Human Services Degree

Human Services students
Thank you for your interest in the Social Work and Human Services Department at Kennesaw State University.  The Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services (HS) is designed to provide an educational foundation for those who wish to build a rewarding career helping others who are experiencing social and personal problems; empower their community, and/or work in nonprofit and community based agencies. 

The multidisciplinary HS degree program prepares students to be competent human services professionals who can fulfill multiple roles in a variety of settings. The degree contains a core curriculum that teaches skills and concepts needed by all human services professionals.  In addition, the HS degree program is an application-oriented major, based on a synthesis of knowledge and skills to intervene at the individual, group, community, and organizational levels.  The Human Services Program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE) until June 2027.

Study in this degree program requires student self-reflection to understand one’s beliefs, values and biases. This self-awareness is necessary when working with vulnerable populations.

Currently, the HS degree program has approximately 300 majors.  The department has established working relationships with human service agencies throughout metro-Atlanta and Northwest Georgia which provide internship and fieldwork experience for students and is in national partnership with The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and Zero Abuse Project.

Welcome to Kennesaw State University and welcome to the Human Services Degree Program.  We hope your educational experience here will be as rewarding for you as it has been for others! 

 

Admission and Progression Requirements

The Human Services (HS) major requires students to maintain an Institutional GPA (formerly KSU AGPA) of 2.00 or higher to progress through the major.

Human Services Program Admission Requirements

 In order to be accepted as a major in Human Services, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have an institutional GPA of 2.00 or higher
  • Completed the following General Education Courses with a “C” or greater:
    • ENGL 1101: Composition I or ENGL 1102 Composition II
    • Any Area Math Course for D1 however, we advise HS majors to complete STAT 1401 Elementary Statistics for their General Education Area A2 & DATA 1501 for General Education Area D1
    • ECON 1000: Contemporary Economic Issues (in a previous catalog you may have taken ECON 1100 Global Economics)
  • Completed the Human Services Area F courses with a “C” or greater:
    • PSYC 1101: Introduction to General Psychology OR ECON 2100 Principles of Microeconomics
    • SOCI 1101: Introduction to Sociology
    • HS 2100: Overview of Human Services
    • HS 2200: Fundamentals of Nonprofit Organizations
    • HS 2300: Cultural Competence in the Human Services
    • HS 2400: Interviewing Skills for the Helping Professions

Note 1: Students must complete ECON 1000 or ECON 1100 for acceptance into the major. Please check that you have taken ECON 1000 for Area B1 or have ECON 1100 (if in a previous catalog)

Note 2: Students may complete any area D1 Math Course. We suggest HS majors complete STAT 1401 Elementary Statistics for their General Education Area A2 & DATA 1501 for General Education Area D1 requirements. 

After completing the above criteria for acceptance:

  • Apply to the Human Services Program using the online application
hs admission application
  • Applications are reviewed using the deadlines listed below.
  • Applicants will receive an e-mail response to their KSU email of acceptance or denial upon review.
  • Upon notification of acceptance to the major (by email), students must complete the application requirements by notifying the Program Coordinator of his/her acceptance and attending the required major orientation.
  • If denied acceptance to the major, students are encouraged to meet with the Program Coordinator, if desired, to review the reason for denial and develop a plan in order to be eligible to reapply to the major. 

Current Students Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: June 1 (for admission and registration for fall semester)
Spring Semester:  October 1 (for admission and registration for spring semester)
Summer Semester: February 1 (for admission and registration for summer semester)

 

Transfer Students Application Deadlines

Fall Semester:  July 1
Spring Semester:  December 1
Summer Semester:  May 1

Please Note:

  • Applicants will be informed of their application status within 3 to 4 weeks after the deadline to allow for final semester grades to post and application review to occur.
  • Accepted majors must attend a required program orientation shortly thereafter.
  • Accepted majors are expected to enroll in HS 3000 Foundation Internship within two semesters of their program acceptance.
curriculum

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, two. Foundation Internship-150 hours and Advanced Internship-300 hours
  • These classes are always shown as closed, because you must be a Human Services Major and have completed the applications before you can take the internship classes. Your application is submitted through Owl Express.
  • To complete your General Education Social Science E4 requirement, you may take CRJU 1101 Foundations of Criminal Justice, GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography, STS 1101 Science, Technology and Society or ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology. You may also take ECON 2106 Principles of Microeconomics if you did not use it in Area F. 
  • The students in the Social Engagement and Advocacy (SEA) concentration focus on the ability to integrate knowledge and skills related to direct practice with individuals, families, children, and groups and learn case management skills and are prepared to work in crisis intervention settings. Students who select the Nonprofit Management  and Social Innovation (NMSI) concentration develop management, leadership, and administrative competencies to work in nonprofit and public organizational settings, including human resources, governance, fund development, program evaluation, grant writing, budgeting, and finance.  All human services majors graduate with competencies in communication, assessment, advocacy, documentation, community networking, cultural competence, social policy, civic engagement, and professional/career development. These competencies are established by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE). Graduates from the HS program may qualify to take the Human Service Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) exam for becoming a Human Service Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP).  For additional information regarding the HS-BCP, please contact the Human Services Program Director.
  • No, but majors may use courses from the other concentration to complete minor, certificate and/or free elective options.  It is highly suggested that students seek advising to map their program of study. 

  • The Human Services major adheres to the University’s policy regarding Academic Standing, Academic Probation, and Academic Dismissal. 

    Good Standing:  An undergraduate student is in good standing when the student’s institutional GPA is 2.00 or higher.

    Academic Probation:  A student will be placed on academic probation at the end of any term for which the student’s institutional grade point average is below 2.00. A student may enroll in no more than 13 credit hours while on academic probation. Note:  Human Services Majors on academic probation are asked to create a plan of study under the supervision of the Human Services Program Director and Advising. 

    Academic Dismissal: A student on academic probation will be dismissed if:

    • the student does not earn a 2.00 or higher term grade point average or
    • the student is on academic probation for three (3) consecutive semesters.

    An academically dismissed student is not in good academic standing at KSU and is not eligible for immediate readmission.

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