30 Best Online Master’s in Human Services Degree Programs [2024 Guide]
By Joy Miller
Edited by Briana Sukert
Updated on September 25, 2024
Compare accredited online masters in human services programs, including schools with NO GRE required. Want a career helping others? Start here!
If you desire for your professional life to be devoted to the pursuit of helping others, then earning a human services master’s degree may be the right path for you.
With this online degree in human services, you could help to improve housing, health or education for people in your community or around the country.
In addition to being a rewarding field, human services also offer a growing job market. As policies and programs expand, more workers are needed to help implement and facilitate helpful initiatives.
To learn more about how a human services masters degree online can help you get started with a rewarding human services careers, the following guide provides useful information about this degree and its professional applications.
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Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
To help you prepare for a career in a leadership position, such as serving as the director or administrator of a human services organization, Antioch University offers a Master’s in Human Services Administration. Although the university has campuses in several states, you can earn this degree from home through the Antioch University Online program.
The accelerated schedule and asynchronous format can allow you to be both a student and a working professional. Your classes may include Human Resource Management; Grant Writing and Fund Development; and Strategy, Innovation & Resilience. You will also be expected to complete a capstone course that involves a Change Project.
Antioch is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University offers a Master of Science in Family and Human Development. The program aims to teach students how to assess the factors affecting individual and family development and strategize to best support growth. This online program consists of 30 credit hours. Its courses cover topics such as diversity and society, leadership, social justice, social statistics, and research methods.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Nebraska’s Bellevue University offers an online MA in Human Services that emphasizes caring, ethical leadership. This program is appropriate for practitioners who work directly with clients, managers who serve in leadership capacities and advocates who raise awareness.
Your courses may include Sustainable Funding, Social and Cultural Diversity, Communications for Human Services, and Community Engagement. All students must complete a final learning experience, but there are various options available.
You can choose to serve as an intern with an organization in your community, or you can submit a project that applies what you’ve learned during your online master’s program.
Bellevue is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Physical disabilities can add challenges to daily activities, but assistive technologies have the potential to help. If you’re intrigued by the possibility of helping others through such technology, consider the MS in Assistive Technology Studies and Human Services from Tseng College at CSUN.
In this online program, students are part of a cohort that moves through the courses together.
To help students complete their studies on time, they receive individual attention from the program coordinator. The school’s faculty encourages students to attend the CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disability Conference, which is held each spring.
CSU Northridge is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
There are three concentrations available for the MS in Human Services program from Capella University: Program Evaluation and Data Analytics, Leadership and Organizational Management, and Social and Community Services. With this online program, you can access your coursework around the clock and receive support from the school’s advisors.
The classes that you take from this Minnesota university may include Theory and Application in Human Services, Ethical Practice in Human Services and The Effective Use of Analytics in Human Services.
The RiverBend City simulation experience can allow you to put your human services knowledge into practice, and you’ll also be expected to submit a capstone project.
Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
If you have an interest in the criminal justice system, then the program at Concordia University – St. Paul might be for you. This Minnesota school offers an MA in Human Services with a concentration in Forensic Behavioral Health. The program is offered fully online and is administered with input from the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies.
Courses in this non-licensure program include Family Violence, PTSD and Trauma; Sexual Offending; and Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders. All students must complete a capstone research paper. In addition, you will have the opportunity to study abroad.
CSP has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1959, with reaffirmation of accreditation in 2018.
The non-licensure MS in Human Services degree program from ETSU can prepare you to serve others in a nonprofit, public or corporate setting. In addition to taking core human services classes, you will also have the opportunity to select a few electives.
Your choices may include Divorce: Causes and Consequences; Family Theories; Homelessness, Hunger, Poverty, and Politics; and Groups: Processes and Practice. Earning your degree will require you to complete both an internship and a capstone project.
This is an online course of study, but you’ll have access to student services, such as career counseling, the library, and tutoring.
ETSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The MA in Human Services Counseling from HBU is designed to equip students with the skills needed to help others navigate difficult or challenging life circumstances. There are six different specializations available.
The choices are Military and Veteran Care and Counseling, Human Sexuality, Addiction and Recovery, Marriage and Family, Crisis Response, and Professional Life Coaching.
