Maureen McGrath (Director)

In collaboration with Whitworth's College of Arts & Sciences, Whitworth Online offers a bachelor of professional studies in human services. This interdisciplinary degree builds on the strength of a liberal arts core curriculum, with specialized coursework designed to prepare students for impactful roles in human services. This comprehensive program is crafted to foster a holistic understanding of the historical and theoretical foundations of human services in the context of contemporary practice. By combining curriculum in communication, psychology, sociology, leadership, political science and more, graduates of the human services program are equipped to serve their communities with cultural competence, effective communication skills and strong ethical conduct.

Human Services Program Admission Requirements

Admission to Whitworth Online does not guarantee admission to the Whitworth Human Services Degree Program. In addition to being admitted to Whitworth Online, prior to beginning the human services major, students must:

• Achieve junior standing, either by transfer or at Whitworth, with a grade-point average of 2.0 or above
• Provide a current résumé
• Complete an admission interview with the director of the human services program

Admission Evaluation for Human Services Program

The final determination of admission into the human services program is made by the director of the program, in consultation with Whitworth Online advisors and staff. This decision may be based on prior coursework, recommendations from prior instructors, a personal interview, business aptitude, ability to work well in a cohort-based program, and grade-point average. Applicants will receive notification of their admission status from Whitworth Online.

Learning outcomes of this major are as follows.

Students will be able to:

1. Articulate interventions for diverse client populations by specific developmental stages, cultural contexts, and needs.
2. Analyze how human service professions address systemic social inequalities.
3. Demonstrate personal reflection on one's role in the context of the helping professions
4. Apply problem-solving and communication skills to address dissension and conflict successfully in multiple contexts
5. Understand ethical and legal issues specific to social service engagement
6. Articulate the historical and theoretical basis of human services policy shifts, and their impact on current service models.
7. Synthesize research findings to propose data-driven solutions to economic, social, political, and ethical challenges in human services.