What Can You Do with A Human Services or Social Work Degree?

Many job openings specifically seeking social work majors will also require a license; that is because social workers are often associated with state or federal programs or entities, and must meet state and federal requirements. However, many openings will indicate that applicants with either a social work or human services degree are welcome to apply. You may find jobs that accept a two-year associates degree, especially entry level jobs, but most will require a four year college B.A. or B.S. degree in either human services or social work. Many human service or social workers with associates degrees serve at residential centers, where they work in shifts or may live in the center or group home.

While job conditions will vary, most human services or social work workers spend their time in a combination of an office location and site visits. The amount of supervision and contact with supervisors will vary. Human services professionals, whether called human service workers or social workers, may work on their own with little direct supervision, or they may be required to work closely with a supervisor or team. They may work under the direction of a professional staff member as part of a team that may include medical staff, clinicians, psychologists or other human services staff. In some cases, human services staff work primarily on their own, with individual clients. They may work for mental health organizations or facilities, public health organizations or charities, hospitals or medical facilities, prisons, institutions, group homes, or residential facilities.

The day to day tasks of human services workers will vary considerably. In some settings, for instance residential facilities for youth, disadvantaged, elderly or disabled people, daily activities can include administrative paperwork, organizing or leading a group activity, and one-on-one counseling. In some cases, work assignments may include dealing with organizational policy and supervising other staff. Almost all jobs will require ongoing educational and professional development. Human services workers may have a variety of job titles; these include caseworker, life skills instructor, community outreach, ombudsperson, mental health aid, home aid, drug abuse counselor, parole counselor. The common factor is the job is always about helping those in need.