Human Services

Description

The human services program is a nationally accredited, multidisciplinary program. Graduates of the program are prepared to take the exam for certification as a Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) offered by the Center for Credentialing and Education. Students who choose the addictions counseling track can complete the academic work required for certification as a Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol & Drug. Students who choose the administration of programs for children track can complete the academic work required for the Child Care Administrator Level 4 Credential.

The program equips students to assume careers in human services, working with a broad range of age groups (from infants to seniors) in many different areas, such as administration, business and industry, child welfare, criminal justice and corrections, developmental disabilities, education, gerontology, health care, higher education, and public welfare. The courses also prepare students to further their education in graduate programs such as human services, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, counseling, and related social science disciplines.

The curriculum focuses on theory, research, and application, with field experience as a crucial part of the courses. Their coursework gives students a strong background in how individuals and families develop and function. Students also acquire the skills necessary to provide services to people in need. Optional tracks are available in addictions counseling, administration of programs for children, and human services administration. The courses within the tracks are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Addictions Counseling Track

The addictions counseling track is for students interested in working with clients who have substance abuse problems and other addiction disorders. This option provides the academic work required by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol & Drug (CAC-AD). Certification requires additional supervised work experience following graduation. Because most clients are affected by addictions even if they, themselves, are not addicts, many human services majors who do not plan to be addictions counselors enroll in the addictions courses.

Administration of Programs for Children Track

This track is for students interested in the administration of programs for young children. Courses in the track will also provide relevant information for students who do not intend to assume management positions but who want to work with young children. This option provides the academic work required for the Child Care Administrator Level 4 Credential issued by the Maryland State Department of Education. Certification may require additional work experience with young children. Graduates may assume positions such as program administrator for young children, Head Start program director, Head Start family and community program manager, child care center director, private nursery school administrator, director of Montessori schools, and child care advocate. Scholarship funds (Childcare Career and Professional Development Fund) may be available through their place of employment for students who are currently employed in child care centers. Interested students should contact their place of employment for more information about these scholarships.

Human Services Administration Track

The human services administration track is intended for students planning to pursue careers in human services administration. These careers include positions in human resources, development, and management.

Objectives

Human Services Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Human Services, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply research findings to analyze common problems encountered in the human services field and develop appropriate solutions.
2. Develop individualized professional development goals and objectives, based on comprehensive self-evaluation and feedback from faculty and supervisors.
3. Exhibit consistent professional attitudes and behaviors in applied human services settings.
4. Exhibit culturally sensitive behavior in professional human services settings.
5. Exhibit effective and appropriate interpersonal skills in professional human services settings.
6. Synthesize and appropriately apply key concepts, methods and values in human services to professional situations, independently and with minimal supervision.

Addictions Counseling Track Outcomes

Upon completion of the addictions counseling track, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and display ethical behavior regarding personal and professional awareness of values and self-disclosure, ethics of being a two-hatter, self-help fellowship participation, avoiding dual relationships, the relapsing counselor, and confidentiality (areas specified for fulfillment of ethics requirement for certification as a Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol & Drug).
• Assess clients for addictions.
• Formulate multidimensional treatment plans.
• Analyze theories of counseling related to addictions.
• Critique the process of intervention and various options for intervention.
• Demonstrate counseling competencies (including motivational interviewing and multicultural counseling).
• Demonstrate competency in working with families and significant others affected by addictions disorders.

Administration of Programs for Children Track Outcomes

Upon completion of the administration of programs for children track, graduates will be able to:

• Apply knowledge about the role of the teacher in creating a stimulating learning environment for young children through effective, developmentally appropriate instructional practices, quality learning experiences and functional room arrangement.
• Compare and contrast programs within the child welfare system (child protective services, family preservation services, foster care, and adoption).
• Interpret the impact of the legal system on the various aspects of the child welfare system.
• Analyze and apply specific strategies for resolving problems and conflicts using effective communication skills.
• Design vehicles for gaining and managing funds (e.g., budgeting, fund raising, grant proposals, lobbying community development) for programs for young children.
• Interpret legal issues involved in managing programs for young children.
• Incorporate strategies to increase the organizational effectiveness of programs for young children (e.g., time management, recruiting, hiring and retaining quality employees, recruiting and managing volunteers, evaluating and supervising staff).

Human Services Administration Track Outcomes

Upon completion of the human services administration track, graduates will be able to:

• Incorporate strategies to increase the organizational effectiveness of human services organizations (e.g., time management, recruiting, hiring and retaining quality employees, recruiting and managing volunteers, evaluating and supervising staff).
• Design vehicles for gaining and managing funds (e.g., budgeting, fund raising, grant proposals, lobbying community development) for human services organizations.
• Interpret legal issues involved in managing human services organizations.
• Access, evaluate, and analyze information appropriate to business documents related to the administration of human services.
• Plan and compose accurate, organized, and concise documents in formats and styles appropriate for communication in human services organizations.
• Describe major organizational behavior theories at the individual, group, and organizational level.
• Explain cause and effect relationships within a human services organization by applying various organizational behavior theories.
• Explain and demonstrate the processes involved in the negotiation and mediation of conflicts in human services organizations.
• Identify and analyze the concepts and practices used in marketing human services organizations.
• Apply marketing theory and practices to actual situations in human services organizations.
• Describe the components of human resource management in human services organizations.
• Analyze human resource management practices in human services organizations.

Policies

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major, however, in order to advance to the senior practicum, students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.50. The lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all major and Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next course without earning a grade of "C" or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below "C" is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course.

Requirements

The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in human services. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).

Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.

Major Requirements:

Five Focused Electives:

See an advisor for the approved list.

Students desiring to complete a track should select from the following focused electives.

Addictions Counseling Track:

All major requirements and following track courses

Administration of Programs for Children Track:

All major requirements and the following track courses

Human Services Administration Track:

All major requirements and the following track courses

The following courses are recommended but not required:

Suggested Course Sequence

Suggested Course Sequence

Minor in Human Services

A minor in human services is available. All course prerequisites must be met to be eligible to take the selected course for a minor. Please see an academic advisor for more information. Specific information regarding minor requirements may be found in the Academic Information section of the catalog.

Other Options

BS/MS Option: The BS/MS option is available for students majoring in human services who wish to combine their bachelor’s coursework with work toward a Stevenson University master’s degree in Healthcare Management. Students choosing this option may earn their master's degree in as little as one year after their bachelor's degree. Interested students must formally apply for entrance into a BS/MS option in their junior year. Once admitted into this program, students develop an educational plan in consultation with their undergraduate and graduate advisors. For more information on this program see the School of Graduate and Professional Studies catalog.

Course Descriptions

See Human Services Course Descriptions