Human Services Minor

With its focus on understanding the human condition within the societal context, the human services minor provides students with the theoretical and applied tools of helping individuals, families, and communities.

The Human Services Minor offers students the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, or adults in a variety of human service settings. There are two tracks in the Human Services minor: a policy/administrative track and a clinical track. Students select a track according to their professional interests.

Featured Courses

CHMSR 1551 Foundations and Systems in the Helping Professions

This course introduces students to a wide range of human service professions, with particular attention paid to the fields of art therapy, counseling, expressive arts therapy, holistic psychology, human services and psychology. Career opportunities are explored through guest presentations and assignments in community settings. The values and ethical issues facing human service professionals are introduced.

CHMSR 2551 Concepts and Skills in Professional Practice

This course focuses on the development of communication skills and the clinical skills of interviewing, case analysis, and professional conduct. Critical thinking about professional practice is emphasized, with particular focus on the analysis of the public policies that shape human service delivery. A one-day per week internship is required of all students at an approved site.

CHMSR 3201 Human Services Seminar

In this introduction to the field, students address their professional development through an exploration of personal options and goals in the field of human services.

CHMSR 3701 Human Services internship and Seminar I (6 credits) and II (6 credits)

In this course the student works in a human services setting for an average of 12-15 hours per week for the full semester under the supervision of an experienced professional. Placement settings include: community service organizations, courts, residential group homes and recreational agencies. Students meet weekly in a seminar with a Lesley College supervisor to examine issues arising from the students’ internships and to relate these issues to clinical principles and theories of human development and social policy.

CHMSR 4089 Practicum in Curriculum and Procedures

The student serves as a course assistant to the faculty member. The course includes both studying the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating the course curriculum, and assisting with the preparation and teaching of a particular subject in depth. The course is recommended for those wishing to participate in the planning and teaching process.

CHMSR 4551 Contemporary Issues in Human Services and Counseling

This course is designed as a senior capstone course for both Human Services and Counseling majors. Students critically examine selected contemporary issues related to the development of public policy and legislation. Through analysis of targeted issues like teen pregnancy, child abuse, AIDS and homelessness, students examine the connections between social policy, the human service worker, and the delivery of human services.