Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Human Services (B.S.)

Program: B.S. Degree
Department: Human Services
School of Education

www.pfw.edu/human-services/

Neff Hall 130 ~ 260-481-6424

Students preparing for careers as a human services professional will be able to work effectively in diverse settings such as: correctional, intellectual disability, and community health centers as educators, case managers, and other areas. Students will also be able to work in family, child, and youth service agencies, and programs designed to assist those with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, and aging. A human services degree is a good fit for those who want to be in a position to help others.

The Bachelor of Science in Human Services is a degree that requires a total of 120 semester credit hours. Students will be engaged in 360 internship hours at agencies within the community. By the time students graduate, they have been able to network with numerous references and are able to build a strong resume.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the bachelor’s degree curriculum will:

1. Knowledge and skill base: Examine theoretical bases, best practices, organizational roles and functions and various methods of advocacy.

2. Planning and Evaluation Skills: apply theory and skills to identify, plan, implement and evaluate interventions involving client needs and delivery systems in human services profession.

3. Values, Ethical Practices, and self-Care: evaluate personal expectations, values, ethics and self-care strategies as they relate to professional practice.

4. Equity, inclusiveness, & Cultural responsiveness - understand and demonstrate the importance of culture, gender, diversity and global perspectives in the delivery of human services.

5. Application- apply skills. strategies and knowledge related to design, implementation, and evaluation of human service programs.

6. Research: Assess information related to service delivery, including data analysis and evaluation of findings.

7. Professional Capacity - integrate knowledge, theory, skills and professional behaviors to field experience and community engagement opportunities.

8. Historical and Environmental Impact: Explore the history of the human services profession, and the impact of past and present political, economic, social and technological trends.

Program Delivery

The program in human services is available on campus. There are a few courses offered online and as hybrid for students.

Declaring Human Services

To gain entry into this program, students must meet all of the requirements for admission to Purdue University Fort Wayne, the Department of Human Services, and comply with requirements for internship placements. Students should contact the Department of Human Services at 260-481-6424 for more information and to be assigned an advisor.

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) funding: Individuals who qualify for WIOA education and training funds through their local WorkOne office will receive tuition and supply fee financial assistance for this program.

Human Services Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to this degree program as follows:

Students new to Purdue Fort Wayne must complete an application for undergraduate admission and meet the criteria for admission to the University. In addition, students must complete a TB test, a criminal background check, and a drug test. Students who have previously taken courses at Purdue Fort Wayne should apply for re-entry to the University if they have not been actively enrolled at Purdue Fort Wayne for one year or greater. Contact the Office of Admissions at 260-481-6812. Students will be a pre-human service student until their second year in the program. Students must have a 2.8 in pre-requisite courses. Pre-requisite courses include:
- Any one course in general education A.1, A.2, and B.5.
- HSRV 10000, HSRV 10300, HSRV 10500, HSRV 16900, and PSY 12000.
Students who have completed the requirements for the Associate of Science in Human Services at Ivy Tech Community College or another Human Services program from another accredited institution are enrolled in the program with junior status.
The Bachelor’s degree requires four semesters of Internship (360 hours) at an approved agency in northeastern Indiana.

Internship and Clinical Requirements

All students must apply and be eligible to be enrolled in the required Internship and Clinical experiences. Students must comply with agency requirements for internship placements. An in-person interview at the agency is required. The agencies require a resume and proof of a TB test, background check, and a 10-panel drug screen.

Anyone with a record of a sex crime against a child may not be placed into a clinical in which there is an actual or potential possibility that they will come into contact with children (IC5-2-12-12). Students who cannot be placed in clinicals with reasonable effort as a result of their criminal histories and subsequently cannot complete the program requirements will be unable to graduate from the program.

See Internship and Clinical Manual for additional requirements.

General Requirements

A C- or better is required in each course for the degree.

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=4400&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:

Human Services 4-Yr. Plan:

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

General Education Recommendations

Below is a course that is recommended for you to complete.

COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication Cr. 3. This course is a pre-requisite to multiple COM courses in Concentration Areas.

Required Supporting Courses Credits: 12

Must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better.

PSY 12000 - Elementary Psychology Cr. 3. (Also fulfills general education B.5)
PSY 35000 - Abnormal Psychology Cr. 3. (Also fulfills general education B.5)
COM 30300 - Intercultural Communication Cr. 3.
Select one of the following:
PSY 23500 - Child Psychology Cr. 3.
PSY 24000 - Introduction To Social Psychology Cr. 3.
PSY 36900 - Development Across The Lifespan Cr. 3.
You can complete either PSY 23500 or PSY 36900 for credit, BUT NOT BOTH.

Human Services Core Credits: 57

Must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better.

HSRV 10000 - Introduction To Human Services Cr. 3.
HSRV 10300 - Helping Relationship Techniques Cr. 3.
HSRV 10500 - Interpersonal Skills For Practical Application Cr. 3.
HSRV 16900 - Introduction To Wellness And Stress Management Cr. 3.
HSRV 20000 - Behavioral Therapies Cr. 3.
HSRV 20100 - Clinical In Case Study Method I Cr. 3. (Fall Only)
HSRV 21100 - Dynamics Of Group Behavior Cr. 3.
HSRV 22200 - Professional Writing In Human Services Cr. 3.
HSRV 25100 - Clinical In Case Study Method II Cr. 3. (Spring only)
HSRV 31500 - Introduction To Theory And Therapies Cr. 3.
HSRV 32000 - Case Methods Cr. 3.
HSRV 32400 - Non-Profit Management Cr. 3.
HSRV 37700 - Ethics, Policy, Law And Professional Issues In Human Services Cr. 3.
HSRV 39900 - Special Topics Cr. 1-3. Taught as Mental Health First Aid. Cr. 3.
HSRV 40000 - Internship I Cr. 3. (Fall only)
HSRV 40200 - Trauma And Grief Cr. 3.
HSRV 41700 - Research Methods Cr. 3.
HSRV 41900 - Advanced Intervention Strategies Cr. 3.
HSRV 45000 - Internship II Cr. 3. (Spring only)

Human Service Concentration Credits: 24

All Concentration Area courses must be approved by the students’ advisor prior to registration. Students must choose two concentration areas. Students are required to complete 12 credits for each concentration. Not all courses are taught every semester. Courses cannot be used to fulfill both a required or general education area course and also a Concentration Area course. All courses require a C- or higher. It is the responsibility of the student to check for course prerequisites prior to meeting with the advisor. *Please note that credit will not be given for both PSY 23500 and PSY 36900.

Choose two Concentration Areas. If you are interested in obtaining a minor, please contact your advisor for more details.

Electives

Sufficient electives to reach 120 credits.

Total Credits: 120 Minimum

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.

Additional Course Use

Courses listed below may also be considered in meeting the Diversity concentration (12 cr.).

Any 4 of the following courses accepted: HUMS 104, HUMS 109, HUMS 110, HUMS 135, or HUMS 140.