edX Online

What can you do with a bachelor's in human services?

By: Sarah Edwards, Edited by: Arthur McMahon

Published: February 27, 2025


Have you been searching for a fulfilling career that allows you to invest deeply in making people's lives better? A bachelor's degree in human services might be a good fit. Learn what you can do with a bachelor's in human services in our guide.

What jobs can you get with a bachelor's in human services?

A bachelor's degree in human services can prepare you for many different positions where you can improve people's lives and society at large. Below are a few roles you can pursue after graduation.

Community service manager

As a community service manager, you may oversee programs that support people and communities in need. These professionals commonly execute the following tasks:

  • Identify services and programs needed in the community
  • Coordinate programs and services
  • Conduct outreach activities to raise awareness of program availability
  • Manage budgets for a community program or initiative
  • Analyze data and metrics to determine program effectiveness
  • Meet with potential donors to raise funds for programs and initiatives

A bachelor's degree program in human services can prepare you for this role with coursework in psychology, sociology, and cultural competence to help you better understand the people and communities you work with.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for this role was $77,030 per year in 2023.

Human services assistant

Human services assistants determine what type of help a client needs and provide access to resources that can deliver that help. In a government, non-profit, or private business setting, you may take on the following tasks:

  • Interview clients to evaluate and determine their needs
  • Work with clients and supervisors to develop care plans
  • Coordinate services in accordance with a client's treatment plan
  • Assist clients with completing paperwork for program access
  • Check in with clients to gauge progress with treatment

Your bachelor's degree in human services may require courses in sociology, psychology, human socialization, and crisis and community intervention. You may also learn how to work with families and children and navigate non-profit work, all of which can prepare you to work as a human services assistant.

The BLS reports that human services assistants earned a median annual salary of $41,410 in 2023.

Health education specialist

A health education specialist manages programs that help others live longer, healthier lives. In this role, you may do the following:

  • Identify community-level health needs
  • Create public health campaigns
  • Plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs
  • Advocate for policy changes in government and health systems
  • Educate the public on critical health topics
  • Connect community members with healthcare providers and other resources

Your bachelor's degree program in human services can prepare you for a role like this by offering courses and hands-on experience with community intervention, support group facilitation, cultural competence, and non-profit work.

Health education specialists earned a median annual salary of $62,860 in 2023, per BLS data.

Frequently asked questions about what you can do with a bachelor's in human services

Career
Healthcare
Social Science