Human Services/Psychology, B.A.
The Human Services/Psychology, B.A., curriculum at NLU prepares students to advance in organizations that provide support and service to individuals, families and communities in need. These include social service agencies, community health centers and rehabilitation clinics.
Students applying to the B.A. Human Services/Psychology program are subject to the Undergraduate Admission Requirements.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Summarize the historical development of human services.
PLO2. Explain the dynamics of interaction within and among human systems including individual, interpersonal, group, family, organizational, community, and societal.
PLO3. Identify and analyze the scope of conditions that promote or inhibit human functioning.
PLO4. Obtain, organize, evaluate, present, and utilize information while using appropriate technology.
PLO5. Systematically analyze service needs; plan appropriate intervention strategies, services, and implementation; and evaluate outcomes.
PLO6. Identify and apply appropriate practices for providing direct services and intervening to clients and client groups.
PLO7. Effectively resolve conflict, establish rapport with colleagues and clients, and act in ways that reflect the values and ethics of the human services profession.
PLO8. Explain the functioning of the administrative aspects of the services delivery system.
PLO9. Apply and promote values and ethics intrinsic to the human services profession in practice, including self-determination, interdisciplinary team collaboration, and diversity.
PLO10. Develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations.
PLO11. Apply human services, knowledge, theory, and skills in the professional environment.
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH, including 60 hours of General Education, for completion
- Requires a completion of ENG 201 (or equivalent) with a grade of "C" or better before beginning the Program Major gateway courses; HSM 101 and HSM 102
- Requires a minimum grade of “C” in Human Services/Psychology requirements
- Credit for Prior Learning is accepted for general education, elective credit and as determined appropriate by the faculty, toward program major requirements
- A maximum of 70 QH may be completed through any combination of transfer credit or Credit for Prior Learning toward the major requirements
- Students may complete a minor or concentration, listed below
Minors:
Concentrations:
Required Courses
Research Methods
| RES 200 | Research, Writing, and Analysis | 1 |
Note: RES 200 is required for students completing a fully-online program.
Communications - 15QH
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Humanities and Fine Arts - 15QH
| ART 101 | Basic Art Appreciation | 5 |
| HIS 103 | History Across the Globe | 5 |
| PHI 107 | Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in humanities or fine arts.
Quantitative Reasoning - 5QH
| MTH 101 | Introduction to Mathematical Concepts | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any college-level mathematics course.
Physical and Life Sciences - 10QH
One course must have a lab:
| SCI 101 | Physical Science | 5 |
| and | |
| SCI 102 | Survey of Biological Science with Lab | 5 |
| or | |
| SCI 225 | Human Impact on Environment | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use one course in any physical science and one course in any life science.
Social and Behavioral Sciences - 15QH
Choose two Social Science courses from the list below:
| ECO 200 | Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional | 5 |
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| SOC 101 | Foundational Sociology | 5 |
| SOC 222 | Culture and Identity | 5 |
| and | |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in social and behavioral sciences.
Additional General Education Requirements
Students must complete GEN 103 and one of the following course options:
Pathways Students
| GEN 210 | Think Global-Perspectives from the Field | 3 TO 5 |
| BRV 200 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator | 5 |
| or | |
| CAR 215 | Personal Branding | 3 |
| and | |
| CAR 216 | Professional Networking | 2 |
| BRV 201 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator: Capstone Challenge | 2 |
| or | |
| CAR 217 | Workplace Leadership | 2 |
Transfer Students
| CAR 202 | Creating Professional Identity | 2 |
| CAR 203 | You The Professional | 0 TO 2 |
Note: GEN 103 may be waived for on-campus students who (1) enter NLU with an associate’s degree or 90 or more quarter credit hours of transfer credit; and (2) have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above in their previous undergraduate studies. GEN 210 is required for Pathways students only.
Human Services/Psychology Major Requirements - 85 QH
Gateway Courses
| HSM 101 | Introduction to Human Services | 5 |
| HSM 102 | Principles and Practices of Group Process | 5 |
Core Courses
| HSM 201 | Interviewing Principles and Practices | 5 |
| HSM 202 | Crisis Intervention Principles and Practices | 5 |
| HSM 203 | Family Intervention Principles and Practices | 5 |
| HSM 304 | Human Development and Human Services in a Multicultural Society | 5 |
| HSM 305 | Survey of Populations with Special Needs | 5 |
| HSM 306 | Legal Issues in Human Services | 5 |
| HSM 400 | Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
| HSM 410 | Management and Leadership in Human Services | 5 |
| HSM 415 | Strategies of Community Intervention | 5 |
| PSY 306 | Theories of Personality | 5 |
| PSY 307 | Abnormal Psychology | 5 |
| PSY 330 | Social Psychology | 5 |
| PSY 425 | Mental Health | 5 |
Developmental Psychology
Choose one Developmental Psychology course from the list below:
| PSY 200 | Applied Educational Psychology | 5 |
| PSY 201 | Psychology of Early Childhood | 5 |
| PSY 202 | Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence | 5 |
| PSY 315 | Lifespan Development | 5 |
Capstone Course
Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing a minor or concentration listed above.