An online Associate degree in Human Services provides a way to turn your passion for helping people into a gratifying career.
The associate’s degree prepares you for rewarding entry-level jobs such as human service assistant, social service specialist, residential care facility staff member, clinical social work aide, family service assistant, and community service specialist. Typically, human services assistants work closely with social workers.
See the 100 Best Online Colleges
Best Online Colleges 2018
Subscribe & Stay Informed
Human services assistants work in government agencies, for-profit social services agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Human services assistants help clients find important benefits and community services. They coordinate services, help clients with daily activities, and provide emotional support.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a strong 22 percent employment growth for social and human services assistants from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average (about 10 percent) for all occupations.
best-school-seal-2Associate’s in Human Services degree program ranking guidelines
We selected the degrees based on academic excellence, range of available classes, faculty strength, rankings, and reputation.
RANKING METHODOLOGY
Methodology for College Rankings
The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:
The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.
To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet—TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):
1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]
Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
Considers range of electives within that discipline
Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline
2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]
Considers education background of the faculty
Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources
3. Reputation [weight = 20%]
Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
Faculty
Curriculum
“Freshness” of academic knowledge
Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
Suitability of graduates for the workplace
4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]
Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants
5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]
Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business
6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]
Considers the following of the online classes:
Types of online technology used to deliver content
Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
Considers the following of instructors:
Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
Ratio to number of students in a class
Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees
Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.
To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:
Accreditation
Public or private status
Acceptance rate
Retention rate
Graduation rate
ACT/SAT requirements
Cost in-state / out of state
Undergrad, grad, or both offered
Region
State
City
Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!
If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.
Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!
?
Learn more about Human Services and Social Work degree options at Social Work Degrees and 25 Notable Online Programs
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.
Visit Site
Sponsored
The Best Online Associate in Human Services Degree Programs
1. Penn State World Campus
Pennsylvania State University(University Park, PA)
Penn State World Campus, the online division of Pennsylvania State University, provides a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as certificate programs.
The online Associate in Human Development and Family Studies degree provides students with entry-level competencies in the human services field through academic and practical experiences. The program provides a foundation in lifespan and family development, as well as useful professional skills for program planning and service delivery. The program requires 60 credits.
Students in the Human Services Associate degree online can also obtain an undergraduate certificate in Adult Development and Aging Services and an undergraduate certificate in Children, Youth, and Family Services. Students can apply the credits from these certificates to the Associate’s in Human Development and Family Studies degree.
The Adult Development and Aging Services option prepares students for an array of service roles in mental health facilities, as well as in nursing homes and other settings for the elderly.
The Children, Youth, and Family Services option prepares students to work with people in various age groups in institutions, agencies, and centers.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation.
GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE
2. Brescia University
Brescia University(Owensboro, KY)
Brescia University, a coeducational Catholic liberal arts university established in the Ursuline tradition of personal and social transformation through education, offers an array of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as a few master’s degree programs. The university also offers a variety of online degree programs.
The online Associate’s degree in Human Services reviews the study and provision of human and social services to communities and individuals. The program provides skills useful in working with communities, groups, and individuals, as well as people with diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. The program prepares students for entry-level jobs in an array of human services agencies.
The Associate in Human Services online degree program focuses on theory, information systems, crisis counseling and intervention, and case management, as well as other human services areas.
The Associate degree in Human Services online has major subject requirements in the fields of:
Psychology
Sociology
Social work
Biology
Students need 63 credit hours to obtain the degree.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides Brescia University with accreditation.
3. Saint Joseph’s College Online
Saint Joseph's College(Standish, ME)
Saint Joseph’s College has a Catholic liberal arts tradition. Located two hours’ drive north of Boston on Maine’s beautiful Sebago Lake, the college should not be confused with similarly named schools in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine welcomes people of all faiths and ages.
Saint Joseph’s Online Division provides graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificate programs, and continuing education courses.
The Online Associate of Science in Human Services Degree helps students develop the knowledge and skills to work with people in an array of settings and situations.
The online Human Services Associate degree program includes core courses such as:
Introduction to Psychology
Lifespan Development
Psychopathology
Social Problems
Principles of Sociology
Race and Ethnic Relations
The New England Association of Schools & Colleges provides Saint Joseph’s College with accreditation.
4. Western New Mexico University
Silver City, NM)
Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University, a public university, provides a variety of graduate and undergraduate degrees.
