Human Services Administration

Degree Type

Master of Science

About

Learn to lead human services agencies and work toward quality of life for all—especially vulnerable populations.

Introduction

At its heart, the field of human services administration is about helping people. In every neighborhood or community, there are people who struggle with getting access to resources that fulfill basic human needs. This inequity has encouraged the rise of human services agencies committed to not only helping individuals, but also addressing widespread societal issues.

In this growing field, human services personnel and leaders have the ability to affect positive social change through creation, critical evaluation, and management of programs. Practitioners and leaders bring those efforts together to design methodologies that improve quality, accessibility, and service delivery to those who need it most.

This interdisciplinary degree uniquely positions graduates to take advantage of the growing human services industry. With coursework across a variety of fields, you’ll learn the planning, evaluation, leadership, and decision-making skills that have value in any economy.

Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Get the Best of Both

The Masters of Science in Human Services Administration is a fully collaborative program between Coppin State University and the University of Baltimore (UB). Under the guidance of program directors from both campuses, students take courses at both schools, and upon graduation earn a joint degree from both Coppin and UB.

Our students go on to make significant contributions to corporate, governmental, nonprofit, and community human service organizations in a variety of areas. Some of these areas include, program planning, implementation and evaluation, grant writing and administration, fundraising and financial management, human resources management, as well as community outreach.

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Master of Science in Human Services Administration, students must complete 36 credits in:

  • Core courses (18 credits)
  • Content area courses (12 credits)
  • Capstone (6 credits)

Human Services Concentrations

After finishing the core curriculum and required coursework, students complete additional coursework in a specific content area within the field of human services. Each content area is offered at either Coppin or UB:

  • Addictions counseling (Coppin)
  • Applied psychology (UB)
  • Family counseling (Coppin)
  • Health care systems (UB)
  • Negotiations and conflict management (UB)
  • Rehabilitation counseling (Coppin)
  • Special education (Coppin)

Content Areas

In collaboration with the program advisor, each student chooses 4 courses from an approved content area to satisfy the required 12 credit course of study. Coppin and UB both offer content areas.

COURSE CREDITS NAME
PSYC 612 3 Group Counseling 
PSYC 621 3 Addiction Prevention Techniques for the Individual, Family, School, and Community
PSYC 641 3 Advanced Individual Counseling, Diagnosis, and Assessment of the Addicted Client
PSYC 642 3 Advanced Group Counseling, Diagnosis, and Assessment of the Addicted Client
PSYC 643 3 Action Research on Alcoholism and Multiple Addictions in the Inner City
PSYC 644 3 Management of Addiction Treatment Programs

COURSE CREDITS NAME
APPL 602 3 Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology
APPL 604 3 Interviewing
APPL 612 3 Human Relations
APPL 613 3 Human Development
APPL 664 3 Gerontology

COURSE CREDITS NAME
PSYC 529 3 Human Growth and Development
PSYC 508 3 Child Abuse and Spousal Abuse
PSYC 612 3 Group Counseling
PSYC 614 3 Techniques of Marriage and Family Counseling

COURSE CREDITS NAME
HSMG 630 3 Legal Environment of Health Care Systems
HSMG 766 3 Health Organizations and Human Resources
PUAD 750 3 Health Care Systems
PUAD 751 3 Policy Issues in Health Care
PUAD 755 3 Health Administration
PUAD 756 3 Managed Care Administration
PUAD 757 3 Strategic Management for Health Care

COURSE CREDITS NAME
CNCM 506 3 Understanding and Assessing Conflict
CNCM 508 3 Approaches to Managing Conflict and Methods of Dispute Resolution
CNCM 513 3 Negotiations: Theory and Practice
CNCM 515 3 Mediation: Theory and Practice

COURSE CREDITS NAME
REHB 504 3 Psychosocial Aspects of Disability 
REHB 513 3 Introduction to Rehabilitation
REHB 516 3 Theories and Techniques of Counseling
REHB 536 3 Casework/Caseload Management
REHB 610 3 Organization and Administration of Counseling and Rehabilitation Programs
REHB 636 3 Multicultural Counseling

COURSE CREDITS NAME
SPED 511 3 Group Dynamics: The Educator's Role
SPED 512 3 Administration and Supervision of Special Education Programs
SPED 514 3 Seminar in Interdisciplinary Information
SPED 587 3 Teaching Exceptional Children in the Regular Classroom
SPED 700 3 Legal Aspects of Special Education

Capstone Requirements

Capstone allows students to gain specific practice or research experience. A student can choose 6 credits of either:

  • Field experience

    or

  • Research in program planning, implementation, and/or evaluation (Students selecting a research Capstone experience should have prior administrative experience, and also be prepared to present a tentative research design or topic.)

Capstone is only available to students with second year status (18 credits). To achieve this status, a student must have completed:

  • HSAD 602, History and Foundations
  • HSAD 603, Contemporary Issues
  • HSAD 620, Leadership and Supervision
  • HSAD 621, Leadership and Decision-Making
  • 6 credits of a human services administration content area

Planning Your Path to Graduation

This program is a carefully structured 2-year program. Because of professor availability, multiple sections of core courses are not available in a single semester. Similarly, core course sections cannot be repeated in following semesters. As a result, this program offers Fall and Spring courses only.

Please note, delaying a course may result in at least a 1-year graduation delay because courses do not repeat during the academic year. Each student must schedule at least 1 consultation session per semester with a program advisor.

Graduate Course Load Expectations

We expect graduate students enrolled in Human Services Management to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credits per semester. At this pace, students can complete the program in 2 years.

Students also have an option to enroll in a part-time course load of 6 credits per semester. At this pace, students can complete the program in 3 years.

First Year Courses

Remember, courses may have prerequisites. In general, students must complete and master fall courses and content before being eligible to enroll in spring courses.

course Semester Prerequisite
HSAD 602: History and Foundations Fall Graduate Standing
HSAD 620: Leadership and Supervision Fall Graduate Standing 
HSAD 603: Contemporary Issues Spring HSAD 602
HSAD 621: Leadership and Decision-Making Spring HSAD 620

Second Year Courses

Keep in mind, your second year courses may have prerequisites. Students must complete and master first year courses before being eligible to enroll in second year courses.

Second year status means a graduate students has mastered and completed 18 credits, including:

  • HSAD 602
  • HSAD 603
  • HSAD 620
  • HSAD 621
  • 6 credits of content area courses
course Semester Prerequisite
HSAD 610: Strategies for HSER Planning Fall 2nd Year Standing

HSAD 695: Field Practicum I

or

HSAD 698: Research Practicum I*

Fall 2nd Year Standing 
HSAD 611: Program Evaluation Spring HSAD 610

HSAD 696: Field Practicum II

or

HSAD 699: Research Practicum II

Spring

HSAD 695

or

HSAD 698

*Note: Students who pursue the Research Practicum should have previous administrative experience, and must also present a tentative research design or topic. 

Related Applied Social Science Programs

Rehabilitation Counseling

Graduate

Professional Counselor Licensure

Post-Master's

Assistive Technology

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Job Development and Job Placement Services

Graduate

Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment

Graduate
College

Human Services Administration is in the Department of Applied and Political Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.