Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Location: Gunter 1250
Telephone: 970.351.2403
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/human-services
Advising Information:
Students must consult with a major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The Human Services program provides a comprehensive understanding of the techniques and theories in the helping professions. You will master the skills needed to solve real-world problems using a variety of human services methods. The undergraduate degree in Human Services provides students with the skills to be able to work in a variety of human services settings. Students take a core curriculum that provides a liberal arts education and the tools needed to be a successful professional. Students also select from among multidisciplinary courses across a variety of human services content areas. A hallmark of this program is the fieldwork experiences integrated into course requirements.
The Human Services degree requires completion of an internship. Since the Human Services field requires direct contact with vulnerable individuals, agencies conduct background checks on new employees, including interns. Any student who has a criminal conviction may be unable to register for and complete this required internship. For additional information about vulnerable populations, please review "The Consequences of Conviction" at: www.coloradodefenders.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/consequences-of-conviction.pdf
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing and acceptance of and willingness to follow the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals Agreement.
Degree Requirements — 120 credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
STAT 150 is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
HUSR 205 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
PSY 230 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 48 credits
Take all of the following courses:
HUSR 205 | Introduction to Human ServicesLAB3 | 3 |
HUSR 300 | Human Services Helping Skills | 3 |
HUSR 380 | Rehabilitation Principles and Case Management | 3 |
HUSR 397 | Foundations of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment | 3 |
HUSR 399 | Professional Ethics in the Human Services | 3 |
HUSR 410 | Human Services Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
HUSR 492 | Internship in Human Services | 1-15 |
PSY 230 | Lifespan DevelopmentLAB3 | 3 |
STAT 150 | Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1 | 3 |
Select any 12 approved credits from the following:
HUSR 208 | Perspectives on Aging and Later Life | 3 |
HUSR 209 | Foundations of Health Promotion/Health Education | 3 |
HUSR 238 | Contemporary Issues in Drug Abuse | 3 |
HUSR 336 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
HUSR 342 | Modern Concepts of Health and Disease | 3 |
HUSR 350 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
HUSR 385 | Working with Families in Rehabilitation | 3 |
HUSR 405 | Health Communications and the Media | 3 |
HUSR 475 | Psychiatric Rehabilitation | 3 |
HUSR 495 | Special Topics in Human Services | 1- 4 |
PSY 331 | Maturity and Aging | 3 |
SOC 471 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
3. University-Wide Elective Credits — 41 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 41 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
ENG 122 | College CompositionLAW1 | 3 |
HUSR 205 | Introduction to Human ServicesLAB3 | 3 |
| LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| LAC HistoryLAH1 | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
LAC Requirement: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) and International Studies (IS) course.
Spring Semester
| Major Elective | 3 |
PSY 230 | Lifespan DevelopmentLAB3 | 3 |
| LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| LAC Intermediate WritingLAW2 | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 2 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
STAT 150 | Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1 | 3 |
HUSR 380 | Rehabilitation Principles and Case Management | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
HUSR 300 | Human Services Helping Skills | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 |
| LAC Natural and Physical Sciences without LabLAS1 | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 3 – 32 credits
Fall Semester
HUSR 397 | Foundations of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment | 3 |
| LAC Natural and Physical Sciences with LabLAS1LASL | 4 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
HUSR 399 | Professional Ethics in the Human Services | 3 |
HUSR 410 | Human Services Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 4 – 28 credits
Fall Semester
| Major Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| University-Wide Elective | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
HUSR 492 | Internship in Human Services | 1-15 |
Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Advising Notes –
- HUSR 300 – Sophomores and above only.
- HUSR 410 – Juniors and Seniors only.
- HUSR 492 – Students complete 12 credits of internship experience with the consent of instructor. Internship may be divided into two consecutive 6 credit semesters, or one 12 credit semester. A criminal record may disqualify students from taking this course. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for admission to the internship.