The online Associate of Arts in Human Services degree covers the nature and scope of human services work and more. The program prepares students for jobs in settings such as elder care facilities, substance treatment centers, healthcare facilities, family, child and youth agencies, community health centers, government agencies and more.
The online Associate in Human Services degree includes the following core classes:
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Group Dynamics
Ethics in Social Work and Human Services
Interviewing Techniques
Principles of Diversity
Individual and Family Development
Human Services Delivery Systems
Resource and Information Literacy for Human Services
Case Management, Planning and Evaluation
The online Associate degree in Human Services includes 60 credits.
The Higher Learning Commission provides Western New Mexico University with accreditation.
5. Columbia College
Columbia College(Columbia, MO)
Columbia College, a private liberals arts and sciences college, is a nonsectarian college with a covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college welcomes students of all religious denominations.
The Associate in Science in Human Services degree program helps students develop empirically based knowledge and practical skills for work in the human service field. The program includes 60 semester hours.
The Human Services Associate degree online includes courses such as:
Working with Families
Working with Groups
Working with Individuals
Minority Cultures and Relations
American Social Policy
The Higher Learning Commission provides Columbia College with accreditation.
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.
Visit Site
Sponsored
6. Excelsior College
Excelsior College(Albany, NY)
Excelsior College, a private, non-profit, virtual university, provides an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The Online Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts with concentration in Human Services prepares students for jobs in health services, family services, and elder care. The degree includes 60 credits.
The Associate degree in Human Services online program provides classes such as:
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Social Science
Managing Human Resources
Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
Organizational Behavior
Ethics and Social Policy
Ethics of Health Care
Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
7. Kaplan University
Kaplan University(Chicago, IL)
Kaplan University, a for-profit university, offers a variety of on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The Associate of Applied Science in Human Services degree combines theory with practice. Students learn how to evaluate public and private policies powering the daily operations of human services agencies.
The program emphasizes identifying, planning, and using resources to help clients, as well as using information and systems to effectively manage and support human services delivery.
The online Human Services Associate degree also emphasizes the importance of culture, diversity, and gender, as well as global perspectives.
Kaplan University received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
8. Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University(Grand Rapids, MI)
Cornerstone University, an independent, non-denominational Christian University, offers a couple of associate’s degrees and numerous bachelor’s degrees.
The Associate in Human Services online degree program includes a variety of core subjects and courses specific to human services. The program provides the basic helping skills required in human services.
The program covers applying leadership principles and practices and making ethical decisions from a Christian worldview.
The Associate in Human Services program includes coursework in individual and group projects. Students need 60 credits to graduate.
The online Associate degree in Human Services includes courses such as:
Introduction to Sociology
General Psychology
Foundations of Wellness
Intercultural Relations
Current Social Issues
Contemporary issues in Science and Technology
The program also includes field experience with an appropriate agency related to the student’s area of interest.
9. Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech(Indianapolis, IN)
Ivy Tech Community College, the largest public, post-secondary institution in Indiana, has numerous campuses throughout the state. The community college also operates an online division.
The Associate in Human Services online degree covers ethical and theoretical principles, as well as practical skills.
Through specialty training, students explore working with populations such as youth and the elderly, as well as helping people with addictions and intellectual disabilities. The program includes 60 credits.
The Associate degree in Human Services online includes courses such as:
Helping Relationship Techniques
Interviewing and Assessment
Group Process and Skills
Understanding Diversity
Issues and Ethics in Human Services
10. Iowa Central Community College Online
Iowa Central Community college(Fort Dodge, IA)
Iowa Central Community College, a comprehensive community college, provides a wide variety of degree programs.
The Associate in Human Services degree covers various aspects of society. The program includes a core foundation.
Many of the instructors work directly in the human services field. Students can complete the program in less than two years.
The online Human Services Associate degree requirements include the following classes:
Introduction to Human Services
Ethics for Human Services Professionals
Introduction to Counseling
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Introduction to Sociology
Minority Group Relations
Field Experience
Iowa Central Community College received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
***
Studying for an Associate’s of Human Services Degree
Human-Services-promo-picAssociate’s degrees in Human Services help those with a passion to help others.
Two popular reasons for obtaining an associate’s in Human Services include getting professional training for job placement or advancement, and laying the groundwork for a bachelor’s degree. Of course, for many people these two reasons overlap.
