Human Services

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Program Overview

The Black Hills State University Human Services program provides students with the knowledge necessary to understand and address the needs of various human populations through practical, professional, and personalized experiences. This program allows students to study the psychology and sociology of human behavior, and includes human services classes that provide hands-on learning opportunities. The BHSU Human Services program also offers three emphasis options: Justice Studies, Family Studies, or Community Studies. These options allow students to focus their studies within the field best suited to their professional goals. Faculty and staff are here to help students identify their goals and navigate a path to achieve them. This includes personal guidance and support with internships, employment, and graduate school opportunities. BHSU Human Services majors can expect a curriculum that is adaptable to their academic and career goals, and a faculty dedicated to helping them reach these goals.
Professor Trenton Ellis lectures Human Services students while they take notes.

Get Involved

BHSU Human Services majors enjoy close contact with local and regional agencies and organizations, and with a variety of human service professionals working around the country. Internship experiences and other professional contact (e.g. site visits, in-class agency presentations/talks) ensure majors have opportunities to learn about human services-related careers, build professional networks, and strengthen skills in the field. Human services majors can gain practical professional experiences and earn academic credits via internships for credit. Internships for credit are professional learning experiences for junior and senior students who are well-prepared for entering the professional field. BHSU Human Services majors intern in diverse settings (e.g. law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, behavioral health services) under the supervision of practicing professionals and BHSU faculty. Many internships are also paid. Outside of for-credit internships, BHSU Human Services faculty work with any human services major seeking discipline-related internships, field experiences, and/or other professional development opportunities.
Human Services in the News
A New Home, A New Job: A BHSU Alumna’s Globe-Trotting Adventures

Emily Wenning ‘23, says she “tends to end up places.” Since attending Black Hills State University (BHSU), Emily has bounced around the globe, pursuing her passions for travel and social work.

More News
 

Possible Internship Opportunities

Helpful Links

After Graduation

Graduates of the BHSU Human Services enter in-demand careers within the criminal justice system, child and family services, mental health care, nonprofit administration, and other related fields. Our graduates have the necessary skills to advance beyond entry level positions. They also have the knowledge to become leaders within their field. BHSU Human Services maintains strong relationships with employers within and beyond South Dakota. This includes law enforcement agencies at the local/state/federal levels, state social services departments and agencies, nonprofit human and social services agencies, and more. From their very first human services course, students begin exploring professional opportunities and building their path toward achieving their career goals. The Human Services curriculum and high-quality mentorship from faculty and professional advisors help guide students wishing to further their education beyond BHSU.  Many of our Human Services graduates attend graduate and professional programs, including social work (MSW), school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, addiction studies, public health (MPH), and more.
 

Job Outlook

Through 2030, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects  the field of human services to grow faster than average. From careers in child welfare services to law enforcement, the BHSU Human Services program provides students with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to pursue any professional career in the field.

FAQs

You will have the ability to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in any the following majors: Exercise Science, Human Services, Outdoor Education, Psychology, and Sociology.

Some majors require a minor (Psychology, Sociology, and Human Services) while others do not (Exercise Science and Outdoor Education). The school offers several different minors to choose from: Exercise Science, Outdoor Education, Psychology, and Sociology.

To check your advisor, login to My BHSU/Snap, click Student and 'Student Main Menu'. Your advisor will be listed in your student profile. If no advisor is listed, contact Registrar's Office.

If you would like to change your advisor, contact Registrar's Office.

There are a wide range of job outcomes for Behavioral Sciences graduates including: Human Resources Specialists, Physical Therapists, Counselors, Park Rangers, Social Workers, Athletic Coaches and Trainers, Case Workers, and more!

Visit our Grad School page for more information. You will also want to speak with an advisor on which courses you should be taking. Research and/or internship experiences are often required on graduate school applications.

Generally, students are encouraged to have statistics and/or research methods at least started before beginning research. Some professors, however, may be willing to take exceptional students on a case-by-case basis. Contact the research professor of your interest area for more information: Dr. Alissa Call, Dr. Eric Clapham, Dr. Nathan Deichert, or Dr. Emilia Flint.

Contact Dr. Emilia Flint for more information on internships. Also, keep an eye out for postings around campus (particularly in the Jonas Skywalk).

Human Services Faculty

Faculty within the BHSU Human Services program have a wide-range of experience in human services related research and work. Our faculty include licensed clinical psychologists, professional counselors, former youth programming workers, sustainability scholars, and community development researchers. Faculty are well connected with human services agencies and organizations within and beyond South Dakota.

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Dr. Trenton Ellis

Associate Professor, Human Services

Trenton.Ellis@BHSU.edu

605.642.1283

Jonas SW 207

Box #Unit 9004

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Dr. Michael Hollingsworth

Asst Prof, Human Services

Michael.Hollingsworth@BHSU.edu

605.642.6550

Jonas SW 213

Box #Unit 9004

Get Connected

LinkedIn National Organization for Human Services