The mission of the Human Services Department is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to become effective, ethical, and compassionate human service professionals who engage in creative approaches to social change and advocacy to meet diverse individual and societal needs.
Human Services students at Washburn University, upon graduation are expected to have:
1) Describe the historical development and scope of the Human Services field, with its
Our most recent departmental assessment data indicated that we are successfully meeting benchmarks for each of our student learning outcomes.
Students combine general education, human services coursework, and internships with a specific emphasis in one or more of the following areas as part of their individualized program of study: Addiction Counseling, Developmental Disabilities (currently suspending admission of new students), Gerontology, Mental Health, Youth Services, and Victim/Survivor Services. The degree programs emphasize a multidisciplinary perspective, preparing students to assist people and their communities to function as effectively as possible. Recommended and required coursework focus on knowledge and skills related to working with people in a ehlping relationship, group dynamics, organizational development, and community systems. Students should refer to the specific General Education Requirements for the University and consult with their Faculty Advisor for specific Department requirements. Coursework in psychology, sociology, communication, biology, political science, social work, mass media, business, or other areas may be recommended or required.
A minimum of 62 hours is required for completion of the Associate degree. The Associate of Arts degree in Human Services (AA) includes 26 credit hours of University and general education requirements. Students majoring in Human Services must complete a minimum of 27 hours of credit in the department. These hours must include HS 100, 131, 250, 251, 280 and 281. Nine additional hours must be selected, to develop an emphasis area, in consultation with a faculty advisor. At least six credit hours for the emphasis area must be taken in the Human Services Department. Possible options include, but are not limited to, addiction counseling, youth services, gerontology, victim/survivor services, mental health, or developmental disabilities (currently suspending admission of new students). If students are not proficient in basic computer applications and internet use, they are encouraged to take CM 100 and/or CM 101. Students must receive a grade of C or better in each course applied to the major.
A minimum of 124 hours is required for completion of the Baccalaureate degree. The Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Human Services (BAS) includes 47 credit hours of University and general education requirements. Students majoring in Human Services must complete a minimum of 66 hours of credit in the department. These hours must include HS100, 131, 250, 251/305, 280, 281, 300, 302, 325, 330, 380, 411, 445, 450/550, 481, 495/595, and 498. In consultation with a faculty advisor, a total of fifteen additional credit hours must be selected to develop an area of emphasis. Possible options include, but are not limited to, addiction counseling, youth services, gerontology, victim/ survivor services, mental health, or developmental disabilities (currently suspending admission of new students). Of these hours, at least 12 credit hours must be Human Services coursework, 3 hours may be selected from another discipline relating to the area of emphasis, and a minimum of 6 hours should be upper division courses. If students are not proficient in basic computer applications and internet use, they are encouraged to take CM 100 and/or CM 101. Students must receive a grade of C or better in each course applied to the major.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Department of Human Services offers a Master of Arts in Human Services degree with emphasis in Addiction Counseling. The Master of Arts in Human Services was approved in spring 2012 by the Washburn Board of Regents and the Kansas Board of Regents. Student enrollment in the program began in the fall 2012 semester. The application for program approval by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) has been submitted and is pending.
For the professional currently employed in the field, advanced knowledge, skills, and practical experience acquired in the MA program may enhance opportunities for career advancement. The MA in Human Services with emphasis in addiction counseling is designed to prepare its graduates to become licensed clinical addiction counselors (LCAC) with the Kansas BSRB. In addition, this program prepares students for teaching positions in community colleges and for additional graduate study. Coursework emphasizes the application of theory and research to the delivery of human services with the emphasis in addiction counseling. Course scheduling and delivery methods are designed to meet the needs of working students, including online courses and short courses (e.g., weekend workshops) that align with Kansas BSRB educational requirements. The Kansas BSRB requires that half of the skills courses must be taken at the physical location of the institution. Washburn University has addressed this requirement by offering sufficient face-to-face teaching of skills courses (e.g., HS 604 and 605).