But for others, a four-year degree is not an immediate goal—they simply want to grasp the fundamentals of their chosen career as quickly as possible. The Associate’s in Human Services degree can satisfy both goals!
Whether you find yourself among those with future plans for obtaining a bachelor’s degree, or those seeking credentials for job placement or advancement, you need to understand the different kinds of associate’s degrees.
For professional qualifications, an A.A.S. (Associate in Applied Science) degree will require the least amount of general education classes, meaning you get to study more what directly pertains to your career desires. If you later decide that a bachelor’s degree interests you, then you can apply your A.A.S. credits towards a bachelor’s degree, but you will have more general education courses (“Gen Eds”) to complete in route to your bachelor’s. An A.A.S. tends to be regarded as a professional, or “terminal” degree, meaning it is not designed to lead to, or be followed by, a bachelor’s degree.
Human-service-promo-pic-2The other kind of associate’s degree can be found in two forms: the A.A. (Associate of Arts) or the A.S. (Associate of Science). Either degree will help you get your foot in the door of a job, and as importantly, either will prepare you for a bachelor’s degree. As pointed out earlier, however, with an A.A. or A.S. you will take more Gen Eds and fewer career-specific courses. Don’t look at that as a deterrent, however, because you might likely find yourself wanting a bachelor’s degree further down the road. In that case, this will have been the way to go.
One popular direction that Human Services associate degree recipients take is to subsequently earn their Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) degree. The BSW is highly regarded and opens up many doors, plus (though this is considerably farther down the road) the BSW will put you in advanced standing for a Master of Social Work (MSW), and there, the job opportunities are plentiful.
So, whether you want minimal academic training to become qualified for a job, or your life demands that you break your academic training into more “bite-sized” pieces, an online Associate degree in Human Services can help get you where you want to go. As always, however, it is important to obtain your degree from a reputable school, as your school’s reputation reflects upon you.
Therefore, if you are planning on working for your Associate’s in Human Services degree online, you still need to make an informed choice among the many programs available out there. And that is why we have prepared for you the above ranking of The 10 Best Online Associate in Human Services Degree Programs.
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.
The associate’s degree prepares you for rewarding entry-level jobs such as human service assistant, social service specialist, residential care facility staff member, clinical social work aide, family service assistant, and community service specialist. Typically, human services assistants work closely with social workers.
See the 100 Best Online Colleges
Best Online Colleges 2018
Subscribe & Stay Informed
Human services assistants work in government agencies, for-profit social services agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Human services assistants help clients find important benefits and community services. They coordinate services, help clients with daily activities, and provide emotional support.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a strong 22 percent employment growth for social and human services assistants from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average (about 10 percent) for all occupations.
best-school-seal-2Associate’s in Human Services degree program ranking guidelines
We selected the degrees based on academic excellence, range of available classes, faculty strength, rankings, and reputation.
RANKING METHODOLOGY
Methodology for College Rankings
The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:
The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.
To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet—TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):
1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]
Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
Considers range of electives within that discipline
Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline
2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]
Considers education background of the faculty
Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources
3. Reputation [weight = 20%]
Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
Faculty
Curriculum
“Freshness” of academic knowledge
Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
Suitability of graduates for the workplace
4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]
Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants
5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]
Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business
6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]
Considers the following of the online classes:
Types of online technology used to deliver content
Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
Considers the following of instructors:
Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
Ratio to number of students in a class
Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees
Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.
To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:
Accreditation
Public or private status
Acceptance rate
Retention rate
Graduation rate
ACT/SAT requirements
Cost in-state / out of state
Undergrad, grad, or both offered
Region
State
City
Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!
If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.
Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!
?
Learn more about Human Services and Social Work degree options at Social Work Degrees and 25 Notable Online Programs
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.
Visit Site
Sponsored
The Best Online Associate in Human Services Degree Programs
1. Penn State World Campus
Pennsylvania State University(University Park, PA)
Penn State World Campus, the online division of Pennsylvania State University, provides a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as certificate programs.
The online Associate in Human Development and Family Studies degree provides students with entry-level competencies in the human services field through academic and practical experiences. The program provides a foundation in lifespan and family development, as well as useful professional skills for program planning and service delivery. The program requires 60 credits.
Students in the Human Services Associate degree online can also obtain an undergraduate certificate in Adult Development and Aging Services and an undergraduate certificate in Children, Youth, and Family Services. Students can apply the credits from these certificates to the Associate’s in Human Development and Family Studies degree.
