Human and Community Service Administration

The HSMS program will prepare students for administrative positions in human service agencies ranging from adolescent care facilities to facilities for the elderly or mentally disabled. Students will learn to deliver services based on the environmental conditions and mental state of their clients, how to assess client needs, how to control client environment, how to manage staff, and how to assess community resources. Fairmont State University has the unique opportunity to offer the first Human Services Masters Degree Program in the state of West Virginia.

Program Objectives:

The objectives of this program and of the University are to foster individual growth and professional development and to develop a commitment to excellence in community service and service to the citizenry of West Virginia, preparing students for careers that contribute to social and economic development.

Graduates of this program will

·        have knowledge of the structures and functions of West Virginia’s Human Service Agencies

·        have experience working in a West Virginia Human Service Agency

·        understand the sociological and psychological principles of human need

·        be able to provide leadership and coordinate mental health services that will support individual and community needs

·        demonstrate the skills of business management necessary to effectively administer a human service agency

Program description

The Master of Science in Human Services degree program is designed to meet the demands of graduates of undergraduate programs in social and behavioral science who are seeking a broader range of opportunities in the human service field as well as individuals currently employed in human services and seeking advancement in their profession. This program promotes the acquisition of conceptual and operational knowledge needed for advanced positions in the field of human services.

The core content and delivery of course material focus on the application of knowledge in human behavior systems ranging from individuals and groups to communities. The programmatic approach emphasizes an understanding of human service client needs, business management, and models of intervention, problem analysis, resolution implementation, communication, and management.

 

Program Level Admission Requirements:

Students seeking admission to the M.S. program must submit all undergraduate and graduate academic records to the Behavioral Science Program Graduate Selection Committee. The following entrance qualifications are preferred:

1. Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0.
2. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of not less than 900 for the Verbal and Quantitative sections combined.
3. A letter of reference from three of the applicant's undergraduate instructors.
4.  A baccalaureate degree in Psychology, Sociology, or similar social/behavioral field. Applicants to the HSMS program who hold a degree in other fields must have a minimum of 21 hours of social or behavioral science courses primarily in psychology or sociology. Students who have not met this requirement may be conditionally accepted into the program if they successfully complete the required undergraduate hours in their first year of graduate study.

These admission and performance standards meet the program objective by admitting quality students committed to human service who understand the basic sociological and psychological principles of human need.

Program Requirements:

1. Two C rule: Students cannot continue in the graduate program if they earn more than one grade of C or lower in any graduate course. After receiving a C grade in any program course a student may repeat that course in an attempt to earn a higher grade. If a higher grade is not achieved or a student earns a C in any other graduate course, the student will be automatically dismissed from the Human Services Program.
2.  A comprehensive exam will be required for all M. S. Human Services students. Students will be required to take the exam immediately upon successful completion of 18 semester hours of HSMS graduate courses. Students scoring less than 75% correct on the exam will be allowed to continue in the program but will be required t 1) Retest at the end of the following semester; Or, 2) Retest after auditing those courses in which their exam reflects poor content knowledge. Students who do not pass their comprehensive retest will not be permitted to continue in the Human Services graduate program. 
3. Students must complete a 400 hour supervised internship. The particular placement will coincide with the student's area of interest and be determined and arranged after consultation with the student's advisor.

Program Outcomes:

This program is expected to help fulfill the specific need for mental health administrators and the broader need for all human services administrators within the FSU service area, throughout West Virginia, and the multi-state area including western Maryland, southwestern Pennsylvania, and southeastern Ohio.

Target Market:

The proposed Human and Community Service Administration program will serve those graduates of psychology and sociology baccalaureate programs who are interested in moving into administrative positions in human service agencies instead of “social service” positions that are predominately client-intake and service-provider oriented. Other individuals who would be served by this program include those who are currently in service-provider positions and wish to advance to administrative positions.

The educational CIP code for this program is a “new” code responding to schools nation wide that are developing programs to meet industry needs within the human service field. The US Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the growth in the human service field and offers numerous internship opportunities and an “Emerging Leaders Program” in response to this need. Locally, human service agencies have expressed, through informal interviews, an interest in hiring graduates and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) has numerous management positions that could be filled by graduates of this program.

Employment Opportunities:

 With the aging “baby boomer” increase in the population, we anticipate a high demand for graduates of the HSMS program because of the increased need for human service facilities. Census statistics indicate that 27.5% of the labor force is involved in professional and management positions. This translates to a high need within the human service industry.

The Human and Community Service Administration masters program will provide human service professionals at the administrative level who can step into many different management/leadership positions. Occupational titles for professionals at this level include Halfway House Director, Group Home Manager, Crisis Intervention Director, Community Outreach Director, Residential Manager, and more.

The most relevant employment code taken from the federal government Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) is 195.117-010, which carries the various titles: Social Welfare Administrator or Director; Child Support Enforcement Program Director; Community Center Director; Social Service Director; Rehabilitation Program Director; Mental Health Agency Director.

“This professional directs agency or major functions of public or voluntary organizations, providing services in social welfare fields to individuals, groups, or community; works with board of directors and committees to establish policies and programs; and administers such programs. Determines policies and defines scope of services to be rendered within legislative regulations for public welfare agency, functioning without board of directors. Assumes responsibility for development and administration of standards and procedures related to personnel, including staff development, budget, and physical facilities. Interprets agency purpose and program to community. Establishes and maintains relationships with other agencies and organizations in community, seeking to meet community needs and services. Prepares, distributes, and maintains a variety of reports. Inspects agency operations and facilities to ensure agency meets standards and procedures criteria. May direct or coordinate fund raising, public relations, and fact finding or research activities. Employed in settings such as child welfare, community welfare councils, family casework, youth serving agencies, health organizations, informal education, and recreation, including scouting and Y's, public welfare, and fund raising.”

The U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts average to faster than average growth for social and human service workers between 2004 and 2014, ranking the occupations among the most rapidly growing in the nation. This translates to a growth rate in jobs between 17% and 27% or more for some regions. The pressure for such professionals in West Virginia is so great that many undergraduate psychology students are filling these demanding administrative positions.

The West Virginia DHHR currently lists the following positions appropriate for graduates of the HSMS program: DHHR community services manager 1, DHHR regional director, corrections case manager, and health & human resources program manager 1.         

Cooperative Arrangements:

Student internships will be arranged with local agencies that currently work with the Department of Behavioral Sciences by providing locations for undergraduate practicum. These locations include: The WV Department of Human Services, Family Service Agency, Disability Determination Services, Valley Health Care System, Center for Independent Living, Fairmont General Hospital, Dept. of Social Services, Burlington Family Service Agency, Trauma Recovery Institute, Vintage Adult Day Treatment Center, United Summit Center, United Hospital Center Dept. of Social Services, Senior Citizens Centers, Hospice Care, and Hope Inc., Domestic Violence Center. All of these agencies have been and continue to be willing partners in the education of human service workers.