When you want to earn a degree that guarantees your ability to provide value to your community, you enroll in a bachelor’s in human services program. Studies in human services equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to understand various political, socioeconomic, and psychosocial perspectives, which means they can help all individuals and groups improve their circumstances in a number of impactful ways. Unlike other helping credentials, human services degrees are widely applicable; some of the best careers for human services grads include:
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist is dedicated to improving the lifestyle of individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or serious injuries. Therapists work with patients to help them gain the skills and techniques they need to manage their conditions and navigate daily tasks with success. Therapists might also work with patients’ families or even with coworkers and employers to ensure that patients have the correct type and level of support. Though human services grads will need to return to school for a master’s degree to pursue this career, they can earn an average salary of about $83,500 in this line of work.
Policy Analyst
In general, senators and congresspeople do not originate the bills they pass into law. Rather, laws begin as recommendations from policy experts, like policy analysts who exhaustively research and carefully draft laws, regulations, and other policies for governments. Because human services degrees focus on the services that individuals and communities need to survive and thrive, human services grads are well-equipped to function in these roles. Policy analysts can earn an average annual salary of around $82,400, though it can be difficult to build professional connections to identify available positions.
Family Therapist
As the name suggests, a family therapist is a professional who provides counseling services to family members, which can include entire family groups, married couples, or even individuals within a family unit. Sometimes, family therapists diagnose and treat mental health conditions, but more often family therapists are focused on supporting families during major life changes, like deaths, divorces, and conflicts. A practicing family therapist must have a master’s degree and a license from their state, but they can take home an average of $61,500 in salary every year.
Social Worker
Perhaps the most common career path for human services grads is social work. Indeed, social work and human services overlap significantly in skills and knowledge required; what’s more, both social workers and human services students tend to share goals and values such as preserving a person’s inherent dignity and delivering essential social services. Though social work is a demanding line of work, grads can earn upwards of $58,000 per year — as long as they have a master’s degree and license in the field.
School Counselor
Almost all academic institutions have counselors on staff, who are tasked with providing students with academic, social, and emotional support. Sometimes called guidance counselors, these professionals tend to develop deep connections with students to better understand their interests and abilities and nudge them toward more rewarding activities and goals. School counselors might also design programs or organize events like guest speakers to help students understand and achieve wellness. For their work, school counselors tend to earn more than the average teacher, taking home a salary of around $52,500 per year.
Crisis Intervention Specialist
Crisis intervention specialists are mental health professionals who focus on treating patients in the midst of crises, such as harmful thoughts and behaviors, violent environments, or natural disasters. Crisis intervention specialists can also help patients connect with other forms of support that might help them regain a stable and healthy lifestyle, such as food programs, shelters, and career coaching. Some states require that crisis intervention specialists have a master’s degree, while others allow certain bachelor’s degrees, like human services, as qualifications for this position. The national average salary for this career is about $47,600.
Your interest in earning a human services degree is undeniably noble, and it will give you the right qualifications to function effectively in a number of incredibly important roles in your community. With a little more education and the right balance of work and life, you can find great success with your human services degree.