Online Bachelor's in Human Services Overview

Earn a broad, interdisciplinary degree that prepares you to meet human needs. The online Bachelor of Arts in Human Services offered by the College of Education at UCCS helps you build effective human relationship skills critical for meeting organizational goals.

Ideal for students who want to work closely with people in need, this flexible degree program goes beyond delivering direct services and focuses on improving accessibility, accountability, and coordination among professionals and agencies in service delivery.

Program Features

• Online program – no on-campus requirements – with hybrid and in-person options as well
• Small class sizes with applied learning and personal relationships with faculty
• Accredited by the CSHSE, meaning high standards for quality in human services education
• Interdisciplinary approach, drawing from several fields for a broad understanding
• Option to add an emphasis in Pre-Counseling or Substance Use & Recovery to customize and focus your studies
• Hands-on learning with required fieldwork in your community at the end of the program

Human Services Program Details

Human service workers help individuals and communities function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living. They have a strong commitment to serving others with patience and understanding by using critical thinking, adaptive problem solving, and communication skills. Employers value the ability to understand various perspectives, communicate effectively, and manage time responsibly, which are essential skills developed in the human services program.

The BA in Human Services is offered fully online with both synchronous and asynchronous elements, meaning while most of the coursework can be completed at the time and place that works best for you, some elements may be offered live. Your courses will be taught by the same faculty who teach the on-campus program at UCCS, which means you receive the same high quality education with the flexibility of the online format.

This bachelor’s degree in human services will give you skills in:

• Leading teams and organizations
• Offering culturally informed treatment
• Conducting clinical assessments and planning treatments
• Interpersonal communication, interviewing and mediation

Human Services Degree Emphasis Options

Two emphasis options in the human services program will allow you to specialize your degree in an area of your interest: Pre-Counseling or Substance Use & Recovery.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Arts in Human Services program is designed to meet the standards and competencies outlined by the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS), and the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) and is CSHSE-accredited from October 2022 through October 2027.

Curriculum Overview

In the 120-credit-hour online BA in Human Services program contains both 8-week and 16-week courses. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary knowledge base, meaning it draws from various disciplines to address human needs. This holistic approach can provide students with a broader understanding of the complexities of human services.

The program offers two emphasis options in Pre-Counseling and Substance Use & Recovery, which allow you to take courses that lead to focused career paths and advanced education. No matter what version of the degree you choose, the core courses of the human services program will give you essential knowledge for conducting research, providing culturally informed treatment, and coordinating with other professionals and agencies.

At the end of the program, you will complete 350 hours of required fieldwork, which will be arranged with your faculty advisor and the DCHS Fieldwork Program Manager. In the fieldwork courses (COUN 2950 / COUN 4950), you will engage in an approved site appropriate for your chosen emphasis area as an introduction to the human services field. You will also practice interview skills, resume building, and professional communication as you apply what you’ve learned to a real-world context.

Example Courses

Human Services Career Outlook

A human services degree can equip you to serve people in many ways, from working with children in a social service setting to teaching life skills to adults. Human services graduates also pursue roles like:

• Case workers
• Behavioral management aides
• Client/child advocates
• Military benefits counselors
• Community outreach workers
• Human resource coordinators
• Juvenile court liaisons
• Residential managers

Human Services Degree Salary Information

• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: $49,710*
• Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialists: $59,860*
• Social and Community Service Managers: $74,240*
• Social and Human Service Assistants: $38,520*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salary in the U.S. in 2022

Why UCCS Online

The human services program at UCCS stands out for its interdisciplinary approach and curriculum, its emphasis on effective human relationship skills and service improvement, and its comprehensive scope. The Bachelor of Arts in Human Services is also regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has a program-specific accreditation from the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE).

This program is ideal for students working full-time, giving them the flexibility to log in to their online classes at the most convenient time and place for them each week. The uniquely small class sizes in the program mean you’ll have the opportunity to build a relationship with your instructors who can help you understand the many career paths supported by a human services degree.

Tuition and Fees

At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.

We’re here to answer your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your degree.

A $50 application fee applies for this program; however, once per year this fee is waived for Colorado residents. Please reach out to an Enrollment Navigator for more information about any costs associated with your application.

You may be eligible to pursue scholarships. Each year, UCCS awards $100 million in financial aid, and you can explore options through the UCCS Financial Aid Office.

Admissions Information

Interested in the UCCS Online BA in Human Services program? In your application, simply select the Bachelor of Arts in Human Services online program. For students applying to start the program as a freshman (first year student), the following admission criteria will apply:

• GPA of 2.0 or better
• Composite score of 18 on the ACT or a total score of 840 (prior to March 2016) or 920 (after March 2016) on the SAT (92 index)

The ACT and SAT are accepted but not required for this program. If your records vary in any way from the above admissions criteria, you will be considered on an individual basis by evaluation of your overall academic records, including:

1. The quality of your high school program of study
2. The level of your college entrance test scores (SAT or ACT)
3. Any information unique to your individual situation

Additional details are available via UCCS Admissions.

Completion Time

The 120-credit-hour BA in Human Services program can be completed in approximately 48 months or four years. You can potentially shorten the time to graduation if you have your previously earned college credits evaluated for transfer into UCCS.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)