Human Services

Online Bachelor of Science Degree

ETSU Online

Nationally Ranked

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Human Services degree is a nationally ranked program providing a human and behavioral science background for students interested in counseling, case management, administration, or similar helping professions.   

The program is an accredited degree program offering a curriculum including the following core components:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Social and cultural foundations
  • Introduction to human services
  • Counseling theory and practice
  • Developmental psychology
  • Research in learning and development
  • Administration of human services organizations
  • Child, adolescent, or adult psychology and development

Theory and Application

Students in the Human Services bachelor's degree program learn theoretical foundations and applicable skills. These include:

  • theories and skills required of human services professionals to work with diverse clientele in a variety of settings
  • characteristics of human growth and development
  • the roles and functions of human services professionals
  • aspects of human service agencies,
  • skills related to program evaluation, grant writing, and fundraising

 

Make the World a Better Place

  • B.S. Human Services

    Human service practitioners work in a variety of settings for a broad range of organizations dedicated to helping others transition through their developmental issues and processes. 

    Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Undergraduate Catalog.

    This degree requires a minor. Choose from more than 15 online minors to complement the Human Services degree. 

  • B.S. Human Services (Child Life Concentration)

    Certified Child Life Specialists understand the developmental impact of illness and injury and the potentially traumatic events that can impact a patient’s ability to cope. Utilizing a variety of interventions, child life specialists strive to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain in hopes of improving the overall experience of patients and their families. Read more on the Child Life Specialist webpage.

    Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Undergraduate Catalog. 

    This degree requires a minor. Choose from more than 15 online minors to complement the Human Services degree. Pairs well with: Early Childhood Emergent Inquiry.

    A young girl bumps elbows with a masked child life specialist.
    A young girl sits on the floor and plays blocks with the child life specialist.
    A young child holds a stuffed animal while a medial professional shows him how the stethoscope works.
ETSU's human services program was ranked number 15 of top degree programs by intelligent.com for 2025.
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ETSU's bachelor of human services degree is ranked among the best schools/programs for online programs.



ETSU Human Services CARES 

Community - Advocacy - Resilience - Empowerment - Support

“Studying Human Services online at ETSU gave me the chance to work more on my own time. It also allowed me to have more flexibility to manage life’s other obligations. ETSU’s online program was best for me because of its flexibility. It also offered enough information for me to still learn away from the classroom.”

Sarah V. Housley, Online B.S. Human Services

Steps to Apply

  • Step 1 - Create your ETSU Application Account

    Step 1   Create your ETSU Application Account by choosing the "Sign Up" option

    Create your ETSU Application Account

  • Step 2 - Sign into the ETSU Application Portal

    Step 2  Sign in to the ETSU Application Portal and select "Start a New Application"

    Sign in

  • Step 3 - Complete the Remaining Fields

    Step 3   Choose "Undergraduate," select your student type, select your start term, then choose  Human Services and complete the remainder of the form.

    select domestic/international

    select certificate

Apply Today!

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Cost

TN Residents *GA, KY, NC, SC, VA *Other USA States  **eRate All International
$487 per credit hour $517 per credit hour $627 per credit hour $558 per credit hour $1,265 per credit hour

The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.

- Tuition discounts are available for border county students.
- Additional fees may be required.
- The **eRate applies to students living out of state and taking all web-based courses.
- Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. Students may also use theTuition and Fees estimator.
- The information presented in the Tuition and Fees estimator is only an estimate; it is not an actual statement of costs
- *First-Time Freshman and Transfer Students only. Currently enrolled students should visit the tuition and fees charts if considering a major change.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What accreditations apply to this program?

    This online program is ranked 6th in the nation and all the coursework can be completed online! Most classes are asynchronous, but up to 25% CAN be taken synchronously if the student wishes to have more interactions with faculty. ETSU has offered this program online for more than 8 years and is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE).  Only 10-15% of Human Services programs have earned this accreditation. 

  • Do students need to have a background in this field? 

    No background in this field is necessary.

  • Are the courses for this program asynchronous or synchronous?

    Course offerings in this program offer maximum flexibility! All courses are offered in an asynchronous format, but there are some synchronous options available as well. 

  • Does this program require an internship or field work?

    Yes, program accreditation requires 350 hours of field work. This field work is distributed across the curriculum and primarily during senior year. 

  • Is this program designed to meet the needs of adults who work full-time and/or have family obligations? 

    Absolutely! Since the coursework can be completed online, it is ideal for those with familial or professional obligations that would prevent them from completing their degree on campus. 

  • What is the time to completion?

    Full-time: The Human Services major is part of a 4-year university education which normally takes no less than 4 years. However, if a student has previous college credit, it can be evaluated. In many cases, students with previous college credit have a shorter time to completion. 

    Part-time: This is dependent on the student's limitations and needs. It is important to take into account a student's preferences, transfer coursework (if applicable), and their expected course load, among other factors. Students will work with an academic advisor to create a program of study.

  • Is there a plan of study/course schedule for full-time and part-time options?

    There is a suggested course schedule for full-time students in the ETSU Undergraduate Catalog: Human Services and Human Services - Child Life Concentration. Part-time students work with their advisor to develop a part-time plan based on their needs. 

  • Are scholarships available?

    Yes! Please visit the department's information page for details. ETSU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers scholarship information for all student levels. By submitting the Universal Scholarship Application, students can be considered for a variety of university scholarships.