The Adult Development and Aging Services option prepares students for an array of service roles in mental health facilities, as well as in nursing homes and other settings for the elderly.
The Children, Youth, and Family Services option prepares students to work with people in various age groups in institutions, agencies, and centers.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation.
GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE
2. Brescia University
Brescia University(Owensboro, KY)
Brescia University, a coeducational Catholic liberal arts university established in the Ursuline tradition of personal and social transformation through education, offers an array of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as a few master’s degree programs. The university also offers a variety of online degree programs.
The online Associate’s degree in Human Services reviews the study and provision of human and social services to communities and individuals. The program provides skills useful in working with communities, groups, and individuals, as well as people with diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. The program prepares students for entry-level jobs in an array of human services agencies.
The Associate in Human Services online degree program focuses on theory, information systems, crisis counseling and intervention, and case management, as well as other human services areas.
The Associate degree in Human Services online has major subject requirements in the fields of:
Psychology
Sociology
Social work
Biology
Students need 63 credit hours to obtain the degree.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides Brescia University with accreditation.
3. Saint Joseph’s College Online
Saint Joseph's College(Standish, ME)
Saint Joseph’s College has a Catholic liberal arts tradition. Located two hours’ drive north of Boston on Maine’s beautiful Sebago Lake, the college should not be confused with similarly named schools in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine welcomes people of all faiths and ages.
Saint Joseph’s Online Division provides graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificate programs, and continuing education courses.
The Online Associate of Science in Human Services Degree helps students develop the knowledge and skills to work with people in an array of settings and situations.
The online Human Services Associate degree program includes core courses such as:
Introduction to Psychology
Lifespan Development
Psychopathology
Social Problems
Principles of Sociology
Race and Ethnic Relations
The New England Association of Schools & Colleges provides Saint Joseph’s College with accreditation.
4. Western New Mexico University
Silver City, NM)
Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University, a public university, provides a variety of graduate and undergraduate degrees.
The online Associate of Arts in Human Services degree covers the nature and scope of human services work and more. The program prepares students for jobs in settings such as elder care facilities, substance treatment centers, healthcare facilities, family, child and youth agencies, community health centers, government agencies and more.
The online Associate in Human Services degree includes the following core classes:
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Group Dynamics
Ethics in Social Work and Human Services
Interviewing Techniques
Principles of Diversity
Individual and Family Development
Human Services Delivery Systems
Resource and Information Literacy for Human Services
Case Management, Planning and Evaluation
The online Associate degree in Human Services includes 60 credits.
The Higher Learning Commission provides Western New Mexico University with accreditation.
5. Columbia College
Columbia College(Columbia, MO)
Columbia College, a private liberals arts and sciences college, is a nonsectarian college with a covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college welcomes students of all religious denominations.
The Associate in Science in Human Services degree program helps students develop empirically based knowledge and practical skills for work in the human service field. The program includes 60 semester hours.
The Human Services Associate degree online includes courses such as:
Working with Families
Working with Groups
Working with Individuals
Minority Cultures and Relations
American Social Policy
The Higher Learning Commission provides Columbia College with accreditation.
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.
Visit Site
Sponsored
6. Excelsior College
Excelsior College(Albany, NY)
Excelsior College, a private, non-profit, virtual university, provides an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The Online Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts with concentration in Human Services prepares students for jobs in health services, family services, and elder care. The degree includes 60 credits.
The Associate degree in Human Services online program provides classes such as:
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Social Science
Managing Human Resources
Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
Organizational Behavior
Ethics and Social Policy
Ethics of Health Care
Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
7. Kaplan University
Kaplan University(Chicago, IL)
Kaplan University, a for-profit university, offers a variety of on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The Associate of Applied Science in Human Services degree combines theory with practice. Students learn how to evaluate public and private policies powering the daily operations of human services agencies.
The program emphasizes identifying, planning, and using resources to help clients, as well as using information and systems to effectively manage and support human services delivery.
The online Human Services Associate degree also emphasizes the importance of culture, diversity, and gender, as well as global perspectives.
Kaplan University received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
8. Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University(Grand Rapids, MI)
Cornerstone University, an independent, non-denominational Christian University, offers a couple of associate’s degrees and numerous bachelor’s degrees.
The Associate in Human Services online degree program includes a variety of core subjects and courses specific to human services. The program provides the basic helping skills required in human services.
