Human Services Degree

B.A. in Human Services

National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Human Services prepares students to advance in organizations that provide support and service to individuals, families, and communities in need. These include social service agencies, community health centers and rehabilitation clinics.

Consider getting your Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree at NLU if you:

• Want to learn more about interpersonal communication, group process and family dynamics
• Have an interest in working in community service
• Have experience working in the field, or even if you don't—NLU's program offers a practicum option
• Want to study either full or part-time depending on other life commitments

Why NLU for a Human Services Degree

In 1886, NLU was created as a learning institution dedicated to teaching teachers—with the ultimate goal of helping others and supporting communities so they could grow and prosper. Today NLU continues to carry out its original mission as one of the oldest still active human services programs in the Chicago-area — educating students so they can work in the fields that serve individuals and communities.

We Make it Convenient to Get Your Human Services Degree

NLU recognizes many students are balancing work and family while in school, so courses are scheduled to accommodate those important commitments. With a small class size model that provides students with a support network for study and professional development, NLU's Human Services program is offered in both a traditional on-campus model and a hybrid classroom/online format.

What You Will Learn

• How to better understand, and effectively deal with the behavior of individuals and groups
• Common support skills and how to implement them
• How diverse backgrounds and special needs impact today's workplace and communities
• Strategies for community intervention and the management of health and human service organizations

Career Outlook

The number of jobs for social and human service assistants is expected to grow by nearly 23 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in large part to the aging population and increased demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment.[1]

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree hold various positions such as social service assistants, case management aides, social work assistants, residential counselors, community support workers, child-care workers, community outreach workers, life skills counselors or gerontology aides.

Human Services Degree with Practicum Option

With the same general education and core course requirements, the Human Services with Practicum program adds a professional studies sequence—a series of four quarters of practicum along with supervision that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must demonstrate English competency by passing the English competency examination or by passing English Composition I (LAE101) and English Composition II (LAE102) at NLU with a grade of "C" or better. evaluation of prior non-transcripted learning is available through the course Career Assessment and Planning. There is a 45 quarter hour limit on this credit.

* Students must consult with their advisors to select courses that match an identified area of specialization.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the basic NLU admission requirements, the Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree requires two letters of recommendation and the following courses to be completed prior to beginning the program's core content:

1. English 101
2. English 102
3. One Social Science course
4. Additional 20 quarter hours of general courses/elective courses with a "C" grade or above

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements. Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at www.nl.edu/applyonline.