Associate Degree in
Human Services (Online)
- Associate of Science (AS)
- Online
- On Campus
- Hybrid
When you earn an online Associate Degree in Human Services, you’re doing two things. First, you’re learning what it takes to improve the lives of others. You’re also learning how to improve your own life.
Why choose human services as a career? From child care centers to senior centers, there’s always a need for compassionate, culturally competent professionals in human services occupations. There’s a need for helpers — for people like you.
Providing human services requires empathy and stamina, but it also requires skill. To turn intention into action, you need the kind of training that an Associate of Science in Human Services can provide.
Our School of Criminal and Social Justice has made obtaining that training easier than ever. Our online Human Services program is every bit as rigorous as our on-campus degree. Your coursework (and credentials) will be exactly the same. When you earn your degree online, you also get the flexibility you need to structure your studies around your own busy schedule.
Find Out About Our On Campus Associate Human Services Degree
Why an Online Major in Human Services?
Over the next decade, entry-level jobs in human services — the kind that require an associate degree — will grow far more quickly than the national average for all occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in social and community service occupations will increase by 10% by 2031, with an even greater increase of 12% for social and human service assistants. With that kind of demand, there’s never been a better time to begin a human services career… and there’s never been a better time to get your associate degree in human services.
Like many of our Human Services majors, you might already have a lot on your plate. You have responsibilities: to your job, to your family, and more. The idea of making time to study on campus might feel overwhelming.
At Monroe, we understand that. That’s why we created our fully accredited online degree program. Earning your Human Services degree online gives you the flexibility to structure your education around your life as it is.
If you’ve been thinking about a career in human services, this is the moment to take that big step. With our online programs, nothing has to stand between you and your future.
Online Curriculum
As a Human Services major, you’ll be meeting your instructors online, but their wisdom comes from decades of real-world experience. Our faculty come from every corner of the human services field, including:
- Military and veteran services
- Group homes and foster care
- Adult day care
- Residential care
- Homeless and domestic violence shelters
- After-school and day-care programs
They’ll teach you the major theoretical approaches to human services, but just as importantly, they’ll teach you how they’ve applied that knowledge over the course of their own careers. Your online classes in human services will cover:
- Counseling theory
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Ethics in human services
- Social issues
- Political science
At the same time, you’ll strengthen your communication, presentation, writing, and research skills to make you the most effective possible advocate for the communities you’ll serve, which include:
- Veterans
- Senior citizens
- Victims of domestic violence
- People living with disabilities
- People living with mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders
- Immigrant populations
- Unhoused persons
- The formerly incarcerated
With the Human Services curriculum’s required practicum, you’ll also complete a supervised internship with one of many human service agencies and community-based organizations throughout the New York City metro area. By the time you graduate, you’ll have finished at least 160 hours of field experience.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Human Services Associate Degree?
You can earn your online associate degree in just four (4) semesters. If completed in consecutive terms on our accelerated three-semester academic calendar, you could finish in less than a year and a half.
AS Human Services Degree Requirements:
62 total credits
- 32 credits of major-related courses
- 30 credits of general education and related courses
In addition to our Human Services online program, Monroe offers other flexible associate degree options: our hybrid curriculum combines the best aspects of both online classes and in-person training.
Learn more about the requirements for an Associate Degree in Human Services.
The Online Module: Half the Course Load, All the Credits.
If you’re new to online learning, you can discover what it’s like without having to commit to a full semester. Our 7½-week module offers students a way to take remote learning for a test drive: you’ll take just two (2) human services classes online over a 7½ week term. If you want to continue on to take a full 15-week term, you can — and the credits you’ve already earned will be fully applicable toward your degree.
Contemporary Social Issues
As a human services professional, you’ll be working with diverse communities who face incredible challenges from the world around them. From homelessness to domestic violence to substance abuse, it’s important that human services majors understand the many social issues, policies, and problems that underlie many of these challenges. This course will examine not only the many problems impacting American social structures, but the merits of the proposed (and attempted) solutions to those problems.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for a Human Services Associate Degree must meet the following admissions requirements:
- Candidates must possess either a high school graduation credential or high school equivalency diploma, or a recognized college associate degree or higher as listed in the transfer admissions policy.
- Candidates must also submit a completed application for admission, as well as a personal statement or essay.
Human Services applicants also participate in a pre-admission interview.
Tuition and Financial Aid
How Much Does a Human Services Associate Degree Cost?
Monroe University is proud to offer affordable tuition and fees and manageable payment plans. We strongly believe that everyone should be able to get a quality education. That’s why our financial aid office works with every student to secure every scholarship, grant, and loan for which they qualify. They’ll even help you to find any work-study employment opportunities that are available.
Your Future Human Services Career
As you earn your degree, you’ll get a clearer idea of where you want to focus your career — and you’ll have plenty of options. Graduates of our Human Services online program are qualified to work in a variety of professional settings, including:
- Social service agencies
- Homeless shelters
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Correctional facilities
- The court system
- Foster care agencies
- Domestic violence centers
- Crisis intervention centers
Once you complete your degree, you’ll be fully prepared — and qualified — for the many entry-level positions available in the field. Our graduates can go on to become:
- Group residence workers
- Mental health aides
- Neighborhood outreach workers
- Assistant probation officers
- Social casework assistants
- Substance abuse counselors
- Juvenile counselors
- Child life specialists
- Correctional counselors
- Rehabilitation counselors
When you major in Human Services, you open the door to a world of career options. Our dedicated support team will help guide you to the choice that’s right for you.
Professional Opportunities
Our Human Services curriculum is designed to provide students with meaningful, productive practicum opportunities before they graduate.
Recent field placements for Monroe human services majors have included:
- The New York City Department of Probation
- ACDP Sedgwick Cornerstone Community Center
- Success Outpatient Treatment Services
- The Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle
- Compassionate Care Hospice
- The Children’s Village
Our Human Services Club also helps students create a network of professional connections. The club works hand-in-hand with local agencies to raise awareness of critical issues including domestic violence, poverty, and homelessness.
Our Human Services program is a member of the National Organization of Human Services, which helps students pay for their studies with numerous scholarship and grant opportunities. NOHS also offers member students access to yearly conferences.
Discover What You Can Achieve
A Human Services degree will give you the tools you need to move your life forward — and the best part? You’ll be giving other people the tools they need to move their lives forward.
As long as there are people in need, there will be a need for caring, well-trained human services professionals. Find out more about how you can become one of them.
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