The program covers applying leadership principles and practices and making ethical decisions from a Christian worldview.
The Associate in Human Services program includes coursework in individual and group projects. Students need 60 credits to graduate.
The online Associate degree in Human Services includes courses such as:
Introduction to Sociology
General Psychology
Foundations of Wellness
Intercultural Relations
Current Social Issues
Contemporary issues in Science and Technology
The program also includes field experience with an appropriate agency related to the student’s area of interest.
9. Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech(Indianapolis, IN)
Ivy Tech Community College, the largest public, post-secondary institution in Indiana, has numerous campuses throughout the state. The community college also operates an online division.
The Associate in Human Services online degree covers ethical and theoretical principles, as well as practical skills.
Through specialty training, students explore working with populations such as youth and the elderly, as well as helping people with addictions and intellectual disabilities. The program includes 60 credits.
The Associate degree in Human Services online includes courses such as:
Helping Relationship Techniques
Interviewing and Assessment
Group Process and Skills
Understanding Diversity
Issues and Ethics in Human Services
10. Iowa Central Community College Online
Iowa Central Community college(Fort Dodge, IA)
Iowa Central Community College, a comprehensive community college, provides a wide variety of degree programs.
The Associate in Human Services degree covers various aspects of society. The program includes a core foundation.
Many of the instructors work directly in the human services field. Students can complete the program in less than two years.
The online Human Services Associate degree requirements include the following classes:
Introduction to Human Services
Ethics for Human Services Professionals
Introduction to Counseling
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Introduction to Sociology
Minority Group Relations
Field Experience
Iowa Central Community College received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
***
Studying for an Associate’s of Human Services Degree
Human-Services-promo-picAssociate’s degrees in Human Services help those with a passion to help others.
Two popular reasons for obtaining an associate’s in Human Services include getting professional training for job placement or advancement, and laying the groundwork for a bachelor’s degree. Of course, for many people these two reasons overlap.
But for others, a four-year degree is not an immediate goal—they simply want to grasp the fundamentals of their chosen career as quickly as possible. The Associate’s in Human Services degree can satisfy both goals!
Whether you find yourself among those with future plans for obtaining a bachelor’s degree, or those seeking credentials for job placement or advancement, you need to understand the different kinds of associate’s degrees.
For professional qualifications, an A.A.S. (Associate in Applied Science) degree will require the least amount of general education classes, meaning you get to study more what directly pertains to your career desires. If you later decide that a bachelor’s degree interests you, then you can apply your A.A.S. credits towards a bachelor’s degree, but you will have more general education courses (“Gen Eds”) to complete in route to your bachelor’s. An A.A.S. tends to be regarded as a professional, or “terminal” degree, meaning it is not designed to lead to, or be followed by, a bachelor’s degree.
Human-service-promo-pic-2The other kind of associate’s degree can be found in two forms: the A.A. (Associate of Arts) or the A.S. (Associate of Science). Either degree will help you get your foot in the door of a job, and as importantly, either will prepare you for a bachelor’s degree. As pointed out earlier, however, with an A.A. or A.S. you will take more Gen Eds and fewer career-specific courses. Don’t look at that as a deterrent, however, because you might likely find yourself wanting a bachelor’s degree further down the road. In that case, this will have been the way to go.
One popular direction that Human Services associate degree recipients take is to subsequently earn their Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) degree. The BSW is highly regarded and opens up many doors, plus (though this is considerably farther down the road) the BSW will put you in advanced standing for a Master of Social Work (MSW), and there, the job opportunities are plentiful.
So, whether you want minimal academic training to become qualified for a job, or your life demands that you break your academic training into more “bite-sized” pieces, an online Associate degree in Human Services can help get you where you want to go. As always, however, it is important to obtain your degree from a reputable school, as your school’s reputation reflects upon you.
Therefore, if you are planning on working for your Associate’s in Human Services degree online, you still need to make an informed choice among the many programs available out there. And that is why we have prepared for you the above ranking of The 10 Best Online Associate in Human Services Degree Programs.
Featured Schools
Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Campus & Online
Human Services Certificate - Child and Family Services
Designed for graduates who want to immediately find work in human or social services, Kaplan University's human services certificate in child and family services requires a total of 43 credit hours. Students take courses in sociology, human services and social policy, and child and adolescent development. The eight credit hour certificate usually takes a year to 18 months to complete.