Human Services Degree: What Is It? What Can I Do with It?

A counselor takes notes while speaking with a patient.

June 2, 2022

A human services degree opens the door to meaningful work that will let you improve the lives of individuals, groups and communities at large.

Those who earn a bachelor’s degree in human services are prepared for various rewarding positions in the public and private sectors. The degree can also be a steppingstone to graduate school, priming you for advanced roles in social work, counseling, nonprofit administration and more. Ultimately, what you can do with a human services degree depends on your career goals and interests.

A social worker meets with a client.

What Does Human Services Entail?

Human services is a broad category of professions whose aim is to serve individuals or groups in need, ranging from caregivers to social workers and more.

Those in human services roles dedicate their careers to promoting personal dignity, well-being and improved quality of life. Many are advocates who perform a wide variety of responsibilities, but at the end of the day, take pride in their work to better the lives around them.

One benefit of a human services degree is flexibility. Those who earn the degree gain versatile skills with the opportunity to pursue diverse career paths.

Some individuals may feel driven to help others but are still unsure what their future role will be. A human services degree would offer entry into meaningful work while keeping professional options open.

Jobs You Can Do With a Human Services Degree

With a human services degree, you can align your career with your interests, which is valuable for anyone passionate about working with specific populations.

Although some roles may require additional study or graduate work, a human services degree can be the first step toward getting there. Many jobs in the human services field are both personally and professionally rewarding. Some jobs you can do with a human services degree include the following:

School Social Worker

The school social worker’s role is fantastic for those who want to put their passion for helping others to good use in school settings. School social workers help students at all grade levels overcome emotional and physical challenges and help connect them with the services they need to succeed.

School social workers earned a median annual salary of $49,646 as of April 2022, according to PayScale.

Community Health Worker

Community health workers serve as a liaison between high-risk communities and the agencies or organizations that seek to help them. These professionals use the skill sets cultivated in their human services degree program to perform essential outreach and to serve as an advocate for those who might need help with housing, food or other resources.

Community health workers earned a median annual salary of $49,590 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Two school counselors meet to discuss a student.

Top Human Services Degree Jobs: Counselor

With a human services degree, you can align your career with your interests, which is valuable for anyone passionate about working with specific populations.

School Social Worker

School social workers earned a median annual salary of $49,646 as of April 2022, according to PayScale.

Community Health Worker

Community health workers earned a median annual salary of $49,590 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Case Managers

These professionals partner with human or social service organizations to ensure that at-risk individuals get the help they need. A master’s-level degree in social work or human services can help you advance in this profession.

Case managers earned a median annual salary of $42,537 as of April 2022, according to PayScale.

Counselor

Counselors may work across different populations as they help clients overcome a range of issues. Substance abuse counselors, for instance, step in to guide those seeking to overcome addiction. Marriage counselors, meanwhile, help couples address problems to foster healthy, productive relationships at any stage in the union.

Counselors earned a median annual salary of $48,520 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Child Welfare Advocate

A professional path in which you can put your human services degree skills toward changing young lives for the better is that of a child welfare advocate. In this role, you support children of all ages and may also work with parents and families. Child welfare advocates keep children’s best interests in mind and seek to protect any violated rights.

Child welfare advocates earned a median annual salary of $45,000 as of April 2022, according to PayScale.

Behavioral Health Therapist

Another option is to become a behavioral health therapist. In this role, you work with patients to help them manage or overcome the symptoms of a mental health disorder. Note that, to work in this field, you need to build on your human services foundation, pursuing a master’s degree in psychology or a related field.

Behavioral health therapists earned a median annual salary of $59,500 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Grant Writer

Becoming a grant writer can be an ideal job you can do with a human services degree if you want to put your writing abilities to best use. Grant writers play a crucial role in organizations seeking funding for human services initiatives. These professionals create compelling statements that reinforce the need for essential nonprofit programs within a community.

Grant writers earned a median annual salary of $49,800 as of April 2022, according to PayScale.

Child Adoption Specialist

Child adoption specialists are responsible for finding permanent homes for children. They serve in intermediary roles between adoptive parents, birth parents, government agencies and the children themselves.

Child adoption specialists earned a median annual salary of $44,892 as of February 2022, according to PayScale.

Probation Officer

A human services degree can also prepare you for work as a probation officer. In this role, you work with individuals who have violated the law, helping them to adhere to any rules or restrictions associated with their probationary sentences.

Probation officers earned a median annual salary of $45,239 as of April 2022, according to PayScal

A school social worker meets with a student.

Human Services Degree Career Outlook

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of pursuing a human services degree is that professional roles in the field are in high demand.

For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 17% growth, or an additional 21,100 new jobs, for health education specialist and community health worker roles between 2020 and 2030.

The BLS projects even more significant growth in social and human service assistant jobs, up to 17%, during the same period — that means the potential of more than 69,500 new jobs in social and human service assistant positions alone.

Demand is high for those with human services degrees who are ready to take on professional roles.

A person works at a laptop.

Human Services Degree Benefits

The demand for professionals with a human services degree is continuing to grow. The online Bachelor's in Human Services degree program at Spring Arbor University provides a comprehensive human services framework rooted in Christian ethics and best practices. Program highlights include the following:

The flexibility of a completely online degree program, including multiple entry points throughout the year and a generous transfer credit policy for those bringing prior coursework on their transcript
Practical, informative classes on varied topics ranging from research and communication to sociology and psychology led by field experts to prepare you for your human services career
The fostering a spirit of lifelong learning along with your faith and commitment to service-oriented care