Human Services (HS) Department

Human Services Department

The Human Services Department offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees in fields intended to meet a variety of human needs. Careers in the human services focus on improving quality of life for individuals and communities and preventing and remediating problems. Our degree programs include:

Birth-Kindergarten Education (B.S.Ed.)

Parks & Recreation Management (B.S.)

Counseling (M.A.ED. or M.S.)

EXPERIENTIAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION (MS)

Higher Education Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Human Resources (M.S. - online)

NC School Executive Leadership (M.S.A. or Principal Fellows Program)

Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Minor Offerings

The Department of Human Services offers both a minor in Leadership and in Parks and Recreation Management. Students pursuing a minor can participate in many of the same clubs and organizations as department majors and have the same internship opportunities. All minors are open to anyone except those majoring in the same concentration or program and offer an excellent complement to a range of majors.

Real-World Experience

Students enrolled in the Department of Human Services are able to take advantage of many opportunities for real-world experience. Our students get practical service learning through internships, field experience, consulting, and teaching. Many students participate in campus and community projects resulting in a variety of courses holding the Service Learning Designation.

Mission Statement

The Department of Human Services within the College of Education and Allied Professions offers programs of study at the baccalaureate through doctoral levels. These programs prepare candidates for rewarding professions in early childhood education, parks and recreation management, community and educational leadership, human resources, school and clinical mental health counseling, and higher education student affairs. The Department includes Project Discovery, which works directly with youth in western North Carolina public schools to encourage attendance and completion of post-secondary education. Our mission is to create collaborative educational environments that support our students’ professional development. We prepare students to be professionals engaged in lifelong learning who embrace diversity and inclusion, design and implement evidence-based initiatives, and promote social justice. Our programs are guided by ethical, professional standards for best practice, which includes community service and internship experiences. In addition to preparing students, we serve communities through leadership, scholarship, and service.