If you’re a busy adult looking to advance your career while making a positive impact on your community, an online human services degree program may be the right fit for you. Human services professionals help adults, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities benefit from services and programs that can improve their lives.
Whether you work in human services and want to take on a leadership role or you want to move into this growing and meaningful industry, there are many benefits to earning your human services degree online.
Why Should You Pursue a Career in Human Services?
A career in human services is a strong option for those who have a desire to give back to the community. By directly helping others, many human services professionals find their work to be highly rewarding.
Additionally, human services is one of the fastest-growing fields, with a broad range of job opportunities and strong stability. Demand for human services professionals is expected to grow by 12% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, there is ample opportunity for those who want to enter into and grow within the human services industry.
Finally, human services is an excellent option for those who want to do good in their communities, but also desire the flexibility to choose from various career paths.
Human Services Career Pathways
Let’s look at a few of the many possible career paths in the human services industry.
Social Worker
Social workers provide individual, family, and group support to help people manage difficult situations. They advocate for their client’s well-being and often refer them to other resources for additional support. Social work professionals commonly choose to work within a specific concentration, such as child welfare, schools, or healthcare systems. This position is a strong fit for people who want to make an impact by working directly with people in need.
Median Salary: $50,390
Projected Growth: 12%
Social and Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers are responsible for organizing and overseeing programs designed to improve public well-being. Community service managers often hold a variety of responsibilities. These include developing and executing program proposals, coordinating community events, and managing project teams. This position is ideal for organized people who thrive when tasked with diverse responsibilities.
Median Salary: $74,000
Projected Growth: 15%
Fundraising Manager
Fundraising managers oversee and execute campaigns designed to bring in donations for their organization. Commonly working in the nonprofit sector, they’re essential to the success of organizations that rely on donations to provide services. This position is a strong fit for extroverted people who are skilled at building relationships.
Median Salary: $119,860
Projected Growth: 13%
How Can an Online Degree in Human Services Advance Your Career?
The unique design of online human services degree programs helps busy adults like you take the next steps toward achieving their career goals. Let’s look at a few of the benefits:
Earn Your Human Services Degree on Your Time
Online human services degrees offer you the flexibility to complete your coursework whenever and wherever works best for you. Maybe you can carve out a couple of hours after the kids go to bed. Maybe you have some time between shifts and on the weekends. No matter your schedule, these specially designed programs will fit into your busy life.
Work in the Field While Finishing Your Degree
Online programs offer you the unique opportunity to finish your degree while working in the field. Many students find that they apply what they learn in the classroom directly to their jobs and vice versa.
Options for Every Level of Your Human Services Career
Both experienced professionals and those looking to enter the human services field will find online human services programs that fit their needs. Whether you’re starting with an associate degree, finishing your bachelor’s, or earning a master’s degree or graduate certificate, there are options for each stage of your career.