The Human Services Degree

The Human Services degree at Gwynedd–Mercy College is designed for those
students who desire to make a difference in the world. Human services majors
are typically those who enjoy working with others and helping people cope with
challenging life situations. The Human Services degree at GMC prepares graduates
with the skills necessary for entry-level jobs in schools, hospitals and social service
agency settings. Graduates will also be well prepared to enter graduate school in
the fields of social work, community counseling or school counseling.

What are human services?

According to the National Association for Human Services, the profession is “dedicated to providing services to individuals and families in need of assistance. The goal of human services work is to enhance the quality of life for those who are served.” Human service workers genuinely like people, and they have a desire to see others succeed in their lives. A human service degree gives these workers skills that will turn their empathic abilities into the tools they need to make a difference in the lives of others.

Career Opportunities

In a recent poll by CareerJournal.com, an affiliate of the Wall Street Journal,
human services careers were cited among the most highly satisfying careers. The
criteria used to select the eight different careers that made the “best” list were: good
intellectual stimulation; strong job security; high level of control and freedom in
what to do; extensive direct contact with customers/clients.

Accordingto the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, approximately 20,000 human
service positions will be added between the years 1998 and 2008 in Pennsylvania.
There will be an increasing demand for human service workers in job training
programs and services to the elderly.

Salary Ranges

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry list human services salaries in
the $30,000 to $40,000 range with those earning a master's degree in the $35,000 to
$60,000 range. Experienced human service workers can earn over $60,000 in the
private sector.

Degree Requirements

The Human Services degree at Gwynedd-Mercy College requires 56 credit hours
in the major. It combines classes in psychology, sociology and social work into a
practical and immediately useful degree. Courses in psychology include social and
developmental psychology, group processes and counseling skills, and ethical issues
in the behavioral and social sciences. Sociology courses include marriage and family,
social problems, cultural anthropology, pluralism and research classes. Social
work classes include human services administration, two classroom practice courses
with a service learning component, and two 160-hour internships at local social
service agencies.

Students transferring from other human services programs such as Montgomery
County Community College can transfer up to half of their credits into the GMC
Human Services major. Many transfer students with associate degrees are able to
finish our program in two years full-time or four years part-time.

Internship Sites

Students are often able to find internship sites convenient to where they live. Past
sites have included:
The Keystone Center, Horsham, PA
Montgomery County Adult Probation, Bridgeport, PA
Community Housing Services of Lansdale, PA
Upper Dublin School District, Upper Dublin, PA
Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Jamison, PA
Caring Hospice Services, Fort Washington, PA
New Life Residential Services, Harleysville, PA
The Artman Home, Ambler, PA

Faculty

Mary Reilly, MS, Chair, Behavioral and Social Sciences Division

Assistant Professor of Psychology
BA, Gwynedd-Mercy College; MS, Drexel University

Wade Luquet, MSW, PhD, Associate Professor of Sociology
BS, Louisiana College; MSW, Tulane University; PhD, The Union Institute

Bridget O’Brien, MS, Assistant Professor of Psychology
BS, Mount Holyoke College; MS, Temple University

Duane Soricelli, PhD, Professor of Psychology
BA, MA and PhD, Temple University

Curriculum Information

 MAJOR

 Human Services (56) credits

 BS Majors require 9 credits

GENERAL EDUCATION AND CORE CURRICULUM*

       I.  Skills for Exploring – 6 credits for BS

Open Electives

BA requires 19-21 credits

BS requires 10-12 credits

*Please contact Ms. Michele Diehl in the Office of Admissions for specific general education course requirements.

Credit Requirement
A minimum of 125 credits is required for the BS degree.

Grade Requirement
The minimum passing grade within the major is C (a grade of C- is not acceptable)

BA students must take two semesters of a same foreign language.

For detailed course descriptions click here.