Male College Student Meeting With Campus Counselor Discussing Mental Health Issues

Human Services Management

Program Overview

The Human Services Management fully online program draws on several foundation skills and outcomes to develop students into leaders in the Human Services field.

HSMG 510 (Organizational Management), HSMG 550 (Public Policy), and HSMG 570 (Human Diversity) are considered the “foundational courses” of this program. These courses look to lay the groundwork for the development of management and leadership skills while keeping in mind the unique challenges of being a leader in the field of Human Services.

See Program Fast Facts

As the program progresses, each course provides three (3) defined outcomes that each student will take with them throughout their studies. These outcomes are designed to assist in understanding, applying, and assessing each acquired skill (see Curriculum for each course description).

The courses in this program are designed to tap into numerous areas of leadership and develop the unique skills necessary to manage a Human Services agency or program.

The courses listed above, in addition to seven (7) additional core courses round out a student’s curriculum, developing areas such as:

  • Human Resources
  • Group Dynamics
  • Legal and Ethical Issues
  • Principles of Finance
  • Assessment and Evaluation

Each course is taught by a full-time Human Services Faculty Member, or by an Adjunct Professor who currently holds a Director or Assistant Director position in the field. These professionals provide not only day-to-day knowledge of how to hold a leadership position but also networking opportunities for our students to position themselves as marketable candidates for future leadership roles.

Human Service Management students will participate in a hands-on experience in each course, with the assessments serving as a “Leadership Portfolio.”

As students complete each course, their evaluations will be utilized to culminate in a program design, Capstone Project – tapping into the defined skills learned in each course, and creating a tangible portfolio to bring to a prospective employer, or current agency as evidence of skill and program design acquisition.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Human Services Management is designed for those who appreciate diversity and aspire to contribute to social justice through their work in a broad range of service-oriented organizations, such as non-profit and community organizations, criminal justice systems, health and human service agencies, residential programs, and educational institutions.

This program is designed to assist working adults in advancing their education and achieving a management degree in the Human Services field. Those who aspire to be managers, Supervisors, Assistant Directors, and Directors in the Human Services field will benefit from the facets of leadership and mission-driven courses in this program. This program is taught in two 8-week sessions each semester with students taking two courses per semester. With our small class sizes our students have the opportunity to develop critical relationships with their professors, who are working professionals in leadership positions in the Human Services field. Degree completion takes place in approximately two (2) years.

The program encourages critical and creative thinking, self-understanding and reflection, practical knowledge, and analysis of the social contexts, structures, and systems that affect all aspects of work in organizations. This degree differs from a counseling degree in that graduates are prepared to contribute to positive change from a wide range of service and administrative roles within organizations rather than to deliver therapeutic services.

“My graduate education at Chestnut Hill College has truly helped me to better serve others and continue the work that I love to do. This program has not been without its challenges, due to being a full-time employee and mother. However, it has provided me with a great opportunity to explore multiple areas of Human Services and to grow academically, professionally, and personally. This program caters to the working adult, which was essential to my success. Additionally, it is the people that I have met in this program, that have made it such a valuable experience and who also pushed me to succeed.”

Veronica Kimble-Williams
Director of TFC/ FCP – Merakey

Course Plan

Depending upon when a student begins their program (Fall, Spring, or Summer), HSM students will follow a defined course sequence – this maximizes the experience of the student, allows advising to focus on career goals and planning for post-degree completion, and provides guidance and peace of mind for students to know which courses they will be taking throughout the program.  If a student begins the program in either the Spring or Summer, the course sequence simply shifts to accommodate.

Each semester, students take two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits.  Each semester is broken into two, 8-week sessions.

Fall Start

Fall

  • HSMG 570 Human Diversity in Human Services
  • HSMG 540 Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services

Spring

  • HSMG 510 Organizational Management in Human Services
  • HSMG 550 Public Policy

Summer

  • HSMG 520 Principles of Human Resources
  • HSMG 560 Principles of Finance

Fall

  • HSMG 530 Leadership Development and Group Dynamics
  • HSMG 580 Assessment and Evaluation

Spring

  • Elective Course 1
  • Elective Course 2

Summer

  • HSMG 598 Professional Seminar
  • HSMG 599 Professional Project