Human Services, Bachelors of Arts

Why choose Saint Leo's Human Services?

Saint Leo’s high-demand BA in Human Services program is an interdisciplinary applied program that promotes service to others. It fosters an understanding of the causes and consequences of individual and social problems and prepares students for rewarding careers in which they can make a positive impact on various communities in need.

The theoretical foundation of the curriculum is systems theory, which provides a framework for understanding human behavior and social service delivery systems. The BA in Human Services program emphasizes the development of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, as well as an understanding of the principles of interpersonal behavior in the social environment, including the impact of cultural diversity.

Additionally, the curriculum includes an advanced field placement and a comprehensive exam on the students practical knowledge and educational background – both designed to ensure students are fully prepared to embark on successful opportunities within the broad scope of human services.

Instructors in this program come from a wide range of backgrounds and have many years’ worth of practical experience within the varied field of human services, allowing them to communicate this valuable practice to students. Small class sizes offer personal attention from instructors, enabling students to flourish in an online environment.

Availability

The Bachelors of Arts in Human Services program is only available online and offered at 13 of Saint Leo's Educational Centers including the following:

• Florida: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City, Madison, Ocala, and Brooksville
• Georgia: Gwinnett, Atlanta, Savannah
• South Carolina: North Charleston and Sumter/Shaw
• Virginia: Chesapeake and Newport News

Accreditation

Saint Leo University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Saint Leo’s human services program is a member of the accrediting body, The Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE), professional accreditor for human services programs in student-centered colleges and universities throughout the country. The CSHSE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Program Features & Differentiators

Saint Leo University is Florida’s oldest Catholic institution of higher education. The online Human Services program offers a hands on, experiential learning process. The program consists of 48 credit hours in foundation courses. The remaining credits include electives and university exploratory courses providing students with a well-rounded education. Curriculum is designed to mentor students to be successful with their academic pursuits within the classroom and the workplace as well as help them develop their professional identity through advanced field placements where you can learn roles, skills, and administrative processes required in human services settings. As a part of the foundation courses, students complete 350 hours of field placement (internship) and sit for the Human Services Board Certified Professional (HS-BCP) exam at the end of the program. Upon graduating, students have the knowledge, skills, and experience to apply for employment, a new position, or a promotion at a non-profit, for profit, or government agency.

Upon graduation, students may want to continue their education with Saint Leo to earn a Master’s degree in Human Services Administration.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this degree program, students will be able to:

• Students will become responsible generalist service providers capable of working effectively in entry-level human service positions across a broad range of agencies and institutions
• Students will learn the skills necessary to create helping relationships, and effectively engage in the problem-solving process in those relationships.
• Students will develop and nurture in themselves the ethics, values, beliefs and norms of persons dedicated to helping others.
• Students will develop a desire and a commitment to engage in the life-long process of self-education, self-reflection and self-evaluation; Students will develop a critical awareness of the interplay between individuals and the social, economic, political and historical forces of which they are a part, and an understanding of the interconnectedness of individual and social problems;
• Students enhance competencies and skills required of successful, professional human service providers, in a field placement environment.
• Students will prepare for further study at the graduate level.

Course Highlights

For a complete listing of required courses, including individual course descriptions, please consult the Saint Leo 2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog. 

Specific Human Services Foundation courses include:

• Introduction to Human Services
• Interpersonal Helping Skills
• Group Skills in Human Services
• Social Policy in Human Services
• Human Services Administration
• Qualitative Social Research
• Field Placement I & II
• Senior Seminar
• Fundamentals of Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Introduction to Sociology
• Drugs, Society and Human Behavior or Diversity Issues in Social Work Practices  

Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development opportunities include:

• Internships: With hands-on work, learn the importance of human services in the real world and your ethical responsibilities as a practitioner. Our students have interned at a variety of non-profit, for profit, and government agencies such as Genesis Counseling Center, the YWCA, Transitions Family Violence, Children, Family, and Youth Services, Hampton Department of Human Services (Foster Care), Virginia Beach Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities, York County of Social Services (Senior Care Program), Natasha House, Menchville House, Samaritan House, to name a few.
• Research: Work with faculty on research and present at the Southern Organization for Human Services conference and other conferences.
• Guest Speakers: Meet recruiters, alumni, and professionals working in the field.
• Service Learning Activities: Participate in regional or international active learning experiences that may include presentations from community partners, tour of agency, and community service project for clients, such as visiting the Goodwill, Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Bermuda College, Social Service Agencies in Bermuda, Cuba, etc.,
• Job-Ready Prep: Learn essential human services skills such as interviewing, assessment, evaluation, intervention, referral, care coordination, goal setting, group facilitation, writing/documentation, and presenting.

What can you do with an Bachelors of Arts Human Services?

Most graduates find entry-level human services positions in profit, not-for-profit and government organizations. Career paths can include:

• Caseworker
• Grant Writer
• Family Support Worker
• Government Benefits Eligibility Specialist
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Probation Counselor
• Community Outreach Worker
• Mental Health Aid
• Life Skills Counselor
• Youth Worker
• Client Advocate/Gerontology Counselor

Where are Saint Leo Graduates Now?

Graduates from Saint Leo's online B.A. in Human Services find employment in a wide variety of positions and organizations throughout the United States. Examples of positions held by recent graduates include: 

• Veteran's Employment Counselor, Department of Veterans Affairs (class of 2018)
• Senior Family Case Manager, Haven House, ForKids (class of 2018)
• Intake Specialist, Children Protection Services (class of 2018)
• Intake Specialist, Eggleston Services (class of 2018)
• Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Healthy Families (class of 2018)
• Warrior Bridge Program Coordinator, Eggleston Services (class of 2017)
• Executive Director, Citizens' Unity Commission, Hampton Government (class of 2017)
• Director of Office Affairs, Calvary Community Church (class of 2017)
• Organizational Resource Specialist, Installation Management Command, Directorate of Human Resources (class of 2015)

Related Saint Leo Blog Articles

• New Undergraduate Programs Coming to Saint Leo University in the Fall
• What Types of Assignments Can You Expect in an Online Course?