College of Professional Studies
School of Social Work:

Bachelor of Science in Human Services

Degree Overview

Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is open to students who hold a high school diploma or GED certificate and meet one or more of the following requirements:

• Have a transfer grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for any previous college work.
• Are currently employed in human services practice for (5) years; or employed in a closely related field.  Note:  A combination of employment and volunteer service may be substituted for this admission requirement with the approval of the Human Services Program Committee.
• Provide evidence of aspiring to the educational goals of the human services degree program, and of the necessary commitment to address the demands of the program (interview with program faculty, personal essay, or letters of recommendation).
• Demonstrate appropriate skills in English composition and math as determined by University placement [proficiency exams] or other measures approved by the Human Services Program Committee.

Coursework Requirements
Core Courses: (36 semester hours)
All students must complete HMS 205 Contemporary Issues in Human Services and HMS 499 Professional Human Services Practice Seminar Capstone. Transfer work may be substituted for up to three of the remaining core courses if approved by the Human Services Program Committee as related to the student's academic program. 

• HMS 205 Contemporary Issues in Human Services 
• HMS 210 Software and Technology for Nonprofits
• HMS 220 Group Work
• HMS 330 Mediation and Conflict Resolution
• HMS 335 Development and Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofits
• HMS 350 Legal Issues and Advocacy for Nonprofits
• HMS 380 Effective Nonprofit Management
• HMS 400 Financial and Quantitative Basis of Management
• HMS 420 The Community Environment
• HMS 430 Programming, Supervision, and Evaluation
• HMS 475 Senior Project Practicum in Human Services
• HMS 499 Professional Human Services Practice Seminar Capstone 

Career Investigation/Field Experience Practicum or Professional Assessment Portfolio Requirement: 
In addition to the above 36 semester hours students must complete three semester hours of career investigation/field experience. 

Students with less than five years of human services experience must complete HMS 275 in their sophomore year and HMS 375 in their junior year.

• HMS 275 Sophomore Career Investigation Field Experience Practicum (1 semester hour)
• HMS 375 Junior Career Investigation Field Experience Practicum (2 semester hours)

Students who have completed five or more years as a human services professional / volunteer will qualify to take HMS 390.

• HMS 390 Assessment of Human Services Work/Volunteer Experience (3 semester hours)

Youth Development, Programming and Management Specialization: 
In addition to the core courses and career investigation/field experience practicum or professional assessment portfolio requirements, students complete 12 semester hours of approved specialization electives, distributed as follows: 

• REC 208 Community First Aid and Adult/Child CPR (2 semester hours)
• HMS 240 Youth Development (3 semester hours)
• HMS 260 Activities for Youth Development (3 semester hours)
• HMS 360 Diversity and Special Populations (3 semester hours)
• A (1-3) semester hour elective of other approved coursework related to the youth development field, but not specifically falling within the categories listed above.

An elective in a specialization may include courses offered by Aurora University, assessed prior learning, approved transfer courses from other accredited institutions, approved practicum, and courses offered by cooperating agencies that have entered into formal agreements with Aurora University for the crediting of in-service offerings. 

Course and Program Format: 
Each core course incorporates one or more assignments that provide opportunities for students to apply the learning of the course to a project in the human services workplace. Students incorporate final reports or other assignments from these projects into their graduation portfolios. 

Elective courses are in some cases developed by participating agencies with University approval. Students register through the University for these courses, which may be taught on-site at a participating agency. 

Practicum may be used to meet elective requirements, with the prior approval of the Human Services Program Committee. If elected by the student, practicum can usually be completed in the agency where the student is employed. Work assignments in connection with the practicum must provide opportunities for new learning appropriate to the human services degree outcomes and the student's educational and professional goals. 

Professional Competencies:
All Human Services graduates are required to demonstrate competence in several areas considered essential for effective performance in the field. 

1. Oral Communication/Presentations 
2. Project Management skills
3. Writing skills (required prior to enrollment in HMS 390)
4. Math proficiency (required prior to enrollment in HMS 380)

These competencies may be demonstrated by presentation of coursework or through various demonstrations of competence or certification as approved by the Human Services Program Committee. 

General Degree Requirements:
All students must complete the Aurora University general education requirements prior to graduation. Satisfying these requirements may include Aurora University coursework, college transfer work from accredited institutions, credit for prior learning, and examination credit.

As part of the requirements of HMS499, students complete a professional graduation portfolio, which includes demonstrating their grasp of the Domains of General Education at Aurora University in the context of their major coursework and in relation to their personal and professional goals.

Additional Information:

Human Services Course Descriptions

For more information about the Human Services program, please contact:

Cheryl Baldwin
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, IL 60506-4892
630-844-4227