A Guide to Online Human Sciences Degrees Accredited Online Degree Programs in Human Sciences

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What are human sciences majors? These programs provide instruction in human development, social services, and human behavior. There are online degree options, certifications, and licenses available in an array of careers that fall under the human sciences major. Students who choose this field become part of multidisciplinary coursework that includes humanities, economics, and social sciences.

What are human science majors? These majors include nutrition, child and family studies and consumer science. Potential coursework includes adolescent issues, public policy, child development, toxicology, nutrition and research methods.

Some majors require research or thesis projects in the final semester.

Most Popular Schools with Online Human Sciences Degree Programs

Quick Facts: Health Educators and Community Health Workers
2019 Median Pay$46,910 per year
$22.55 per hour
Typical Entry-Level EducationBachelor’s Degree
Work Experience in a Related OccupationNone
On-the-job TrainingSometimes Available
Number of Jobs, 2019127,100
Job Outlook, 2019-2913% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2019-2917,000
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Most Affordable Online Human Sciences Degree Programs

What Can You Do with a Human Sciences Degree?

Human science degree jobs may require a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For example, becoming an occupational therapist requires a master’s degree. Occupational therapists treat patients recovering from physical injuries or with cognitive disabilities. Other careers in human sciences overlap with areas like public health, public administration, and health & wellness. Political science and social science programs are also closely related.

Human sciences degree jobs typically help people in one fashion or another. Mental health counselors treat those with mental health disorders in an individual were group setting. What can you do with a human science degree? Students with a bachelor’s degree in human sciences or social sciences can become specialists in creating television commercials or magazine layouts.

What can you do with a human sciences degree? Human science degree jobs include the following:

  • Biotechnology transfer specialist
  • Cognitive neuroscientist
  • Dentist
  • Diagnostic medical sonographer
  • Clinical dietician
  • Epidemiologist
  • Genetics counselor
  • Microbiologist

What can you do with a human sciences degree? Human sciences degree jobs also include scientific, legal and service-oriented jobs, such as the following:

  • Athletic trainer
  • Consumer or public advocate
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Foreign service staff
  • Forensic science nurse/physician
  • Health Care
  • Health education/wellness specialist
  • Health equipment sales
  • Human resources
  • Illustrator
  • Infection control specialist
  • International and medical relief groups
  • Lab researcher
  • Lawyer
  • Lobbyist
  • Military medical corps worker
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Peace corps volunteer
  • Pharmaceutical sales
  • Pharmacist: clinical
  • Pharmacological researcher
  • Professor
  • Teacher, secondary
  • Technologist/Scientist
  • Veterinarian
  • Writer: scientific, medical, technical

A social science degree can also lead to many of these careers. Social science programs may focus more on research and study than human science, though.

Degree Types: Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral

Degrees in human sciences include associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Besides getting a human science degree, students can opt to get a certificate in their area of interest. With a degree in human sciences, students can move on to a higher level of education or seek entry-level or advanced jobs across a number of fields.

A human sciences degree provides a wide range of education that gives students an opportunity to explore many different disciplines related to the human condition. Critical thinking and communication skills are among the valuable knowledge human sciences students practice.

Accredited Online Associates

With a human sciences associate degree, students receive the education they need to work for organizations providing human services. Human services career paths include working in community outreach programs and substance abuse counseling. Many of these fields require higher levels of education to advance beyond entry-level positions.

For students who want to move on beyond the associate’s degree, a bachelor’s or master’s program from an accredited university is a logical next step. Some states require social workers to have master’s degrees.

If you work in an office that serves the public and decide you want to become a social worker, you may need a higher degree, especially if you want to move into management. Many colleges accept credits from an accredited associate’s degree program for transfer students who want to pursue their four-year degree. However, not all schools accept the total number of credits that you earn getting your associate’s degree. Find a school with a generous transfer policy so that you can complete your degree as quickly as possible.

Taking the associate of applied science in human services online give students the flexibility to take their classes at their own pace. It’s also ideal for students who wish to study while they continue working to support their families. By taking courses online, students can choose from schools all over the United States even if they live in remote areas.

Accredited Online Bachelor’s

With a bachelor of science in human biology online program, students can choose from a variety of fields of study including marital relations, early childhood development, human interaction, societal problems, and other exciting majors. A human science degree online prepares students for work as social workers or advocates for families, children and adults. Some of these students go on to work in family advocacy while others take jobs with human service agencies.

A bachelor of science in human services online takes four years to finish. However, some students may take longer if they attend part-time. As part of the admissions process, students have to show their high school diploma or GED.

The course curriculum for these majors pulls from human development which encompasses early childhood development, family relationships and adolescent development. Students finish research projects and learn about theories that discuss interpersonal, intrapersonal and social interactions.

A bachelor of science in human services online can also deal with other topics such as food and nutrition. Nutrition science deals with the relationship between human development and nutrition and the scientific aspects of foods we eat. Students who graduate may look for careers in health education, the food industry, government agencies and health care.

Courses in this arm of human sciences may include physics, food science, nutrition, biology, and organic chemistry. These courses cover how nutrition affects human development and metabolism. Programs may also cover food safety and quality.