Classes in this online program are taught from a Christian perspective and focus on teaching how to care not only for people’s mental and emotional needs but also their spiritual ones. Your courses might include Multicultural Counseling, Christian Integration Seminar, and Crisis Response and Trauma Care.
HBU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
You can earn an MA in Human Services Administration from Judson University in Illinois by taking online or on-campus classes.
Through courses like Strategic Leadership, Human Growth and Lifespan Development, Global Leadership Across Cultures and Distance, and Counseling Theory, you can acquire knowledge about human behavior and gain skills for leading groups and organizations.
You’ll also be expected to study ethics, finance, relationships, and decision-making. A capstone research project will help you synthesize your learning at the end of the program. The school has an evangelical Christian heritage, and classes are taught from a biblical perspective.
Judson is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association.
As you take online classes from Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina, you’ll have opportunities to network and collaborate with your fellow students. You’ll also get opportunities to interact with and learn from skilled faculty members.
This MA in Human Services degree program offers three concentration options: Human Services Management, Career Development and Addictions Counseling. In addition to the core courses, you’ll take a few classes specific to your specialization. You’ll also be expected to complete a related internship in your community and submit a research project.
This program offers multiple start dates each year, and it allows you to move from one class to the next at your own speed.
LRU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
If you have a particular area of interest in mind for your degree in human services, then Liberty University’s MA in Human Services Counseling may be the program for you. This Virginian university offers 13 different concentrations, including Military Resilience, Health and Wellness, Business, and Christian Ministries.
Your classes, such as Politics and Health Policy, Biological Aspects of Addiction and Recovery, Counseling Women, and Marriage Coaching, will be taught from a conservative Christian perspective.
This non-licensure program is offered fully online and uses an accelerated format. You may be able to transfer in up to half of your required credits.
Online Master’s in Human Services Counseling with specializations in:
Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The MS in Human Services program from Lubbock Christian University uses biblical principles to guide students’ understanding of the human services field. You can choose to pursue a Non-Profit Leadership concentration if you want to serve in a managerial or administrative capacity, such as health services managers.
The other option is the Family Life Educator concentration, which can help equip you to take the certification exam to become a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). People with that title often work in foster care agencies, therapy settings, group homes, religious organizations, daycares, government agencies, public health clinics, or schools.
This master’s program is fully online and doesn’t require any visits to the Texas campus.
LCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or SACSCOC.
If you want to dedicate your life to helping vulnerable children, Nova Southeastern University in Florida can help prepare you with a Master of Human Services in Child Protection. You’ll take a set of core courses like Foundations in Child Protective Law, and you’ll also take several classes that are specific to your chosen concentration.
There are 10 concentrations to choose from, including Public Health and Child Protection, Family Systems and Support, Advocating for the Special Needs Child’s Education, and Legal Perspectives of Child Protective Services.
The online format of this program provides opportunities for interacting with students and faculty.
NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
To earn an MS in Counseling and Human Services from Post University in Connecticut, you will take classes like Human Development Through the Lifecycle and Human Services Policy. You will also take four courses that are specific to your concentration.
The options for a concentration are Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Forensic Mental Health Counseling. To help you put your education into practice, you’ll complete a counseling internship or a field practicum, and you’ll prepare a research project.
The classes are available online, and you’ll receive guidance from an academic advisor. Some of the credits that you earn may count toward a licensing program.
Post is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
As the online branch of Purdue University in Indiana, Purdue University Global offers an MS in Human Services that is designed for those who are already working in this field. You can select a concentration in Family and Community Services or Organizational and Social Services.
You will be expected to work on a capstone research project, and you’ll also have the option to complete an internship. This program has several start dates, so you can begin at the time that’s best for your schedule. You’ll also be invited to join the school’s Human Services Club.
Purdue University Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
During your online studies for an MA in Human Services from Regent University, classes will include a number of approaches to learning, including listening to lectures in podcast form and participating in chat rooms with other students.
The core classes that you take from this Christian university in Virginia will include Behavioral Science Foundations and Professional Ethics in the Human Services Fields. Additional specialty classes can give you increased knowledge in one of 11 different areas of concentration, such as Grief Counseling, Life Coaching or Human Services for Student Affairs.
A field experience will help you put your education into practice.
