The curriculum of the Human Services Major prepares students for entry-level careers in human services and for further professional development and graduate education in this field. It seeks to provide the theoretical framework for the understanding of individual development and behavior, of family functioning and of the community environment and the interactions among each.

The Master of Science in Human Services (MSHS) Program offers a curriculum designed for professionals who aspire to become leaders in the human services field. The goal of the program is to prepare outstanding human services managers, program developers, and planners. Our graduates are practitioners who understand the core values that guide practice, and who have the technical knowledge and skills needed for human services management, program planning and evaluation.

The program offers two areas of concentration: Planning and Management. The MSHS curriculum is competency-based, an outcomes based process of learning that has been practiced at the College of Public and Community Service for over 30 years. Each competency in the curriculum is defined by a statement outlining the specific learning outcomes students are expected to demonstrate as well as the measures by which each student’s accomplishments and learning will be evaluated. Competencies are achieved through course work, independent study, and utilization of prior learning experiences. Prior learning includes using acquired skills to demonstrate competence by placing this experience within a broader theoretical framework. Students receive a grade for the competencies they complete.