A human science degree online trains graduates to work with families and youth in areas such as healthy living and resource management. Some programs involve teacher training so that students can become licensed educators after finishing their coursework.

Courses for bachelor’s degrees in human science might include:

  • Human development
  • Family interactions
  • Public policy
  • Basic nutrition
  • Family economics
  • Educational psychology

Accredited Online Master’s

Related graduate level courses include human development and family science masters online programs. These programs include early childhood courses that center on family interactions. Many programs have a thesis or research project due the last semester of the program. Graduates are prepared to work in human services or perform research in the field. Some students go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

A masters of science in human services online, as a graduate degree, typically requires a bachelors degree as part of the admissions process. Additionally, the master of human sciences online degree may includes an area of specialization such as gerontology, family policy, life span studies, individual development or relationship processes.

With a human development and family science masters online, students can expand their knowledge of the science of nutrition. This subspecialty typically requires a research project or written thesis. There may be specific requirements for biochemistry, physics, anatomy and nutrition prior to entering the program. However, students can always take these classes before applying. With a masters of science in human services online concentrating on nutrition, students study the relationship between nutrition and different stages of development.

Another specialization for a master of human sciences online is consumer science. This area of human science deals with shat factors impact the decision of consumers. Human science masters degrees are often similar to bachelors programs. However, they often focus on specific education such as training students to be teachers. Some programs have specializations in health promotion or dietary studies, for example.

Students should begin thinking about their final thesis or research paper as soon as they enter the program. This choice could help define their future career and preparing ahead of time give students plenty of time to do the research without delaying their graduation. International students may study in the US to serve in their home countries.

Courses for a Masters in human science may include the following topics:

  • Theories of human development
  • Family theory
  • Nutrition and disease
  • Issues in human development
  • Interpersonal dynamics
  • Curriculum planning

Accreditation

There are many regional, national, and programmatic accreditations that may apply to different areas of human Sciences. Some degrees required a license prior to practice such as mental health therapist and occupational therapist.

CEPH-accredited schools and programs help validate online and brick-and-mortar schools offering human sciences programs.

The accreditation offers the following verification for students and employers:

Comprehensiveness

With a CEPH accreditation, colleges and universities show that they have developed robust programs for public health services. Schools and programs can receive this credential at the undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels.

Rigor

The accreditation shows that a school or program has successfully gone through a grueling accreditation process and passed on more than one occasion. Schools with this certification have been verified as providing a quality education.

Flexibility

CEPH-accredited programs for public health services offer dual degree programs, executive programs and online programs.

Qualification

Programs that receive this accreditation meet the requirements for graduates to set for the following exams:

Opportunity

The eligibility for fellowships and internships in public health sponsored by federal agencies require this credential. Many student assistance programs are only available to degrees accredited by CEPH.

Recognition

Accreditation for human sciences offers recognition by reputable organizations such as institutions of higher learning and hiring employers.

Find out more on the CEPH website.

Other accreditation for human sciences programs act as further validation that the college and program students are interested in is worth the investment and time and money.

During the process of accreditation, universities and colleges go through a peer review of their curriculum. The reviews are typically sponsored by regional or national organizations and students can find accredited schools on the website of the U.S. Department of Education.

Certifications/Licensure

There are many certification programs available in human sciences and human services. As an example, let’s take a look at the Iowa State University, which offers numerous licenses and certifications for human sciences.

Eligible students can take the following certificate programs at the university:

  • Family Financial Planning Certificate 
  • Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate
  • Lifespan Development Certificate 
  • Youth Development Specialist Certificate 
  • Youth Program Management and Evaluation Certificate
  • Applied Research in the Human Sciences Certificate
  • Social Justice in Higher Education Certificate

Scholarships

Thanks to the variety of majors and careers that fall under the human Sciences umbrella, there are thousands of scholarships that students can apply for to further their studies in this field.

Examples of human sciences scholarships include the following:

1. Bill Bendiner and Doug Morgenson Scholarship

This scholarship offers awards to qualified students in Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. It applies to colleges and universities with programs in health sciences, visual arts or human services. This scholarship is reserved for individuals who identify as LGBTQ — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. It is also available to straight allies committed to creating and driving social change for this community.

Bill Bendiner and Doug Morgenson Scholarship
2014 East Madison Street Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 323-3318
[email protected]

2. David C. Maloney Scholarship

The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) sponsors this human services scholarship. This scholarship awards $2,000 a year and applies to human services students at Any level of postsecondary education. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 and show accomplishments of their academic achievements.

David C. Maloney Scholarship
1600 Sarno Road Suite 16
Melbourne, FL 32935
(800) 597-2306
[email protected]

College Consensus and other online sources are great places to start your search for human sciences scholarships.

With a little research, human sciences majors can find scholarships within their region or at particular colleges and universities. Applying for scholarships and receiving awards can significantly reduce the cost of pursuing an education in this field. There are scholarships that are specific to women, minorities and specific interests along with a number of other categories. For the best strategy, students should concentrate on scholarships that have unique qualifications that apply to them and their future goals.

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Ready to start your journey?