Career Options

What can I do with a degree in human services?

Connecting yourself to a promising career path at St. Joseph's University

Employment of human services workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Opportunities for qualified applicants are expected to be excellent, not only because of projected rapid growth in the occupation, but because of substantial replacement needs. Many of the people currently holding these positions in the field will be retiring in the next 10 years.

Where are these jobs?

  • Social service agencies
  • Community mental health centers
  • Family, child and youth service agencies
  • Veterans’ service agencies
  • Court and correctional facilities
  • Assisted living housing for the aging

What target population would I be working with?

  • Those suffering from addiction
  • The aging
  • The mentally ill
  • Children and adolescents
  • Veterans
  • Those in poverty and struggling with joblessness
  • Victims of domestic violence
  • Survivors of disasters
  • The homeless

What competencies will I need?

  • Advocacy
  • Assessment
  • Interviewing
  • Group facilitation
  • Introductory counseling skills
  • Case management
  • Program administration
  • Program development
  • Program evaluation
  • Fundraising and grant writing

Job titles in human services

  • Adult day care worker
  • Assisted living admissions
  • Behavioral management aide
  • Case manager
  • Case monitor
  • Case worker
  • Chemical dependencies counselor/CASAC
  • Child abuse worker
  • Child advocate
  • Client advocate
  • Community action worker
  • Community organizer
  • Community outreach worker
  • Correctional treatment specialist
  • Crisis intervention counselor
  • Disaster case manager
  • Eligibility counselor
  • Family support worker
  • Fundraiser event planner for not-for-profit
  • Grant writer
  • Group activities aide
  • Halfway house counselor
  • Homeless shelter manager
  • Intake interviewer
  • Job coach
  • Juvenile court liaison
  • Life skills instructor
  • Mental health aide
  • Mental health outpatient advocate
  • Neighborhood worker
  • Parole officer
  • Probation officer
  • Program director for not-for-profit
  • Rehabilitation case worker
  • Residential counselor
  • Residential manager
  • Senior center staff or director
  • Social service liaison
  • Therapeutic assistant
  • Youth center staff or director
  • Youth worker