Program Details
A major in Human Services assists students developing knowledge and skills to work with all people offering specialized assistance that focuses on prevention and remediation of problems to help them meet their needs and improve their overall quality of life. Students take courses to establish a diverse background for understanding human behavior and complex interactions. Students gain practical skills, work experience and knowledge from internship experiences in community, mental health and other agency settings. Des Moines and the Polk County area have many agency settings to choose from. Students prepare to work in direct care service areas, assisting and serving diverse populations and ages. Students also prepare to meet the needs of individuals, families, and/or communities to help them function as effectively as possible in a variety of settings: group homes and halfway houses; correctional, intellectual disability, and community mental health centers; family, child, and youth service agencies; and programs concerned with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, and aging. Other students can prepare to work in community crisis centers, outpatient clinics, public and private social service agencies, hospitals, schools and religious organizations. Since all Human Services majors are required to complete two, 150 hour internships, they are well equipped to join the workforce on or before graduation. Most students chose an internship where they will continue to work after graduation. Other students may decide to attend graduate school.
| Course Requirements (47 credits plus 6 prerequisite credits) |
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Prerequisite courses for the major:
PSYC 101
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General Psychology
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3 credits |
SOCS 101
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Introduction to Sociology
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3 credits
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These courses will not be counted in computing the GPA for the major. Students majoring in Human Services must achieve a grade of C- or above in the required prerequisite courses.
Requirements for the major:
PSYC/SOCS 210
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Introduction to Human Services
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4 credits |
| PSYC 212 |
Human Development |
4 credits
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PSYC 277
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Addictive Behaviors
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3 credits
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PSYC/SOCS 310
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Social Psychology
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3 credits
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PSYC 315
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Psychology of Exceptional Children
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3 credits
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SOCS 315
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Social Problems
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3 credits
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PSYC 320
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Abnormal Psychology
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3 credits
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PSYC 325 or
CMGR 537*
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Counseling Theories or
Counseling Theories
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3 credits or
3 credits
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PSYC 327 or
CMGR 515*
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Techniques of Individual and Group Counseling or
Applied Microskills
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3 credits or
3 credits
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PSYC/SOCS 361 or
PSYC/SOCS 362
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Family Law or
Forensic Socio-Psychology
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3 credits or
3 credits
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PSYC 399
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Internship
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6 credits
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PSYC 445
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Program Evaluation
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3 credits
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Take three credits from Specialty Electives:
PSYC/SOCS 322
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Marriage and Family
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3 credits |
| PSYC 363 |
Psychology and Health |
3 credits
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PSYC 372
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Human Sexuality
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3 credits
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CMGR 520*
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Multiculturalism in Counseling
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3 credits
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CMGR 575*
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Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy
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3 credits
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Take three credits from Services Electives:
PSYC 352
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Evidence-based ID/DD Services
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4 credits |
| PSYC 353 |
Evidence-based MH Services |
4 credits
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PSYC 410
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Case Management in Human Services
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3 credits
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CMGR 500*
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Professional Counseling Orientation
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3 credits
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CMGR 505*
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Professional Ethics
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3 credits
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*Up to 12 credits total of graduate-level CMGR coursework can apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, with 6 credits applying to the counseling requirements and 6 credits applying to the Specialty and Services Electives areas of the Human Services major. Undergraduate students interested in taking graduate-level courses must meet requirements as listed in the “Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses” policy in the catalog. Only the CMGR courses listed on this checklist have been approved as standard allowances.
All these major courses (including graduate courses) will be counted in computing the 2.2 GPA required for this major. Students majoring in Human Services must achieve a grade of C- or above in the required major courses to graduate.
A minor in psychology can be added to your plan by completing the Change of Program Request form.
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| Tau Upsilon Alpha |
What is Tau Upsilon Alpha (TAU)?
Tau Upsilon Alpha is a National Organization for Human Services Honor Society and is looking to recruit new members.
What are the purposes of Tau Upsilon Alpha?
The purposes of the Society are to honor academic excellence; to foster lifelong learning, leadership, and development; and to promote excellence in service to humanity.
Why TAU?
- Recognition for Academic Excellence
- Build Resume with Local Chapter Activities and More
- Graduation Honors Cord
- Membership Pin and Certificate
- Scholarship Opportunities
Who is eligible
- Majoring or minoring in Human Services or closely related field
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 in Human Services/Psychology Courses
- Completion of 3 semesters at GV (36 credits)
- Abide by the NOHS Code of Ethics
How to Apply?
If yoiu believe you meet these requirements and would like to join, please contact Dr. Jill Suudak-Allison or Dr. Kris Owens for an application. Applications due by September 30 and January 31.
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| Awards & Accomplishments |
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Dr. Jill R. Sudak-Allison is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed mental health counselor. She has a number of publications including: Child Access and visitation following divorce: A growth access for marriage and family therapy, in the American Journal of Family Therapy. She has presented at numerous conferences on Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care Settings; Integrating Neurobiology and EMDR; Increasing Human Services Students' Sense of Employment Worth and Career Negotiation Skills; and Three Majors: Poster Symposium for Engaging All Learns of Psychology, Human Services and Education. She is also the Chair of the Psychology and Human Services Department.
Dr. Kris Owens is a licensed social worker with an expertise in disability services. She has facilitated numerous presentations related to academic support strategies and assistive technology. In July 2017 she co-facilitated a presentation titled "Engaging and Supporting English Language Learners" at the Iowa Teaching and Learning Conference. The session highlighted research that identified the needs of ELL and ways to provide a supportive learning environment. She has received several awards including Mercy College Student Spirit Award, which is extended to an individual whose spirit and values are focused on student success. In addition, Kris received a poster presentation award related to the Analysis of English Language Learner Needs and is a Blackboard Exemplary Course nominee.
Jim Hanson is a former Human Services department chair, is working toward his license to become a mental health counselor. He was also the former Social Sciences division head and the 2004 recipient of the Grand View Faculty Award.
Guy Cunningham appears on nostalgia in Hallmark Christmas movies, the role of the psychologically uncanny in ghost stories, and on the evolutionary psychology of the popularity of obnoxious celebrities and politicians at the annual conventions of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association. He has also conducted workshops on addictions and working with persons transitioning from incarceration.
Dr. Josh Woods is the director of the Psychology research lab where students conduct faculty-driven research and present the lab's findings at professional research conferences. Research students have traveled to Chicago, Denver, Boston and Washington, D.C. to present their findings. Dr. Woods is also an expert witness for cases involving eyewitness memory and false confessions. He is the primary cognitive psychologist for the Innocence Project of Iowa.
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