Education & Human Services

Human services worker is a generic term for people who hold professional and paraprofessional positions in social services agencies. The bachelor’s degree program in counseling and human services is uniquely designed to prepare graduates to assist individuals and families in need of assistance through a multidisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life for those populations served. Students graduating with a B.S. in counseling and human services are equipped to work in many different service settings integrating and coordinating the efforts of specialized professionals. These settings including group homes and halfway houses; programs serving the developmentally challenged; community mental health centers; family, child, and youth service agencies; drug and alcohol treatment centers; rehabilitation settings;  nursing homes and other agencies serving the elderly population.

The Counseling and Human Services Program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the growing and varied field of human services.  The Counseling and Human Services Program places an emphasis on applied learning through required fieldwork placements in community settings.  Because of this emphasis, benefits are numerous and often result in important professional connections as well as developing the students' sense of professional identity.  The Counseling and Human Services Program also prepares student for graduate work in related disciplines.

Students are exposed to classroom instruction and field experiences that prepare them for positions in work settings such as mental health agencies, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatment programs, corrections, therapeutic recreation, daycare centers, after-school programs, substance abuse programs, and a wide variety of programs serving the elderly.  In addition to required core courses (HSR), an assortment of elective courses are available for students to select that are consistent with their specific area of interest.  Counseling and Human Service Program graduates are also prepared for entrance into masters degree programs in counseling and other related fields. 

Students are encouraged to join the Human Services Student Club to begin establishing a social and professional network within the field. The Human Services Student Club is student driven with a faculty advisor. The club provides opportunities to build relationships with community agencies, learn more about current social service issues, develop of  personal relationships with fellow classmates, increase leadership skills, and enhance the overall college experience. For further information about the humans services club, visit the Counseling and Human Services webpage.

• HSR students have scholarship opportunities for the major.
• HSR Majors are encouraged to join the HSR listserv. Members of the listserv receive valuable information about upcoming events sponsored by the Human Services Club as well as local agency events, projects, and job opportunities within the field. The link to subscribe to the listserv is: humanservicemajors@listserv.nku.edu
• HSR Majors are encouraged to become a College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) student ambassador. COEHS Student Ambassadors demonstrate and further develop leadership skills while representing their College as well as the Counseling and Human Services Program at various university functions. The link for further information is: http://www.nku.edu/~education/advising/organizations/ambassadors.php

Field admission is selective. The requirements for admission are as follows:

1. Students must be admitted to Northern Kentucky University;
2. successfully complete HSR 100; and
3. have faculty recommendation and consent of instructor before enrolling in any practica or field experience course.

Students must successfully complete all required Counseling and Human Services courses and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Human Services degree.

The Counseling and Human Services major is available in an evening, non-traditional format for adult learners through the PACE delivery.  PACE curriculum schedule http://pace.nku.edu/undergradmajors/bchs.html .