Human Services - Beacon College
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Human Services
Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
Are you passionate about helping others? Designed to prepare you for further studies or a career in a wide variety of humanitarian professions, you’ll learn to think critically, analyze and apply psychological theories, conduct yourself professionally and ethically, and also how to work on a team. Our experienced faculty have served in various human services positions, so you’ll see firsthand how what you learn in class is applied in the real world.
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What You'll Learn
As a Human Services major, you’ll examine current social issues and human services trends in regard to their impact on society, including mental/behavioral health, domestic violence, abuse, neglect, poverty, and substance abuse and dependence. You’ll also gain the skills needed to help improve the lives of those most vulnerable in our society with a thorough understanding of how to identify community resources, problem-solve solutions, and act as a client advocate in a variety of settings.
Tailoring Your Degree
You can customize your bachelor’s degree in Human Services by pairing it with a minor in another field of interest.
View Minors
Psychology
Develop a deeper understanding of the “how and why” of human behavior.
Business Management
Tailored for you to enter the administrative side of human services.
Criminal Justice
Provides valuable insight into criminology and the legal system.
View Other Minors
Blaze Your Path
Sample Courses
Introduction to Human Services
An overview of the human services field from historical, cultural, and political perspectives. Explores the philosophical and theoretical foundations underlying the necessity for human services in contemporary societies.
Social Policy
This course explores the operational factors involved in the organization of human service agencies, including both intra-agency and inter-agency communication networks involving fiscal management. In addition, this course attends to the major aspects of social welfare in the United States. The course will focus on the policy-making process, the government and social welfare, and understanding and preventing poverty. Students will be taught the role of social policy in American society and its implications for the human services professional.
The Family
A cross-cultural approach to analyzing and understanding the individual, marriage, family, and society. Explores conflict and resolution of family issues and the changing family systems in society.
Methods of Social Research
This course covers basic elements of the use of the scientific method in social science research. Topics covered include techniques and methods of quantitative and qualitative social research as they relate to hypothesis testing, research design, measurement, quantitative data collection methods (surveys, experiments, and single-subject design), and statistical data analysis. The ethics, politics, and uses of social research in the Human Services — including how to develop and submit a research proposal to an agency review board — are included.
Child and Early Adult Development
This course is a survey of the basis of human growth and development. Emotional, mental, physical, and social needs of children, adolescents, and early adults are reviewed. Analysis of the multiple factors that influence and shape behavior and personality is conducted.
Issues and Practices in Child Welfare
This course is designed to prepare students to work with children and families. It will introduce students to current issues affecting children and families today such as poverty, lack of health care, child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, bullying, homelessness, and teen pregnancy. Current legislation will be explored in its relationship to services provided for children and families such as educational programs, mental health counseling, foster care and adoption, daycare programs, and residential care. Best practices for program development with children and families will also be discussed.
Ethical Issues in Human Services
A modern survey of the principles and theories of moral conduct within the scope of the human services industry. The behaviors of professionals, consumers, and organizations are scrutinized in a comprehensive study of the moral responsibilities that guide the inter-relationships inherent in the delivery of human services. Moral judgment and decision-making are applied to the establishment and implementation of social policy and its regulation.
Field Experience and Internships
Human Services majors are required to complete 80 hours of experiential learning and
internships
. The knowledge, skills, and experience you gain — in the classroom and through internships — will boost your resume and your confidence with real-world work experience. Recent internship experiences include working with case workers, counselors, social workers, community outreach, and more.
Career Opportunities
Students with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services can immediately begin working in the field or continue to graduate school for advanced study.
Marriage and family counseling
Veterans services
Children, youth, and family services
Rehabilitation case worker
Disability services
Social work assistant
Community outreach worker
Child welfare specialist
Mental health counselor
School counselor
Substance abuse counselor
Probation officer
Home health aide
Daycare worker
Teaching assistant
Mental health counseling
Meet Your Instructors
Dr.
Gilbert Franco
Assistant Professor
352-638-9742
gfranco@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
AJ Marsden
Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology
352-638-9776
amarsden@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Richard Perrone
Associate Professor
352-638-9739
rperrone@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Meghann Sallee
Assistant Professor
352-764-6610
msallee@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Nancy Wood
Assistant Professor
352-638-9719
nwood@beaconcollege.edu
Meet Your General Education Instructors
Angel Maldonado
Dean of Curriculum and Innovation
352-315-9269
amaldonado@beaconcollege.edu
Jessica Caolo
Assistant Professor
352-315-1082
jcaolo@beaconcollege.edu
Christina Hansen
Instructor
352-764-6361
chansen@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Patricia Konovalov
Professor
352-638-9815
pkonovalov@beaconcollege.edu
Jodi Livingston
Instructor
352-787-1525
jlivingston@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Mary-Anne Primack
Assistant Professor
352-787-2912
mprimack@beaconcollege.edu
Autumn Welt
Assistant Professor
352-787-1056
awelt@beaconcollege.edu
Human Services Minor
Open to all Beacon students, the Human Services minor provides students with a broad view of humanitarian programs, and it can be combined with a degree in another field such as
Business Management
Associate of Arts in Human Services
The Associate of Arts degree in Human Services provides students with an education foundation before entering the workforce or pursuing further study or professional training. The A.A. program requires the completion of a total of 61 credits with 18 credits in the major.
Learn More About Human Services
To schedule a visit, please contact our admissions team at
admissions@beaconcollege.edu
or call
352-638-9731
or
855-220-5376
(toll-free).
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