The master’s in human services online degree helps students learn techniques and skills needed to work in public resources, policy-based programs, and social services. This program is offered in both online, on-campus, and hybrid modes (offering both online and offline classes). The curriculum focuses on theories, specific research, and techniques that would help a diverse population of families, children, the elderly, and so on. Many institutions also include residency, internship, or practicum where students can participate in different fieldwork experiences before completing their degrees. An online human services degree could take up to two years and range between 30 and 46 credits; the duration could differ from online vs in-person classes.  While the on-campus program can be completed in a shorter time, the online program could be taken up part-time and with asynchronous coursework. This program’s instruction is offered through synchronous and asynchronous learning. In addition to the core coursework, the program offers concentrations in fields like child and family studies, gerontology, counseling, and social service administration. After completing this degree, students can be employed in various professions like human services manager, social program developer, etc. 

Online Master’s in Human Services Degree Types

There are many online master’s in human services degrees available across different regions in the United States, the two most prominent being the Master of Science or MS in Human Services Online and the Master of Arts or MA in Human Services Online. These degrees vary in curriculum and requirements. 

Specializations in Online Master’s in Human Services Programs

Selecting a master’s program specialization is crucial as it will allow students to gain expertise in a specific area within the human services domain. The curriculum of the specializations is oriented towards a particular area of study that the graduate student is interested in. Human services specializations help prospective graduates to gain better industry recognition, higher salaries, and career prospects. There are numerous human services specializations which include, but are not limited to:  

Area of Specialization	Description
Marriage and Family	This specialization focuses on developing employable skills for students to resolve conflicts and effectively communicate.
Human Services Nonprofit Administration	This specialization includes students learning about recruiting and hiring talent, compensation, and strategies to retain employees.
Family Studies and Interventions	This specialization helps students understand the human service aspects of marginalized populations like single parents, bisexuals, etc.
Social and Community Services	Students learn about social and community service provisions in this specialization, including recreation, social, or welfare work.
Leadership and Organizational Management	In this specialization, students learn about leadership in a human services organization. The program looks at how to work with multiple stakeholders.
Family and Community Services	This specialization focuses on the overall well-being of families and communities through various human services they would require. Students learn about helping diverse populations like the disabled, elderly, or other underrepresented populations.
Mental Health	This specialization is designed for students who want to pursue careers in human services like psychology, counseling, mental health, special education, and rehabilitation.
Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention	In this specialization, students examine strategies and theories to respond to the initial needs of individuals and communities in a situation of emergency and how to assist victims after the initial response.
Criminal Justice	This specialization is about the collaboration of criminal justice and human services systems. The fundamental goal of this specialization is to ensure that individuals are provided with justice and safety.

Some examples of other specializations include: 

• Organizational and Social Services 
• Military Families and Culture 
• Studies in Aging 
• Professional Life Coaching 
• Addictions Counseling 

Curriculum and Skills Gained in Online Master’s in Human Services Programs

An online master’s in human services requires 30 to 46 credits, but this requirement could differ from institution to institution or program to program, depending on the curriculum and other factors. Students will be required to select different electives, thesis options, and concentrations. Some human services master programs also require the students to complete a capstone project and internships in the field before completing the program. Most colleges will have a similar selection of common human services courses, such as: 

Along with these courses, students might be required to complete a thesis, capstone, or end-of-the-year comprehensive exam, depending on the specific requirement of the college. Based on the college’s location, students would be required to complete certain hours of on-field internship as well.  

On graduating from human services master programs, students will be efficient enough to take up roles and responsibilities in different dimensions of human services. Some of the skills they would have acquired are the ability to:  

• analyze the ethical standards required in human services as a professional; 
• advocate on behalf of those individuals who need an understanding of the function, methods, and roles which human services play; 
• analyze high-quality information and data to interpret and evaluate the findings and deliver appropriate human services to those who need them the most; 
• demonstrate high adaptability to the field and understand the history and impact that present and past policies have had on human services;
• implement and identify efficient strategies that can be incorporated theoretically and with a philosophical bent in mind to reflect the values that the profession of human services represents;  
• evaluate and recognize the values, expectations, and strategies of self-care available in this field; 
• understand the needs of individuals and analyze the scope human services would have on the population; 
• demonstrate a level of knowledge across all specializations and hold essential positions in the administration field of human services; 
• effectively communicate knowledge and expertise through visual public and written presentations; and 
• effectively design, implement, and evaluate the diverse programs in human services. 

Accreditation for Online Master’s in Human Services Programs

Accreditation is a quality assurance process for institutions. Doing a master’s degree from an accredited institute is very important as it could verify the authenticity of the degree, quality of teaching, the institution’s reputation, transferability of credits, employability, and so on. Employers prefer candidates from accredited universities as they meet a set quality of education standard and professionalism. There are predominantly two types of accreditation in the United States – Regional and National Accreditation. Colleges are commonly accredited by regional accrediting bodies, which are: 

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) 
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) 
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) 
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) 
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) 

Some colleges may also provide accredited master’s in human services. These program-accredited degrees are usually accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or CHEA. Programmatic accreditation assures a high-quality human service education through a peer-based accreditation process and evidence-based standards.  

Timeline for graduating from Online Master’s in Human Services Programs

The duration of the master of human services program online could range from 16 to 24 months. This timeline would differ depending on the number of credits the program requires, mode of program delivery, full-time or part-time student status, electives, concentration, coursework, and synchronous or asynchronous learning. Typically, the program ranges between 30 and 46 credits, which full-time students could complete in about 2 years or less, and part-time students in 3 to 4 years. 

Online Master’s in Human Services Programs Admission Requirements

When applying for an online human services master’s, students must follow admission guidelines and meet certain criteria. Students should pay very close attention to deadlines and the documentation that must be submitted with the application. A formal application, standardized test scores, and transcripts are typically some of the requirements students need to meet. Across programs, here are the most common master’s in human services admissions requirements: 

• Application form  
• Application fee 
• Bachelor’s degree (does not need to be a degree in human services) 
• Minimum GPA between 2.0 and 3.0 in undergraduate coursework 
• Official transcripts from previous institutions attended 
• Letters of recommendation (many institutions require 2 or 3) 
• Graduate Résumé  
• Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement 
• Standardized test scores such as the GRE or GMAT 

When applying for graduate programs, students are usually required to give the Graduate Record Examination and submit their scores as an admissions requirement. However, some institutions have done away with the GRE requirement for their degrees. When a master’s program has no GRE requirements, more applicants from diverse fields can be considered for application. Students also prefer not to take the GRE, which is quite taxing. Some universities that offer master’s in human services no GRE programs are Walden University, Purdue University Global, and Capella University.