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN SERVICES
Upon graduation, Master of Arts in Human Services students should be able to:
1) Describe and explain how integrative human services have the potential to impact professional
ADMISSION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
In addition to applying for admission to Washburn University, applicants must also apply to the MA in Human Services program. An application packet may be obtained from the Human Services Department office (Benton 311) or the Department’s website: http://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/applied-studies/departments/human-services. Complete application instructions and deadlines are included within the application packet. Along with the completed application, applicants must submit copies of undergraduate (and graduate, when applicable) transcript(s), three letters of recommendation from instructors and/ or professionals in the field, a written essay describing the student’s intent and goals in pursuing the MA in Human Services degree, and a non-refundable $35 application fee.
The applicant must present evidence of adequate preparation to engage in graduate study. Minimum standard for admission to the MA in Human Services program is the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field (e.g., Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, etc.) from an accredited institution of higher education with an overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) over the last two years (60 credits) of university coursework. Applicants to the MA in Human Services Program with emphasis in Addiction Counseling must be Licensed Addiction Counselors with the Kansas BSRB or have work experience, education, or certification/licensure from other states that the admission committee in the Human Services Department feels is substantially equivalent.
Admission to the MA in Human Services is competitive. A committee of faculty from the Human Services Department reviews applications and makes recommendations regarding admission. The committee carefully weighs all aspects of the completed application, including the applicant’s academic performance, his/her communication skills, and the assessments of the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes from the three references. In addition, the committee carefully considers the applicant’s commitment to the ethics and values underlying the addiction counseling profession and personal qualities necessary for effective addiction counseling practice. The admissions committee in the Human Services Department can, and sometimes will, deny admission if the applicant lacks the necessary prerequisites and/or if the committee feels that the applicant lacks the skills and aptitude necessary for successful completion of the degree program.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
It may be possible for transfer students to substitute a portion of coursework (up to 9 credits hours) from other accredited graduate programs, but all requests for substitutions in coursework for the degree are reviewed on a case by case basis and must be approved by the student’s advisor and the chairperson of the Human Services Department. As a general rule, for students applying to the MA in Human Services with emphasis in addiction counseling, only courses that meet Kansas BSRB educational requirements for the LCAC would be considered for transfer credit. The applicant must have received a grade of “B” or better in the course(s) under consideration for transfer credit. Applicants seeking to obtain credit for previous coursework must submit at least one of their three required letters of reference from a faculty member or department chairperson of the accredited program from which the applicant is transferring. If the applicant seeks to obtain transfer credit for a practicum, he/she must obtain a second letter of reference from his/her field practicum supervisor.
COURSEWORK
The MA in Human Services degree program is a two (2) year program requiring a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework. Of the 36 required credit hours, 30 credit hours is required coursework and 6 credit hours may be selected from electives. Students seeking licensure with the Kansas BSRB as Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselors must take the courses marked with an asterisk on the following lists of required and elective coursework.
These hours must include HS600, 604, 605, 610, 615, 635, 640, 641, 660 and 695. Additional 9 credit hours are required in graduate level elective courses HS620, 625, 630, 665, 679, or Special Topic Seminars.
KANSAS ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSURE INFORMATION
Students who wish to become a licensed clinical addiction counselor (LCAC) in Kansas will need to have a minimum of 300 client contact hours across a minimum of six credit hours of practicum course work (i.e., a minimum of two practica; at Washburn, these are HS 640 and 641). In addition, the practica must include one in ten hours of clinical supervision. Supervision is to be provided by Washburn faculty and agency supervisors, at least one of whom shall be licensed at the clinical level (e.g., LCAC, LSCSW, LCPC). Applicants for the LCAC in Kansas must pass a national examination and complete a clinical supervision training plan that includes the following:
The Human Services Department is approved to offer the following Certificates of Completion upon successful completion of approved course work and/or internships:
A Minor in Human Services consists of no less than 18 hours of Human Services coursework selected in consultation with a Department Advisor and must be approved by the Chair of the Department of Human Services. Students must attain a grade of “C” or better for each course applied to the Minor.
Washburn University
Human Services Department
Benton Hall Room 311
1700 SW College Ave
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone: 785.670.2116
Fax: 785.670.1027
Email: human-services@washburn.edu