Master of Science in Human Services
Lees-McRae Online
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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES
Course Length: 8 weeks
Program Duration: 1 year
Next Start: January 2025
Ready to get started?
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES
Course Length: 8 weeks
Program Duration: 1 year
Next Start: January 2025
Why Lees-McRae College?
Our faculty are all long-term practitioners in various human services fields such as social work, licensed clinical mental health, and substance abuse counseling. With low faculty-to-student ratios, each student gets the opportunity to connect with their instructors and receive personalized guidance from experienced human service professionals. This program is delivered 100% online and can be completed in two semesters.
A master’s degree is a necessary qualification for advancement in many human service professions due to the specialized nature of the work. Demand for these skilled professionals will also be increasing over the next decade at a higher rate than the average for all fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A master’s degree is a necessary qualification for advancement in many human service professions due to the specialized nature of the work. Demand for these skilled professionals will also be increasing over the next decade at a higher rate than the average for all fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The program consists of 30 credits distributed across four eight-week terms. The curriculum covers foundational human service topics like public policy, organizational leadership, ethics, and human development and includes a 12-credit concentration in substance abuse treatment. Students will learn how to view human service issues through individual, group, and systems/societal lenses.
The program consists of 30 credits distributed across four eight-week terms. The curriculum covers foundational human service topics like public policy, organizational leadership, ethics, and human development and includes a 12-credit concentration in substance abuse treatment. Students will learn how to view human service issues through individual, group, and systems/societal lenses.
Course Map
The degree program can be completed in four sessions, or two semesters. Each session lasts eight weeks. New cohorts start twice a year in August and January, so you can choose to enroll in either the fall or spring semester. Regardless of when they enter the program, every student follows the same course schedule.
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Course Rotation
Courses offered each session (all courses are 3 credit hours)
Fall Session 1 (August–September)
- Foundations of Human Development, Behavior, and Systems (HMS 500)
- Foundations of SA Treatment in Human Services (HMS 520)
- Professional Ethics in Human Services (HMS 501)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Human Service Practice (HMS 502)
- Psychopathology and Diagnosis in SA Treatment (HMS 521)
- Social Change and Public Policy in Human Services (HMS 503)
- Organizational Leadership in Human Services (HMS 504)
- Treatment Planning and Relapse Prevention (HMS 522)
- Capstone (HMS 599)
- Impact of SA on Family and Community Systems (HMS 523)
About 281,000 community and social service occupations are projected to open annually between 2022 and 2032.
– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Opportunities
A Master of Science in Human Services prepares you to work in a variety of settings and help people in numerous situations. With your degree, you will be eligible to work in the following fields (hover or touch to flip a tile):
Marriage and Family
Rehabilitation
School
Mental Health
Veterans
Development
Grant Writing
Program Director
Organization Director
Social Work
Youth Development
Housing and Shelter
Public Safety
Senior Support
Legal Aid and Victim's Assistance
Requirements for Admission
Applicants should have:
- A completed application to Lees-McRae (fee waived)
- BA or BS from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency (all disciplines welcome)
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- Official transcript of all undergraduate colleges or universities attended
- Transcript of any previous master's degree work if applicable
- One-page written statement of purpose describing the applicant's career goals and how the Master of Human Services will help the applicant achieve those goals. Applicants may choose to schedule a personal interview with a member of the Graduate Admissions staff in lieu of a written statement. Click HERE to schedule a virtual appointment.
Applicants are not required to submit GRE or MAT scores.
Cost and Discounts
Tuition for this graduate program is $530 per credit hour. Current human services professionals are eligible to receive a 25% discount on tuition, bringing the cost to just under $400 per credit hour.
A 25% discount is also available to any Lees-McRae alumnus. The two discounts cannot be combined.
Contact
 |
Jocelyn Bond |
Jocelyne has worked in a variety of positions in the human services field, including spending over a decade as a social worker with the Watauga County Department of Social Services. She has a PhD and Master of Human Services degree from Walden University, and a Master of Social Work degree from San Diego State University.