Human service is often referred to when speaking of the umbrella of all service related professions. However, Human Services is also a specific profession and a discipline.


Human Services as an independent career is often considered a "paraprofession". This is accurate in the sense that the human services worker often works along side of other professionals. However, because the discipline of human services has an established national association (National Organization of Human Service Educators), professional ethics, and a board to give focus and direction to education and training (Council for Standards in Human Service Education), it meets the criteria of being a "profession." As the title implies, the goal of the human service professional is to meet human needs. The human service professional has an opportunity to work in various settings with a wide range of clients including individuals, families, and groups in becoming self-sufficient within the framework of social care, social control, or rehabilitation.


Types of jobs available after completing a Human Services Degree:

• Case Worker
• Child Abuse Worker
• Family Support Worker
• Youth Worker
• Mental Health Aide
• Residential Counselor
• Behavioral Management Aide
• Intake Interviewer
• Case Management Aide
• Social Work Assistant
• Social Service Technician
• Mental Health Technician
• Home Health Aide

The human service professional performs a variety of roles:

• Counselor
• Broker
• Teacher
• Advocate
• Mediator
• Caregiver