People who choose to work in the human services field often have a common ambition: to make a difference in the lives of others. This program provides students with the knowledge, values, and skills they need to launch successful careers in human services. Practitioners in this field serve vulnerable individuals through a broad range of professional roles, including (but not limited to):
- Case manager
- Social service liaison
- Residential coordinator
- Advocate
- Employment support consultant
Regardless of which position you pursue, this major will supply you with an interdisciplinary foundation on which to build your career or earn a graduate degree in a related field.
| Required Human Services Courses | 21 cr. | |
| Required Management Courses | 6 cr. | |
| Required Capstone | 3 cr. | |
| Required Communication Courses | 6 cr. | |
| Total | 36 cr. |
Required Human Services Courses: 21 cr.
GE317 Lifespan Development (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview of theories of human development and research in the field. Physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social aspects of lifespan development are covered.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Identify the basic stages of human development from conception to old age.
- Describe theoretical approaches to human development and how each theory explains growth, development, and behavior.
- Understand the influence of heredity, environment, and maturation on changes across the life span.
- Identify developmental changes from physical, cognitive, affective, and social perspectives.
- Understand how ethnicity, culture, and gender might influence human development during particular developmental stages.
HS301 Human Service Systems (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview of the historical development of the human services field, human service theories, the systems approach to human services, and the role of the human service professional. It also explores trends in the field of human services, such as medical and mental health breakthroughs and changes in client populations.
HS305 Helping Skills for Human Service Professionals (3 cr.)
This course focuses on developing helping skills such as interviewing, group facilitation, counseling, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. Identifying one's own values and interpersonal styles as well as appropriate use of boundaries in the helping relationship are addressed.
HS310 Care Management for Human Service Professionals (2 cr.)
This course examines methods and strategies for assisting clients to work within the human service system, including setting client goals, designing and implementing treatment plans, and connecting clients to appropriate community resources.
HS315 Human Service Information Management (2 cr.)
This course provides an overview of information management issues in human services, including rules, regulations and ethical concerns regarding information privacy, and confidentiality. It examines the principles and processes of information management and skills required for data gathering, assessment, evaluation and dissemination in human service programs.
HS320 Public Policy Issues in Human Services (2 cr.)
This course examines ways in which human service delivery systems interact with political and economic policies. Also, it examines how systems can be used to bring about change in human services. Issues addressed include codes, regulations and laws in human services.
HS325 Cross Cultural Competency for Service Providers (3 cr.)
This course examines the impact of cultural diversity on the helping relationship, encourages the acknowledgement of biases and beliefs about diversity and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate an appreciation of the contributions of diverse populations. Special attention is given to diverse populations in the human service system, including the poor, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, the frail elderly, and persons with HIV/AIDS.
HS330 Ethical Issues in Human Services (3 cr.)
In this course, ethical reasoning and ethical frameworks are applied to human services professional practice. An awareness of one's own values related to human services standards and professional codes of ethics for human service professionals are explored.
Required Capstone Course: 3 cr.
HS490 Human Services Capstone (3 cr.)
In this culminating course students integrate and apply knowledge developed during their studies and investigate opportunities within the human service field.
Required Communication Courses: 6 cr.
CM309 Professional Writing (3 cr.)
This course provides strategies for developing a clear, concise professional writing style. A variety of writing formats are addressed. Research for professional documents, writing in an electronic environment, and collaborative writing are considered. Voice, style, audience, purpose, the writing process, and strategies for editing and revision are examined in the context of interpersonal and ethical dimensions.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Write effectively in various forms of professional writing.
- Demonstrate writing in a professional environment.
- Exhibit a professional voice and writing style.
- Effectively incorporate relevant research into professional writing.
- Understand and apply the writing process to diverse audiences and purposes.
- Effectively incorporate elements of professional document design into print and electronic documents.
- Employ professional revision and editing skills.
CM310 Oral Communications (3 cr.)
Communication skills pertinent to organizational settings form the foundation of this course. Effective methods for design and delivery of oral communication are examined. Other topics include communication styles, interpersonal communication skills, dynamics of small group communication and persuasive speaking.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate effective and active listening skills.
- Recognize and adapt to differing communication styles.
- Demonstrate skill in interpersonal communication.
- Understand small group dynamics.
- Demonstrate persuasive speaking techniques.
- Effectively create and utilize graphics or other appropriate media in professional presentations.
- Deliver organized, professional informational and persuasive presentations.
CM330 Academic Writing (3 cr.)
Academic writing focuses on reflective, informational, and persuasive writing directed at an academic audience. Clear summarization of material, critical reading of texts, thoughtful and developed responses, effective secondary research, incorporation of sources into documents, appropriate document of research using APA format, and construction of persuasive and informative academic papers are addressed. The format and style of essays and research papers are explored. The course also emphasizes the development of a strong, formal academic voice and style.
Upon completion of this course, students are exepcted to be ble to do the following:
- Critically read and engage texts.
- Express and explain, in a logical and developed manner, their responses to texts or ideas.
- Develop a clear thesis statement and support it with evidence.
- Develop a clear organization for a paper, and manage their ideas and sources within the paper.
- Conduct secondary research using library databases and other appropriate academic research.
- Apply APA format and documentation to a research paper.
- Write in a formal academic style and voice.
- Incorporate source materials effectively into their papers.
- Identify and follow all ethical requirements of using source materials for a paper or presentation.
Required Management Course: 3 cr.
MG401 Principles of Management (3 cr.)
This course explores the concepts and theories of management and their application in today's managerial environment. It examines the essential functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. MG307 may be taken instead of this course.
Required Elective Management Course: 3 cr.
BU407 Financial Management (3 cr.)
This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of financial management of organizations. Topics covered include the assessment of types of business entities and capital acquisition sources, basic financial statement analysis, the assessment of how income taxes impact the financial decision making process, the evaluation of capital projects using the time value of money concepts, management of an entity's current assets and current liabilities, and the maximization of shareholder wealth.
MG335 Critical Thinking for Managers (3 cr.)
The course examines the practical and dynamic relevance of critical thinking for managers, emphasizing the decisional aspects of management. Topics focus on eliciting new managerial insights, improving managerial problem solving and decision-making skills, and on strengthening the student's ability to articulate reasoned solutions to managerial problems and opportunities.
MG405 Organizational Culture and Change (3 cr.)
This course focuses on the ability of leaders to understand and manage organizational change. It addresses a broad-based understanding of the nature, function, and complexities of organizations. Ways of dealing with change are developed from sometimes disparate views of organizations.
MG418 Strategic Management (3 cr.)
This course emphasizes short- and long-term planning that is vital to a healthy, changing organization. Topics include the strategic management process, the strategic management model, company mission analysis, environmental impacts, ethical and social responsibilities, and strategy and implementation control.
MG420 The Future of Organizations (3 cr.)
This course addresses various unpredictable and ambiguous situations encountered by modern organizations. It emphasizes sensitivity to changing socio-economic conditions and challenges to existing patterns and beliefs. Methods to recognize the ways in which organizations change, and develop skills to guide these organizations in the future are studied.
Considering a graduate degree?
Take a look at Saint Mary's M.A. in Health & Human Services Administration and M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services programs.
Human Services Organizations
National Organization for Human Services
Location
Contact
Transfer Counselors | tc-admission@smumn.edu | (612) 728-5100


















