Call us Now: 1-866-827-8467
ADVANCE > INQUIRE NOW

Human Services

Master of Arts Degree

The Master of Arts in Human Services degree is designed for those already employed in the human services field or those planning on a career in the profession. It is an applied degree program designed to provide a hands-on introduction to the variety of functions required of leaders in the human services arena, including an emphasis in non-profit and administration management.

Interested in this degree?  Start Here

Courses in the major include:

This course orients the student to statistical concepts and measurements including scales of measurements, distributions, central tendency, validity, and reliability. Quantitative research method design is addressed. Students explore the role of research as it relates to use and application of research for Human Services administrators.
This course integrates and expands upon the content in MHS 503, while further expanding the discussion of research methods to include qualitative research, mixed-methods design, and program evaluation. Grounded theory research; single-case study design; phenomenological principles; and qualitative interviewing techniques, data collection, coding, and analysis are addressed. Students explore program evaluation concepts, including needs assessment, study design, outcome measures, and integration of data into program modification and improvement. Prerequisites: Completion of MHS 503
This course provides the foundation for the personal and conceptual skills requisite assuming the role of an effective Human and Social Services Administrator. Skills, including time and stress management, oral and written communication, as well as the management of one's power and influence in organizations are covered. The frameworks of legislation, policy, and human resource and client relations are also examined and discussed.
This course examines best practices surrounding written communication strategies for the Human Services administrator. The course will empower students with effective and efficient communication skills. This course will focus on client reports, psychosocial histories, evaluations, professional papers, research reports, papers for mass audiences, requests for funding, letters to the editor, the use of the Internet in helping clients, presentations, and the privacy rules of HIPAA, along with an emphasis on the rules and application of APA Style.
This course examines theoretical and practical ethical standards for management in a variety of human service settings. Students assess their own values and professionalism and prepare for future professional growth. They develop a personal/professional framework for ethical decision making after studying a range of different models. Also emphasized is knowledge of relevant ethical codes in the human services.
This course emphasizes helping students develop an understanding of program administration and practice within the context of community. Specific attention is given to the assessment of community assets and needs and to the active engagement of community members in the pursuit of mutually beneficial goals (volunteerism, community presence, social networking with a community, connections between diverse social service and community organizations, and so on).
This course examines the importance of ensuring sustainable funding as a necessary skill for administrators of human service organizations. This course presents a number of ways to ensure funding from public and private sources. Areas of emphasis include researching public policy, industry trends, and grant writing that incorporates legal and ethical considerations. This course includes the completion of a brief grant proposal.
This course focuses on nonprofit administrative theories, principles, and required knowledge and skills. The course includes research and analysis of financial, human resources and project management constructs in nonprofit/human services (NP/HS) administration. Compliance with federal, state, and local regulations is incorporated.
This course is designed especially for students interested in human services administration. The course addresses cultural, social, religious and economic factors applicable to ethnic and minority populations, from both the perspective of the culturally diverse client and the administrator. Experiential and reflective methods of learning will be emphasized, as well as gaining insight into the manner in which one's own values influence one's interactions with others. This course emphasizes the organizations' as well as the administrators' roles in administering programs that embrace the social and cultural diversity within organizations that serve the community.
This course introduces students to the theories of career development, as well as the assessment tools and practices associated with helping employees achieve congruence in their career development pattern. Students explore interrelationships among such factors as age, gender, family, life roles, and multicultural issues, as they relate to career and educational planning. Topics within the context of an organization are also emphasized: succession planning; early-, mid-, and late-career, professional development; and the active promotion of connections between strategic planning, employee motivation and performance, and skill development .This class also focuses on worker motivation and resource development.
This course explores the field of leadership through classic readings and research on such topics as the history of leadership, leader disposition, motivation, charismatic leadership, transformational leadership, and servant leadership. Emphasis will be placed on critiquing contemporary leadership research that addresses current leadership challenges for individuals, groups, and organizations.

Select one of the two capstone courses listed for 3 credit hours:

MHS 610 - Internship/Fieldwork

This internship course provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge in a supervised human services context that will enhance administrative and leadership skills. Students will complete their internship at a community-based agency with an emphasis on service coordination and community outreach. The MHS 610 Internship/Fieldwork course requires 200 clock hours of an outcome-based Internship experience under the guidance of an experienced professional. Prerequisite: 75% of MAHS program completed, internship application submitted to Program Director, and permission of the Program Director to enroll.

MHS 611 - Applied Learning Project

This course is designed to support independent study and application of administrative skills and knowledge. Each student is responsible for the design and completion of a project-based activity with clear goals, timelines, and deliverables. Students are provided with an academic field supervisor and course environment in which to report, problem-solve, and share challenges and progress on their project. Prerequisite: MHS 503, MHS 504, MHS 521, MHS 628, MHS 635, and 75% of MAHS program completed.

7 Great Reasons to Consider a Master's Degree

Thinking about earning your master's degree? Here are the top reasons that most people decide to earn their master's degrees.

Your SHRM or HRCI® certification is valued at 6 credit hours (2 courses) toward the Master of Science in Human Resource Strategic Management.

Talk to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more.

Looking for a bachelor's degree?

Click Here

© Bellevue University. All rights reserved. | Privacy | Terms of Use | Accreditation | Consumer Information

Schedule your personal advising session now!