Online Master’s in Human Services with specializations in:
Regent is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
In your online studies through Saint Leo University in Florida, you can learn how to analyze the needs of a community, begin a nonprofit, recruit volunteers, fundraise and conduct evaluations.
Classes that you’ll take while earning your MS in Human Services Administration from this Catholic university may include Grantsmanship, Creating New Human Services Organizations and Funding Sources.
You can take at least two electives during your program, and one of those can be an internship experience. Other options for electives include Critical Issues in Health Care, Youth Ministry, Principles of Cybersecurity Management and Management of Child Welfare Agencies.
Saint Leo is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
To prepare for a career of serving others in a healthcare setting, consider an MA in Health and Human Services Administration from St. Mary’s. As an online student with this Catholic university, you’ll receive an iPad that you can use for completing your coursework.
The classes that you take will cover topics like finance, aging, ethics, human resources, healthcare regulations, and informatics. You’ll undertake a capstone project that involves a paper and a portfolio. If you take a series of practicum courses, this program can help you become licensed in Minnesota as a Long Term Care Administrator.
SMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The online MA in Human Services program from Florida’s Southeastern University can help equip you with skills for leadership in various human services organizations, including churches, youth programs, and nonprofit organizations. The three concentration options are Ministry, Children and Family, and Administrative.
You’ll take several classes specific to your chosen specialty in addition to the core program, which includes Integration of Human Services/Theology and Multicultural Issues in Human Services. Your school experience will also include a practicum.
This university has connections to the Assemblies of God Christian denomination and classes incorporate a biblical worldview.
SEU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
For those with a desire to lead, St. Joseph’s College in New York offers an MS in Human Services Leadership. The school desires to cultivate attitudes of professional demeanor, personal reflection, effective leadership, and team development.
This program features courses like Leading in Mission Driven Environments, Executive Leadership and Models Of Innovation, Financing the Mission of Human Services Work, and Strategic Leadership in an Information Age. In each class, you’ll complete a Competency Application Project to evaluate your learning.
The St. Joseph’s master’s program is fully online, and you can access your coursework at the times that work for your schedule.
SJC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
UIS offers an online program through which you can earn an MA in Human Services with a concentration in Social Services Administration. For this concentration, you’ll take classes like Introduction to Nonprofit Management and Grant Writing in Human Services.
Most students must complete an internship in their local communities. However, if you have professional experience in this field, you may be able to request an internship waiver so that you can take an additional elective instead.
This program is recommended for students with a bachelor’s degree in the field because certain undergraduate prerequisites are required for admission.
Online Master’s in Human Services with specializations in:
UIS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
As you study for your MA in Human Services from UNW, you’ll benefit from a student-faculty ratio of 14:1. To prepare you to work with people of all ages, this program features a concentration in Family Studies.
In classes like Worldview, Leadership and Human Services; Marriage and Family Dynamics; Parent Education; and Theories of Human Development, you can learn to apply a Christian perspective to your work in the human services field.
In addition, this Minnesota school can help you learn about program administration, critical thinking, and research methods.
This is an online program, and it includes an optional practicum component.
The University of Northwestern – St. Paul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Extended Campus of the University of Oklahoma has an online program through which you can earn an MA in Human and Health Services Administration.
The coursework covers topics like diversity, ethics and organizational leadership. You’ll have the opportunity to tailor your program with electives of your choosing, such as Women in Leadership, Culture of Organizations or Leadership Issues in Decision-Making. To sum up your educational experience, you may complete a thesis, an internship or a research project.
This degree program is designed especially for people who are already familiar with this field through prior education or work experience.
The University of Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The MA in Human Services from Wake Forest University features a counseling emphasis, and many of the classes are offered in conjunction with the MA in Counseling program. This online degree can help to prepare you for administrative leadership roles in counseling organizations.
You’ll take classes like Life Span Development: Implications for Counseling; Cultures and Counseling; Family Counseling; and Human Services Program Planning and Evaluation.
You will be expected to complete a semester-long field practicum with an organization in your local community. During that time, you’ll meet weekly in an online setting with fellow students to discuss your experiences.
Wake Forest is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
When you pursue an MS in Human and Social Services from Walden University, you can choose a generalist track or select one of 12 different concentrations. Options include Gerontology, Global Social Services, Human Services Nonprofit Administration, Military Families and Culture, Criminal Justice and Mental Health Facilitation.
