Online Associate Degrees in Human Services: Inside 2yr Programs
The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:
HealthcareNursingAdv NursingInterested in a career helping people? This guide introduces online associate degree programs the human services, and includes admissions requirements, program costs and financial aid, completion times, job opportunities for graduates, and more.
Student FAQs: Understanding the Basics
Online associate in human services programs come in many forms. Make sure to take the time to find the one that best aligns with your work and life obligations, study style, and career goals.
Not to mention your budget.
To help in your search, here are the answers to three frequently-asked questions by prospective online human services associate degree students.
What classes do you take in an online human services associate program?
Human services students will encounter a wide variety of course options depending on the specific programs they consider. There are, however, a number of common course subjects that are part of practically every human services associate degree curriculum, including:
Psychology
Human services programs often offer one or more psychology courses. Introductory psychology classes generally provide a survey of the field and psychological methods.
Common topics covered include:
- Biology
- Developmental psychology
- Emotions
- Perceptions
- Social psychology
- Therapy
Course titles to look for:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Social Psychology
Sociology
Human services careers involve helping people in a wide range of social systems, so it’s no surprise that courses in sociology are commonly found in human services curriculums.
Common sociology topics covered include:
- Culture
- Deviance
- Multiculturalism
- Social stratification
Course titles to look for:
- Introductory Sociology
- Principles of Sociology
Counseling
Like psychology, counseling may be addressed multiple times throughout a human services associate degree program through introductory courses providing students with foundational counseling tools and theories.
Common topics discussed in counseling courses include:
- Relationship skills
- Ethics
- Boundaries
- Counseling techniques
Course titles to look for:
- Introduction to Counseling
- Group Counseling Methods
- Counseling Theory & Tactics
Communication
Effective communication is at the root of human services practice. Communication classes help students hone their skills in social, relational, and cultural contexts.
Students develop oral, written, and nonverbal skills through research, presentations, and group activities.
Course titles to look for:
- Written Communication
- Interpersonal Communication
Throughout all human services associate degree coursework, students develop key skills essential to their careers. These general skills include:
- Professionalism, professional responsibility, and best practices in human services.
- Effective communication with diverse populations.
- Identification and assessment of the social, cultural, and relational factors within social systems.
- Discovery and effective use of community resources to aid clients.
- Accurate documentation of case records.
How long does it take to get an associate in human services online?
Most online associate degrees in human services require completion of a total of around 60 credit hours. Exactly how long it will take you to earn those credits will depend primarily on your chosen study pace.
Typical program lengths are:
- Full-time: Two years
- Part-time: Three to four years
You may be able to shorten your completion time if you have previously-earned college credits that can be applied to your associate degree requirements.
How much will an online associate in human services cost?
Costs for online human services associate degree programs vary from school to school and depend on such factors as:
- Total credits required
- Study pace (full-time, part-time)
- Public vs. private school: Private schools typically charge higher tuition rates than public schools.
- Student residency: Public schools often charge higher tuition rates to out-of-state residents.
To give you a basic idea of what you can expect to pay for your degree, here are the tuition rates for three current online associate in human services programs. You should additionally check out the costs listed in the program rankings at the bottom of this guide.
Western New Mexico University
Associate of Arts in Human Services
Total Credits: 60
$358.78/credit (New Mexico residents); $445.61/credit (out-of-state residents). Tuition and online lab fees.
Accreditation and Your Online Associate in Human Services
Proper accreditation is an absolute must for any human services degree you consider. Accreditation is your assurance that a degree program has met stated standards of academic quality.
Look for these two main types of accreditation:
- Institutional accreditation concerns the vetting of colleges and universities as a whole. Institutional accreditation of U.S. postsecondary schools is administered by several independent accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Regional accreditation focuses on the quality of individual degree programs. Programmatic accreditation of human services degrees in the U.S. is provided by Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE).
Current accreditation information can often be found on degree program websites. You can also check on current institutional and programmatic accreditation status by using this Department of Education search engine.
Paying for Your Human Services Associate Degree
It’s important to secure the funding for your online associate degree in human services before your enroll. Fortunately, there are lots of financial aid opportunities available to qualifying students, including:
- Scholarships and grants: Including those provided by government agencies, professional associations, community and minority groups, and even colleges and universities themselves.
- Student loans: Available from the federal government, state governments, and private lenders.
- Tuition assistance: Most often provided on the state government level.
