Program Overview

As organizations respond to increasingly complex social and community needs, professionals with expertise in program management, organizational leadership, and service delivery play an essential role in supporting individuals, families, and communities. The Master of Science in Human Services combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications to prepare students for professional and leadership responsibilities across nonprofit, private, public, government, and military organizations.

The program encourages students to apply their learning to real-world human services challenges, strengthening their ability to lead initiatives, manage resources, and contribute to organizational effectiveness. The curriculum covers essential topics such as professional communication in human services, theories of behavior, professional ethics, nonprofit management, financial decision-making, research methods, and program development and evaluation. The culmination of real-world experiences for current and future human services professionals provides a solid foundation for students in human services.

The MS in Human Services is designed for case managers, program coordinators, and nonprofit staff moving into management, as well as career changers entering the human services sector through a California-based university.

The Master’s in Human Services is a non-licensure degree and is not intended for those seeking mental health licensure or the practice of mental health counseling. (For an online counseling degree, see the graduate program in Marriage and Family Therapy).

 Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MS in Human Services must meet one of the following academic admission criteria:

  • Bachelor’s degree: A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
  • Graduate transfer students: Must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.75.

International applicants who are required to demonstrate English proficiency may submit a TOEFL score of at least 500 on the paper-based test or 61 on the iBT. TUW’s TOEFL code is 3157.

No GRE is required.

Students who meet the admission criteria must then:

  1. Submit an application. TUW has waived the $60 application fee for prospective students.
  2. Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institutions. Students who completed college coursework outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential-evaluation agency under TUW’s international admission requirements.
View Graduate Admission Requirements

Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships

Tuition for the Master of Science in Human Services is $500 per semester credit. At that rate, tuition for the full 36-credit program is $18,000 before scholarships, financial aid, employer tuition assistance, or approved transfer credit.

Eligible students may use federal financial aid, scholarships, student loans, and employer tuition assistance to help pay for their education. TUW tuition assistance counselors are available to help students review available funding options.

The MS in Human Services is also an eligible program for TUW’s Achieve Your Success Scholarship, subject to the scholarship’s eligibility and continuation requirements.

Review Scholarships

Military & Veteran Benefits

Eligible military-affiliated master’s students may qualify for a reduced military tuition rate and receive military advising to help them understand tuition assistance and VA education benefits. TUW also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and accepts eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.

For service members and veterans with experience in case management, family support, transition assistance, or related service roles, the MS in Human Services can build on that background through graduate study focused on program management, leadership, and community services.

Explore Military Benefits

What Can You Do With a Master of Science in Human Services Degree

An MS in Human Services can support advancement into leadership and program-management roles across nonprofit, government, community, and social-service organizations. Career opportunities depend on previous experience, employer requirements, and the type of services or populations a professional works with.

Graduates may pursue roles such as:

  • Community Services Manager
  • Nonprofit Program Director 
  • Case Manager
  • Community Outreach Specialist
  • Child Welfare Specialist
  • Social Services Director

Human services professionals may work in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, community-service organizations, family-service programs, residential and rehabilitation settings, and other organizations that support individuals and communities. Leadership roles in human services may involve overseeing programs, supervising staff, coordinating services, managing resources, and evaluating organizational effectiveness.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of social and community service managers to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Social and community service managers earn a median annual wage of around $80,000. For social workers, the median annual wage is approximately $62,000.

Core Requirements

36 Semester Credits

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Throughout this course, students will explore communications skills and techniques useful for professionals in human services to collaborate with individuals, communities, and agencies in the human service field. Special emphasis will explore professional and academic writing as well as examining a variety of contemporary digital media platforms.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course, students receive a broad overview of theories useful in the human services profession. Special emphasis is placed on the value of theories of behavior in human services to include social cognition, social learning, motivation, conflict and systems theory. Students have an opportunity to apply theory to human services in variety of settings.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to introduce students to various perspectives in the human services field. Students have an opportunity to explore strategies to generate self-awareness for professionals, which is invaluable in minimizing biases in the human services field by exploring diverse perspectives in a variety of settings.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course, students examine professional ethic issues in the discipline of human services. The course provides an introduction to analyzing various moral and ethical dilemmas, and legal and ethical responsibilities for human service professionals. Students will also explore topics related to informed consent, confidentiality, and client rights.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an overview on management skills for the 21st century human service professional. Students will compare and contrast management and leadership theories and styles applicable to various human services organizations.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course, students examine the role of team collaboration and the associated influence of management and leadership to foster communications between human services professionals within and across communities and agencies. Special emphasis is on group dynamics and motivation theories applicable to human services organizations in a variety of settings.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course, students explore management of human services in the nonprofit sector. Students explore the unique characteristics associated with management and leadership for nonprofit organizations’ stakeholders to include volunteers, professional staff, and regulatory agencies. Students receive a brief overview of managerial strategies for funding in nonprofit human service organizations.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course examines contemporary issues, strategies and implementation of public policy in human services. Students will explore policy strategies and analysis in areas such as child/youth welfare, socio-economic status, community based initiatives, family strengthening, social services, vulnerable populations, and poverty.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course, students explore the fundamental techniques for successful financial decision making in human services. Special emphasis includes basic terminology relevant to finance in human services, learning how assess the health of the organization through financial reports, and utilize the reports and lessons learned to make sound financial decision-making in a human services organization.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course serves as an introduction to graduate level research in the human services field. Students learn about the research process and receive a general overview of the ways that human service professionals apply knowledge from research into practice. Special emphasis is on the design and execution of both quantitative and qualitative research in the human services, and which designs are most useful to address contemporary human services problems.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course provides the students the capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate human service programs. Students learn to plan and evaluate a human services organization that contributes to a community and/or society. Special emphasis is on types of evaluations used in human services based on the desired outcome of the human services professional.