The degree program from this Maryland school emphasizes operating in an ethical manner, maintaining cultural relevance and driving social change. Your online coursework may include core classes like Grant Writing, Interviewing and Case Management in Human and Social Services, and Cross-Cultural Ethics in Human and Social Services.
Online Master’s in Human and Social Services with specializations in:
Walden has been accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1990.
If you want to help people who are struggling with addictions, Washburn University in Kansas can help you earn an MA in Human Services/Addiction Counseling.
The fully online program includes classes like Advanced Methods Group Counseling, Addiction and Recovery Services, Professional Ethics and Practice, and Advanced Pharmacology/Substance Use Disorders.
The coursework can prepare you to become certified in Kansas as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC) and a Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC). The courses may be suitable for similar licensure in other states as well.
This degree program is suited for those with a bachelor’s degree in human services or another healthcare or social services field.
Washburn is accredited or approved by the Higher Learning Commission.
To gain a solid foundation for ethical and effective human service practice, consider studying with Webster University. The MA in Human Services is offered as an online program or through in-person classes on the school’s Missouri campus and some of its worldwide satellite campuses.
Your studies will include core classes like Foundations in Human Services, Social Welfare Policy, and Human Growth and Development. You’ll also get to select several electives, and you’ll gain field experience and complete a capstone project.
Webster is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
If you already work in the human services field, then you’re a good candidate for Wilmington University’s MS in Administration of Human Services. Core classes include Law and Practice in Human Services and Contemporary Issues in Administration of Human Services.
You can take five elective courses, and you’ll complete a practicum, a thesis or a capstone project. In conjunction with your master’s degree program, you can also work toward a Case Management in Human Services Certificate.
You can earn this master’s degree through online study or at the university’s Wilson Graduate Center in Pennsylvania.
Wilmington is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
To give you a solid foundation for leading organizations, the Master of Health and Human Services program from YSU covers administration, healthcare and human services practices. You must take two of those classes, Managing and Leading in Organizations and Managing Organizational Talent, during the same semester.
On top of the core classes, you will also enroll in specialized courses related to your chosen concentration: Health Promotion, Health Care Administration, or Health Informatics. You can choose to write a thesis as part of your studies, or you can complete an internship instead.
Youngstown State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
A human services master’s degree is designed to prepare you for a leadership role within an organization that serves people or communities. It’s a degree aimed at helping people improve their lives, whether through counseling, education, assistance with daily needs, behavior modification or healthcare access.
As a human services professional, your main responsibilities may involve administrative roles, such as health services managers. Although some graduates do work directly with individuals, many are instead responsible for coordinating programs, policies, organizations or facilities in a behind-the-scenes capacity.
Depending on the school you choose, you may receive a Master of Science in Human Services or a Master of Arts in Human Services. These two-degree programs are quite similar, and either one should work for most positions in the field. The main difference lies in the foundational approach that is used for helping you become an expert in human services.
Although specifics vary among different schools that offer an online master’s in human services, your course of study may include classes that are similar to the ones below.
Human services is a broad field, but you can tailor your education to meet your particular area of interest by selecting a specialty. The following list of concentrations can give you an idea of the specializations that are available to master’s students.
One appealing aspect of pursuing master’s degree in human services online is that there is a vast array of job paths that you could follow after obtaining your graduate degree.
Whether you’re interested in working in healthcare, social services, community, corporate, nonprofit or religious setting, or government agencies, you may be able to do so with a master’s in this field. In addition, job availability in these areas is expected to grow over the next several years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 12 percent growth rate in the field of community and social services.
When communities learn how to make healthy choices, the overall health of the population may improve. As a health educator, you could design programs and campaigns to increase people’s health skills and knowledge, or you could work one-on-one with individuals.
As a community health worker, you might also perform research into the best methods for health improvement and then apply your findings to new initiatives.
Marriage and family involve some of the most important relationships in a person’s life, yet they are often fraught with strife and tension. As a marriage and family therapist, you can help people improve their important relationships by growing their communication and interpersonal skills.
Therapists often work in public or private practice settings, and they may meet with clients in groups or one-on-one.
Licensure is required for most counseling positions.