- Work-study: The federal government is the major provider of work-study funding.
- Employer tuition reimbursement: Speak to your employer about availability.
Applying for any and all Federal Student Aid resources requires filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The best place to start your funding search is by contacting the financial aid offices at each of the schools you’re considering for your human services education.
What Comes After the Human Services Associates?
Before beginning any degree program, students should familiarize themselves with potential career and education outcomes (career opportunities, earnings and job growth potential, etc.). Researching this information ahead of time is important to assure students that going for a human services associate degree is the right move.
What Can You Do with an Associate Degree in Human Services?
Earning an associate in human services degree opens the door to a wide range of challenging and lucrative careers, all of which are founded in helping others. Examples of job duties include:
- Providing mental health support to clients
- Conducting community outreach
- Supporting young people in the juvenile justice system
Popular work settings include:
- Community services agencies
- Healthcare providers
- Justice system facilities and services
- Nonprofits
- Social work agencies
A human services associate degree additionally lays the foundation for future academics pursuits in earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or undergraduate or graduate certificate.
How Much Can You Make with an Associate Degree in Human Services?
Earnings potential for human services associate degree holders can vary widely depending on the specific career path chosen. And while an associate degree is primarily designed to prepare human services students for entry-level job positions, earnings typically increase with work experience and additional education.
The table below illustrates the income progress of four popular human services careers.
| Career | # Employed | Entry-Level | Early Career | Mid-Career | Experienced | Late Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 384,080 | $21,480 | $26,130 | $33,120 | $41,910 | $53,380 |
| Childcare Workers | 562,420 | $17,490 | $19,180 | $22,290 | $26,610 | $32,780 |
| Health Educators | 58,780 | $32,030 | $39,800 | $54,220 | $74,660 | $98,530 |
| Community Health Workers | 56,130 | $26,070 | $32,280 | $39,540 | $51,650 | $65,890 |
Certifications Available to Human Services Professionals
Though typically not required for practice, obtaining professional certification in the human services field is a great way to enhance your resume and stand out in the job market. Professional certifications indicate a level of competency, expertise, and commitment to your profession.
Three popular professional certifications for human services associate degree holders are:
- Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT)
- Human Services‑Board Certified Practitioner (HS‑BCP)
- National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS)
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Furthering Your Education in Human Services
Associate degrees in human services are primarily designed to prepare graduates for entry-level employment. But they also function as an initial step in a longer education process.
Associate grads often continue their studies to earn a human services bachelor’s degree, benefiting from the ability to apply credits earned in their associate program toward their bachelor’s program requirements. And earning your human services bachelor’s can, in turn, lead to graduate studies on the master’s level.
In addition, your human services associate degree can lay a foundation to pivoting to a related career path through pursuing an associate degree or certificate in a different major.
Below are examples of how you can put your human services associate degree to further academic use.
Continuing Education
Online Bachelor’s in Human Services
Students interested in expanding their human services education beyond the associate degree level can pursue an online bachelor’s degree. By applying credits earned in their associate program, students are often able to earn their bachelor’s in around two years.
This is a good option for those who want to begin specializing their knowledge and skills in preparation for continuing on to earn a graduate degree and pursue advanced careers in leadership roles.
Online Master’s in Human Services
Master’s degrees in human services are all about leadership and specialization. Graduates are prepared to fill advanced roles in a variety of specialized practice areas, such as:
- Administration/leadership
- Child and family services
- Gerontology
- Mental health and counseling
- Substance abuse/addictions counseling
Typical program lengths for online master’s in human services degree programs are two years (full-time) and two to four years (part-time).
Related Degrees
Online Associate Nursing (ADN) Programs
Online ADN programs prepare students to become Registered Nurses. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, which is required for RN licensure.
This degree is a great option for students who are interested in caring for patients in a clinical setting.
Online Home Health Aide Certification Programs
Those interested in quick entry into the healthcare field may want to consider an online home health aide certification program. Home health aides typically work with elderly, sick, and disabled clients in home settings.
Best Online Associate Degree Programs in Human Services
Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from schools themselves, we’ve ranked the top online human services associate programs available today. Let these rankings help you in finding the one program that best meets your needs. Key data points in the methodology include the following:
- Accreditation
- Costs and access to financial aid
- Available student academic and career support services
- Online program options
- Quality academics
For details on our selection process, click “About the Ranking”.
