The UNH online Master of Science in Human Service Administration degree is built for dedicated human services professionals who aspire to effect positive change within the communities they serve. This master’s degree program focuses on the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to lead in a human services agency or organization.
Credit Hours: 30 | Program Length: Finish in 18 months or sooner | Tuition Cost
What is Human Services Administration?
The Master of Science in Human Services Administration (MSHSA) prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to lead in human services agencies or organizations. Students will integrate methods of leadership, management and administration, ethical decision making, and program planning and evaluation in an interprofessional learning environment. The MSHSA provides graduates with the education needed to assume roles as administrators, managers, or leaders within the human service industry.
Why study Human Services Administration at UNH College of Professional Studies?
Prepare to lead human services agencies and organizations. Built for dedicated human services professionals who aspire to effect positive change within the communities they serve, this master’s degree program focuses on the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to lead in a human services agency or organization.Available fully online with select blended course options, this program is built for students who are currently working (or volunteering) within the human services field and offers you the opportunity to apply what you learn in a real-life setting, integrating your studies with your professional goals.
Potential Career Areas
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Health Services Manager
- Emergency Management Director
- Childcare Facility or School Administrator
- Case Manager
- Rehabilitation Facility Administrator
- Nonprofit Organization Director
Course Highlights
- Principles of Human Service Management (3 credits)
- Administration of Human Service Organizations (3 credits)
- Ethical and Legal Practices in Human Services (3 credits)
- Foundations of Program Planning and Evaluation (1 credits)
- Program Planning and Evaluation: Project (2 credits)
- Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
- Building Diverse and Inclusive Organizations (3 credits)
- Human Services Administration Integrative Capstone (3 credits)
- Financial Management for Nonprofits (3 credits)
- Health Care Delivery and Innovation (3 credits)
- Advocacy and Health Policy (3 credits)
- Foundations of Organization Communication (3 credits)
Opportunities to Advance
The UNH College of Professional Studies offers a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate study. Designed for the working adult, UNH CPS offers graduate certificates and master’s degrees delivered online by scholars-practitioner faculty. Receive a supportive, world-class education that fits your lifestyle, goals, and budget.
Why UNH CPS?
Our 30-credit master’s degree program will help you integrate methods of leadership, management and administration, ethical decision making, and program planning and evaluation in an interprofessional learning environment.
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE)
- Available fully online with select blended or hybrid courses
- Affordable tuition
- Career counseling is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options
- Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, to help you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career
Earn a 12-credit graduate certificate in Human Services Administration as you progress through your master’s degree program. Ask your advisor for details.
The accelerated program option is for undergraduate students currently enrolled in the B.S. Human Services program who want to streamline their educational path to achieving a graduate degree. This option allows students to complete their bachelor’s and graduate degrees in a fast-tracked five-year timeline.
Qualifications:
- Current UNH undergraduate student enrolled in the B.S. Human Services program.
- GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Apply and be accepted into to one of the graduate programs of choice: M.S. Human Services Administration or the Graduate Certificate in Human Services Administration.
- Completed 90 undergraduate credits (to begin taking courses for dual credit). Most students apply in their junior year; once admitted to the program, students can begin taking select courses for dual credit, provided they’ve completed 90 undergraduate credits.
Contact Your Advisor to Learn More
If you want to enroll in an accelerated graduate program, contact your advisor for more information and full eligibility requirements.
Curriculum & Requirements
The Master of Science in Human Services Administration (MSHSA) prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to lead in human services agencies or organizations. Students will integrate methods of leadership, management and administration, ethical decision making, and program planning and evaluation in an interprofessional learning environment. The MSHSA provides graduates with the education needed to assume roles as administrators, managers, or leaders within the human service industry.
