5 Best Master’s Degrees in Human Services 2020

With one of the best master’s degrees in human services, you can rise to the top – and top-paying – roles of the most meaningful career paths: the helping professions.   The goal of human services is to meet human needs, ranging from affordable housing to behavioral health services. Human services workers are constantly advocating for and developing programs to improve life for those in need.   Many human services workers make impacts at the individual level. Others are leading efforts to aid victims of human trafficking, make treatment for mental illnesses and drug addiction more accessible, address homelessness, and so much more, the federal Office of Human Services Policy reported.   With a master’s degree in human services, you can serve as administor of a social services program, agency, or nonprofit organization. What is a Master’s in Human Services Degree? The best master’s in human services degree programs have their work cut out for them. They must meet all 20 accreditation standards set by The Council for Standards in Human Service Education. These standards address everything from the theories and concepts taught in the program through the development of practical skills and meeting of fieldwork requirements.   Graduate human services degree programs include a variety of coursework, often culminating in a capstone course. Classes such as Skills and Practice in Human Services focus on developing practical abilities. Students also learn a great deal through courses in Human Development and Human Behavior. You may get to choose a concentration, such as family and community services or crisis intervention.   Some master’s in human services programs accept applicants with any educational background. Others prefer candidates who have a background in a subject closely related to human services, such as psychology, counseling, social work, or behavioral and social science. Careers for Human Services majors Plenty of community and social services roles require a master’s degree. Unlike counselors and clinical social workers, however, graduates of human services degree programs often work in administrative and management roles rather than therapeutic ones. They direct the efforts of programs and professionals to help them make a bigger impact on the lives of those in need.  Ã‚   Job titles like Community Services Director, Social Worker Supervisor, Care Director, Social Services Manager, and others confer a great degree of responsibility. The advanced knowledge and skill sets gained in graduate school prepare students to meet the challenges of administration.   Earning your master’s degree in human services can put you ahead of the competition, which can be particularly fierce for these unusually high-paying roles in the helping professions. Only 24 percent of social and community service managers have a master’s degree, while twice as many of these workers have only a bachelor’s degree, reported. Master’s in Human Services salary potential Leveraging your master’s in human services degree to attain a management role could make you a very good living. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $65,320 for management jobs in social and community service, compared to $44,960 for non-management roles.   The highest 10 percent of earners make $111,150, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Entry-level roles in jobs that lead to management roles pay less. Social workers, for example, make average salaries of $40,217 per year at entry level and $46,131 overall, PayScale reported.   Earning your master’s degree is the best way to boost your salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social and community service managers with a master’s earn 30 percent, or $15,000, more than those with a bachelor’s degree. Besides education and experience, professional credentials like CEAP, LPC, LCSW, and LMSW can improve your career and earning potential. What are the Best Master’s in Human Services Degrees? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni   30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year   30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1University Of Illinois At SpringfieldLocationSpringfield, IllinoisAverage Net Price$10,733More information At the University of Illinois at Springfield, students can choose from nearly 50 academic programs and join any of more than 80 student organizations. The school prides itself on offering a diverse array of opportunities to students both on campus and off, serving the campus community, its local community, and the community abroad. There is an extensive array of internship, volunteer, and research opportunities available here, too. Whether your background is in human services or another field, the Master of Arts in Human Services program at the University of Illinois at Springfield could be the perfect fit. This multidisciplinary degree prepares students to become competent, relevant human services professionals in a variety of sectors. It offers four concentrations: alcoholism and substance abuse, gerontology, social services administration, and child and family studies. This degree holds true to the school’s mission of providing experiential learning opportunities to all students; the program requires a 4-credit hour internship during which students work in a human services environment. In addition, all students must take classes such as Social Policy, Ethics and Professional Development, and Interviewing and Assessment Skills in Human Services.