Overview of Human Services
Human Services addresses problems that impact peoples' social, occupational, health, and educational functioning to improve their overall well-being and quality of life.
Counselors help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues.
Get details on the salary and job security of these Human Services careers:
- Genetic Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Psychologists
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social Workers
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Social and community service managers
- Social and human service assistants
- Health education specialists and community health workers
- School and career counselors and advisors
Find out what it takes to land a career in Human Services
Earn a Degree
To work in the field of Human Services, it is recommended to have a strong background in health, psychology, social work, or similar fields which focus on helping people. However, many organizations will hire entry-level employees with any degree who have transferrable skills. Majors, minors, and degree information can be found in the George Mason Catalog.
In addition to your degree, concentrations, minors and national certifications can increase your employment options in the field of Human Services. Here are a few:
- Master of Education in Special Education, Concentration in Behavior Analysis
- Minor in American Sign Language
- Social Justice and Human Rights Minor
- Behavior Analyst Certification, through BACB
Meet with the George Mason Pre-Health Professions Advisor as early as possible to prepare for admission to health professions schools (i.e., audiology, speech pathology, or occupational therapy).
Gain Experiences
Employers expect at least six to twelve months of related experience to be competitive for full-time positions.Gain experience while you are a student at George Mason.
Here are the types of experiences most valued by Human Services employers, and where to find them:
Jobs/Internships
- Idealist
- iHire Social Services
- Indeed Human Services
- Government Pathways Internship Program
- Check your local government website for job listings. Many Human Services positions are available within state, county, and city government agencies.
Volunteer
- Idealist
- George Mason Student Support and Advocacy Center
- Volunteer Fairfax
- Fairfax County Department of Family Services Volunteer Opportunities
Leadership
Market Your Skills
It is important for you to be able to clearly communicate the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained in and outside of the classroom.
Below are top ways to showcase your qualifications to Human Services employers:
Resumes
Interview
Interviewing well is key to standing out with employers in counseling, case management, and social services—and the best way to build confidence is through practice. Use InterviewPrep, George Mason’s free virtual mock interview tool, to explore industry-specific interview questions and sharpen your responses at your own pace.
- Register for an account at InterviewPrep using your George Mason email.
- Once you're logged in, use the following code to access a curated interview set for this career area: [auhBcjtdU5O7]
Career Ready
Career ready George Mason grads have gone on to work for Human Services employers, such as:
|
Alexandria City Public Schools |
Dominion Hospital |
INOVA Health System |
Miriam's Kitchen |
|
RAINN |
Prince William County Community Services Board |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Verbal Beginnings |
|
NAMI |
American Red Cross |
Fairfax County Government |
Fairfax County Public Schools |
Join the Human Services community
Get involved with academic and professional societies to grow your network while you're still a student.
Professional Associations
- American Counseling Association
- American School Counselors Association
- American Probation and Parole Association
- American Psychological Association
- Association for Behavior Analysis International
- Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA)
- Clinical Social Work Association
- Counselors for Social Justice
- National Association of Social Workers
- School Social Work Association of America
- National Organization for Human Services
- Virginia Counselors Association
- American Public Human Services Association