Human Services

Major

The undergraduate program in Human Services leads to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and is designed to provide a human, social, and behavioral science background for persons to work in a variety of settings for a broad range of organizations dedicated to helping others transition through their developmental and contextual issues and processes.

The Human Services Program is currently offered in a 100% online format. Field experience and service learning hours are completed in person. Some courses may be offered on-ground but are not guaranteed.

28 of 28 students who graduated in the Academic Year 24-25 and completed a survey reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with their human services education. You can review more of our program reports here.

Minors

Three minors complementary to a variety of majors: Human Development and Learning and Family Studies. The HDAL minor is designed to provide students with a solid knowledge base in human development through the life span. The Family Studies minor offers students a theoretical and practical understanding of the family as a social institution and a vital social system. The Trauma and Resilience minor offers students a theoretical and practical understanding of trauma and its treatment. 

General Education

There are three classes offered through the Human Services Program that students can take to satisfy their general education course requirements. Click here to learn more about them!.

Testimonials from alumni

Nely G. - "The service-learning hours, practicum, and internship requirements for this program have been helpful; I had the opportunity to work closely with my community and learn about the different resources that are offered within the field."

Bryan G. - "The program also allowed me new opportunities to advance in my career that would otherwise not have been there; and I was well-prepared to take them on. "

Rosita P. - "...the online Human Services program at ETSU taught me how to turn empathy into effective action in real-world human services work."

Benson S. - "The Human Services program being 100% online has allowed me to return to school to finish my degree while holding down a job and household. It’s very manageable, and there are countless resources to help you along the way."

Job Market

Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics  : "Employment of social and human service assistants is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations."

What Does a Career in Human Services Look Like?
"Human services workers show up in public, non-profit, and private sector settings — hospitals, schools, courtrooms, shelters, clinics, and government agencies. Some carry caseloads of families in crisis. Others run programs, write grants, or advocate for policy changes. The day-to-day varies a great deal depending on the role, the population, and the setting.

Many of these careers share direct contact with people at difficult points in their lives. That requires a particular combination of practical skill and emotional steadiness. Workers in this field learn to navigate systems, hold boundaries, and advocate for clients who may not be able to advocate for themselves."

To learn more about possible careers, job titles, and pay within the human services field, check out this guide on HumanServicesEdu