Living with a disability can make everyday activities challenging, but rehabilitation counselors can ease the process. Counselors work with people who have various challenges, including mental, physical and emotional disabilities.
They may help clients navigate jobs, housing, and other daily responsibilities so that they can live on their own or in a group setting. Being a rehabilitation counselor may involve working with youth, adults or senior citizens.
As a school or career counselor, you can help people make choices to better their futures. In a school setting, you can talk to students about their problems, guide their academic progress and help them make future plans.
As a career counselor, you might help people analyze their strengths, formulate a potential job plan and provide information on the educational path that they’ll need to take for that career.
Although social workers perform a wide variety of human services jobs, they all involve helping others solve problems and better their lives. Social workers may work with kids or adults, and their role might include providing diagnosis or counseling for mental or behavioral health conditions.
You might find employment with a social service agency, a school, a healthcare facility, a private clinic or a group home.
Licensure is required for some positions.
Many counselors in the field of human services focus on helping people recover from addictions and behavioral health issues, such as drug use, alcohol abuse and eating disorders. This job path often involves helping people break addictive or destructive habits and learning new ways of thinking in order to replace those habits with healthy choices.
Graduates may work in correctional facilities, counseling centers and community organizations.
Any university that you attend should have regional accreditation. Being accredited means that, as a whole, the university meets certain standards and provides quality education for students.
The regional accrediting agencies are:
These agencies must meet standards set by the US Department of Education, and they are approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
In addition, social science programs, like human services programs, may receive accreditation from an industry-specific organization. The main one is the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE). Although this accreditation is not absolutely essential, if you choose an approved school, you can be certain that you are receiving a reliable, high-quality education in human services.
Admissions requirements will vary depending on the university you select. As a general rule, most universities require the following to be considered for admission into the program.
If English is not your first language, some universities will also require proof of English proficiency.
How long does it take to get an MA in Human Services?
A master’s degree typically consists of 36 credit hours and take two years to complete, but there are exceptions.
Every year, the Federal Student Aid program gives over $120 billion in funding assistance to higher education students. To find out what grants or loans you qualify for, start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
In addition, you may be able to get scholarships based on qualifications like your background, academic achievements, a field of study or other characteristics. Your school’s financial aid office may be able to help you find scholarships.
Finally, it’s in a school’s best interest to help students afford its programs. Therefore, many universities offer financial assistance and payment plans. Contact the school’s financial aid office for more information.
Because of the broad scope of this discipline, studying human services requires a grasp of multiple subjects. These include behavioral health, mental health, leadership, policymaking, human development, communication and finance. Additionally, you can earn an online Ph.D. in Human Services if you want to take your studies to the next level.
Within the field, you might choose to pursue a particular specialty. Common choices include counseling, criminal justice, youth, addiction and special populations. Selecting a concentration means that you will take several classes focused on the skills and knowledge that are unique to that specialty.
Although earning an associate’s degree in human services or bachelor’s degree can prepare you for a wide variety of human services jobs, it’s unlikely to specifically equip you for licensure. Instead, a human services master’s degree usually provides a broader understanding of the field rather than focusing on the specific tools and knowledge that are necessary for becoming licensed.
If licensure is your goal, you might consider a different master’s program instead. Good choices include:
Although most master’s in human services programs won’t prepare you directly for licensure, you may be able to apply some of the credits that you earn during your master’s program toward another program designed for licensure preparation. For example, you may be able to add a certificate program onto your master’s studies and then take a licensure exam.
A university’s admissions department can help to give you a clear picture of which, if any, of its classes or programs might help you work toward obtaining licensure in social work or counseling.
Salaries in the human services field vary widely. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a master’s degree in the community and social service field typically enjoy a wage premium between $10,000 and $15,000 each year over those with a bachelor’s degree. The average annual pay is $47,520.
Factors influencing salary include:
In general, those with a master’s in human services earn about 37 percent more than those who hold a bachelor’s degree in the field.
If helping others experience a better quality of life is important to you, then you may find human services careers to be very rewarding. Growth in this field is expected to outpace the national average, so you can rest assured that this degree can provide a wide assortment of interesting job opportunities.
In two years or less, you can complete an online master’s in human services and be on your way to satisfying new human services jobs.
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