Degree Requirements
Minimum Credit Requirement: 30 credits
Minimum GPA: 3.0
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Human Services Administration 1 | ||
| HMSV 800 | Principles of Human Service Management | 3 |
| HMSV 803 | Administration of Human Service Organizations | 3 |
| HMSV 805 | Ethical and Legal Practices in Human Services | 3 |
| LD 827 | Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| LD 832 | Building Diverse & Multicultural Organizations | 3 |
| PM 800 | Introduction to Project Management | 3 |
| Select three from the following: | 9 | |
MGMT 815 | Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations | |
HLTC 800 | Health Care Delivery and Innovations | |
HLTC 802 | Advocacy and Health Policy | |
COM 800 | Foundations of Organizational Communication | |
HMSV 807 | Nonprofit Advocacy in Human Services Administration | |
| Integrative Capstone: | ||
| HMSV 850 | Human Services Administration Integrative Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Graduate credit is only granted for courses completed with a grade of B- or higher.
Accelerated Master's Overview
Accelerated Master’s programs offer qualified University of New Hampshire undergraduate students the opportunity to begin graduate coursework in select graduate programs while completing a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master's programs are designed to provide students with an efficient and cost-effective pathway to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree or graduate certificate, enhancing career opportunities and long-term earning potential.
Accelerated Master's Highlights
- Begin studying advanced topics while an undergraduate student with the opportunity to complete a master’s degree or graduate certificate early.
- Master’s degree program students: Earn up to 12* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- Graduate certificate program students: Earn up to 8* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate certificate.
- Students complete the bachelor’s degree, and then officially matriculate into the master’s or graduate certificate program to complete the remaining required graduate-level coursework.
*Some exceptions apply.
Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements
- A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA is required.*
- A minimum of 90 undergraduate credits must be completed prior to enrolling in graduate (800-level) courses.
- Streamlined Graduate School Application (two letters of recommendation; most standardized tests and application fee are waived).*
*Some exceptions apply.
Accelerated Master's Requirements
- Students must attend a mandatory orientation session.
- Students must submit a special registration form each semester for dual-credit courses and note any DegreeWorks exceptions.
- Students may defer graduate matriculation for up to one year after earning their bachelor’s degree in most programs.
- See the Accelerated Master’s Catalog Policy and Accelerated Master’s Website for additional information and a list of programs. Note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher-grade expectations) compared to the general policy.
Human Services Administration (M.S.) Accelerated Option
This graduate degree program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the following undergraduate program(s):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Human Services: Addictions Studies (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Applied Psychology (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Counseling Foundations (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Court Advocacy (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Education Advocacy (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Family Studies (B.S.) | ||
| Human Services: Wellness and Prevention (B.S.) | ||
| Students select from the following approved 800-level courses that can be completed in the undergraduate senior year for dual credit: | ||
| HMSV 800 | Principles of Human Service Management | 3 |
| HMSV 805 | Ethical and Legal Practices in Human Services | 3 |
Additional Information
Sample Degree Plan
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Senior Year (Up to 9 Graduate Credits) | ||
Fall | ||
HMSV 805 | Ethical and Legal Practices in Human Services | |
Spring | ||
HMSV 800 | Principles of Human Service Management | |
Elective Course 800-level | ||
| Matriculation Year | ||
Summer (Up to 6 Graduate Credits) | ||
Elective Courses 800-level | ||
Fall (Up to 9 Graduate Credits) | ||
PM 800 | Introduction to Project Management | |
Elective Courses 800-level | ||
Spring (Up to 6 Graduate Credits) | ||
HMSV 803 | Administration of Human Service Organizations | |
HMSV 850 | Human Services Administration Integrative Capstone | |
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Integrate historical perspectives and emerging trends related to human services;
- Evaluate the interaction of human systems including individual, interpersonal, group, family, organizational, community, and societal.
- Compare and contrast human services delivery systems and organizations;
- Develop knowledge and skill in disciplined inquiry and information literacy;
- Develop program planning and evaluation that assist individuals and groups in promoting optimal functioning, growth, and goal attainment;
- Integrate knowledge, theory, and skills in administrative aspects of human services;
- Apply legal and ethical standards relevant to human service delivery;
- Synthesize the knowledge, theory, skills, and professional behaviors that are congruent with the human services profession.
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: Rolling Admissions. Final Deadline October 24
- Spring: Rolling Admissions. Final Deadline March 20
- Summer: Rolling Admissions. Final Deadline May 23
- Special: N/A
Application Fee: Application fee waived for CPS Online applicants.
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Resume
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.