Why major in Family and Human Services?

Students who pursue a degree in FHS help support the health and well-being of communities, families, and individuals through the development of prevention programs and through direct advocacy and delivery of services across the various levels of a person’s ecology.

Reflecting the diversity of the community and social service sector, FHS is interdisciplinary, drawing on the fields of psychology/counseling, social work, prevention science, public health, human development, and sociology.

As such, a degree in FHS is highly versatile and can lead to several careers.

Program Options

The family and human services major leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS) degree.

• The bachelor of arts (BA) degree requires proficiency in a second language.
• The bachelor of science (BS) degree requires proficiency in mathematics or computer and information science or a combination of the two.

Students who major in FHS must select one emphasis area in which to complete additional coursework beyond a shared set of core courses.

• The Prevention Science (PS) emphasis prepares students for graduate studies and careers that will involve prevention-focused program development and evaluation. 
• The Direct Service Intensive (DSI) emphasis prepares students for graduate studies and careers that will involve direct delivery of interventions.

What can I do with a Family and Human Services degree?

FHS graduates are prepared to enter the community and social service workforce, which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is “projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 371,900 jobs. Most projected new jobs in this occupational group are in counselor and social worker occupations.”

A degree in FHS is highly versatile. Many students enter the community and social service workforce immediately following graduation in occupations including:

Some careers within the community and social service sector require at least a master’s degree, and many FHS students pursue research and graduate studies in disciplines such as:

Contact Information

To schedule an advising appointment,

• Use Navigate, available on the App Store and Google Play
• Email an FHS advisor directly