticipated that students taking courses year-round, could complete the degree in 12 months at an accelerated rate, or in 18 to 24 months following a more traditional schedule. Students will build a personalized schedule in consultation with their individual faculty advisor. The personalized 120-hour guided practicum or individual capstone project allows the student additional flexibility and choices.

Administration of Human Services Program Competencies

1. Integrate theories, knowledge, skills and values of human services into the operation of human service organizations in a manner that demonstrates flexible thinking.
2. Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
3. Apply decision-making and problem-solving skills as well as critical thinking to the administration of the human services organization.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the structure and dynamics of teams, organizations and communities in diverse environments in a pluralistic society that reflects respect for our multicultural world.
5. Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, evaluate, assess and research the needs of human services communities and organizations.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of information management and information technology as it relates to human service delivery systems.
7. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate the legal and ethical issues that impact and influence human services, and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues and standards in the field.
8. Demonstrate a commitment to self-directedness, self-discipline, and lifelong learning as a scholarly practitioner in human services.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of budgeting for grant writing and fundraising as it applies to a non-profit or governmental human services organization.
10. Demonstrate knowledge, ability and skills to manage both professional and volunteer staff members in a human services organization.

This information applies to all students who enter this degree program.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2012-2013 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2012 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.