Bachelor of Human Services

The Bachelor of Human Services (BHS) prepares students to understand and apply the skills and knowledge for effective work with clients from diverse populations and with diverse needs. These skills and knowledge include: interviewing and assessment, case planning, family mediation and conflict resolution, critical thinking, and ethical standards.

The Bachelor of Human Services is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE).

Admission Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Core Courses
HUMS A107History of Systems of Change3
HUMS A122Substance Use Disorder in Alaska3
HUMS A155Field Work and Human Service Practice3
HUMS A225Counseling in Human Service Practice3
HUMS A253Human Services and Disabilities3
HUMS A255Group Work in Human Service Practice3
HUMS A288Case Management in Human Services Practice3
HUMS A295AHuman Services Practicum I3
HUMS A295BHuman Services Practicum II3
HUMS A321Diversity Issues in Human Services Practice3
HUMS A325Case Management in Complex Systems3
HUMS A333Alternative Dispute Resolution3
HUMS A334Family Mediation3
HUMS A355Approaches for Working with Individual Clients3
HUMS A356The Dynamics of Human Service Organizations3
HUMS A412Ethical Issues in Human Services Practice3
HUMS A417Advanced Recovery Practice in Substance Use Treatment3
HUMS A464Leadership and Diversity in Contemporary Society3
HUMS A491Qualitative Research and Evaluation in a Multicultural Environment3
HUMS A495Human Services Practicum III3
HUMS A496Human Services Integrative Capstone3
LEGL A340Family Law3
PSY A150Lifespan Development3
or PSY A200 Introduction to Behavior Analysis
Electives
Complete 18 credits from the following, 6 of which must be upper division. Courses from other disciplines may be substituted with advisor approval.18
Peer Support and Recovery Practices In Behavioral Health
Introduction to Children's Behavioral Health
Understanding Mental Health Diagnosis, Treatment, and Interventions in Children’s Behavioral Health
Systems of Conflict and Collaboration
Professional Communication in Human Service Practice
Selected Topics in Human Service Practice
Selected Topics in Human Service Practice
Substance Misuse Disorders and the Older Adult
Intersectionality - An Approach to Cultural Practice
Privilege & Oppression: Equity and Equality in America
Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Practice
Selected Topics in Human Services Practice
Total87

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.

Honors in Human Services

The Bachelor of Human Services (BHS) recognizes distinguished achievement by conferring programmatic honors in human services. In order to receive honors in human services, a student must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete all requirements for the BHS. A minimum of 30 credits applicable to the BHS must be completed at UAA;
  • Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.50 in upper-division (300 and 400-level) Human Services courses;
  • Submit an intent to graduate with honors application to the BHS Program Director during the semester prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the Bachelor in Human Services will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the history of human services, how various types of services evolved, and the forces that influenced their development.
  • Demonstrate skills in assessing needs and providing direct and indirect services to individuals, families,  groups, and communities.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the main theories that provide the conceptual framework and underlying philosophy of the Human Services bachelor's degree program.
  • Apply the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) Standards for Ethical Behavior to their professional work.
  • Demonstrate skills in research design, data collection, analysis, and evaluation.
  • Demonstrate a high level of self-awareness, knowledge, and skills in the complexities of multiculturalism.
  • Demonstrate skills to effectively intervene with individuals from diverse populations.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

  • Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
  • GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
  • Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
  • Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
HUMS A107 History of Systems of Change 3
HUMS A122 Substance Use Disorder in Alaska 3
HUMS A225 Counseling in Human Service Practice 3
WRTG A111 Writing Across Contexts 3
GER Quantitative Skills 3-4
 Credits15-16
Spring
HUMS A155 Field Work and Human Service Practice 3
PSY A150
Lifespan Development
or Introduction to Behavior Analysis
3
GER Oral Communication Skills 3
GER Written Communication Skills (200-level) 3
Program Elective 3
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall
HUMS A255 Group Work in Human Service Practice 3
HUMS A288 Case Management in Human Services Practice 3
HUMS A295A Human Services Practicum I 3
GER Fine Arts 3
Program Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
HUMS A224 Systems of Conflict and Collaboration 3
HUMS A253 Human Services and Disabilities 3
HUMS A295B Human Services Practicum II 3
HUMS A321 Diversity Issues in Human Services Practice 3
Program Elective 3
 Credits15
Third Year
Fall
HUMS A333 Alternative Dispute Resolution 3
HUMS A355 Approaches for Working with Individual Clients 3
HUMS A412 Ethical Issues in Human Services Practice 3
GER Natural Sciences w/Lab 4
GER Alaska Native-Themed 3
 Credits16
Spring
HUMS A325 Case Management in Complex Systems 3
HUMS A334 Family Mediation 3
GER Humanities 3
GER Natural Sciences 3
Upper Division Program Elective 3
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall
HUMS A356 The Dynamics of Human Service Organizations 3
HUMS A491 Qualitative Research and Evaluation in a Multicultural Environment 3
HUMS A495 Human Services Practicum III 3
LEGL A340 Family Law 3
GER Humanities 3
 Credits15
Spring
HUMS A417 Advanced Recovery Practice in Substance Use Treatment 3
HUMS A464 Leadership and Diversity in Contemporary Society 3
HUMS A496 Human Services Integrative Capstone 3
GER Social Sciences 3
Upper Division Program Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits121-122