CREDITS

3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Capstone Course is the final course in the Master of Science in Human Services degree program. The capstone is intended to demonstrate the student’s ability to integrate all facets of human services by developing a Capstone assignment that applies what has been learned to a real-world scenario.

CREDITS

3

Credits

36 semester credits

Duration

1 year full-time; 1.5 years typical

Format

100% online, 8-week courses

Start dates

Six per year

Next start

October 26, 2026

Apply by

October 23, 2026*

Accreditation

WSCUC

Tuition

$500 per semester credit

Transfer credits

Up to 9 credits

Entry requirement

Accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA, or graduate transfer status in good standing with a minimum 2.75 GPA

*Application deadlines are generally the Friday before the term begins. Confirm the date with an enrollment counselor.

Request Information

Accreditation & Institutional Recognition

Touro University Worldwide is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Institutional accreditation applies to TUW as a university, including its online academic programs.

TUW is a California-based nonprofit university and part of the Touro University System.

Students must complete 12 courses, 11 standard courses and one three-credit capstone (last course taken in the program) for a total of 36 credits.

The time it will take to complete the Master of Science in Human Services (MHS) degree online can vary. The duration of the program depends on several factors, including the number of credits accepted for transfer and whether or not students take time off between semesters.

The typical length of time for the Master of Science in Human Services (MHS) is one and half (1.5) years.

Disclaimer:
Students who enroll full-time (12 credits per semester for three semesters each academic year) can complete the degree in one (1) year. Students who enroll part-time (six credits per semester for three semesters each academic year) will complete the MHS program in 1.5 years.

Why TUW: Faculty, Proof & Credibility

TUW’s MS in Human Services combines graduate study in leadership, nonprofit management, public policy, program development, and community services with faculty from the Edith Neumann School of Health and Human Services. Faculty backgrounds span social work, counseling, public administration, healthcare, and related areas. 

Faculty expertise

Kenya Jones, PhD, MSW, is a faculty member in Touro University Worldwide’s Master of Science in Human Services program. Her academic background combines doctoral-level education with graduate-level preparation in social work, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of human services and its application in professional practice.

Lisa Marie Harris, PhD, LPC-S, teaches in TUW’s MS in Human Services and Master of Arts in Counseling programs. She holds a PhD and the Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor credential.

Quintin Robinson, PhD, MPA, is listed among the MS in Human Services faculty and holds a Master of Public Administration in addition to his doctorate. He also serves as TUW’s Director of Institutional Effectiveness.

Request Information & Apply

Ready to see how the MS in Human Services could support your professional goals? A TUW enrollment counselor can help you review admission requirements, transfer credits, tuition and financial aid, and the next available start date.

Request Information Apply Now

For assistance, contact an enrollment counselor at 818-575-6800 or online@tuw.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Human services is a broad field focused on programs, organizations, and services that support individuals and communities. Social work is a distinct profession with its own educational and state-specific credentialing requirements. TUW offers the non-licensure MS in Human Services as well as a CSWE-accredited BA in Social Work for students interested in formal social work education. 

Students seeking professional counseling or therapy licensure should choose a degree specifically designed for that pathway. TUW offers a separate Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Arts in Counseling. Each program has its own curriculum, clinical requirements, and state-specific licensure considerations. 

No professional human services experience is required for admission to the MS in Human Services. However, experience can be important for advancement into management positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social and community service managers typically need related work experience, so graduate study can build on professional experience.

The Master of Science in Human Services focuses on leadership, program management, and service delivery within organizations that support individuals, families, and communities. In contrast, a public administration degree provides a broader foundation in government operations, public policy, organizational leadership, and public-sector management. TUW’s Master of Arts in Public Administration may better suit students whose goals center on government or public administration.

You may transfer up to 9 approved graduate credits into our 36-credit MS in Human Services program. If all 9 credits are accepted, you would have 27 credits, or nine 3-credit courses, remaining to complete at TUW. All transfer credits are subject to TUW’s evaluation and approval process.

No. The MS in Human Services is delivered 100% online, so you do not need to live in California to enroll. TUW participates in NC-SARA for interstate distance education and is separately authorized to provide distance education in California, allowing students across the United States to complete the program online.