Portland-State-University 2025-2026 Bulletin

Human Services B.A./B.S.

Human Services is a BA/BS interdisciplinary major preparing individuals for culturally responsive work in the field of human and social services. Students will take courses from many departments at PSU including Child, Youth, and Family Studies; Psychology; Sociology; and the School of Gender, Race, and Nations. Graduates will be equipped to address the spectrum of human need in settings such as schools, behavioral health agencies, healthcare settings, and aging and disability agencies. The program consists of 56 total credits, with 20 Foundation Human Services credits, 12 virtual practice credits, 12 elective credits in Race and Ethnic Studies, and 12 elective credits in one of four workforce concentrations of study: 1) Addictions; 2) Behavioral Health; 3) Children and Youth Work; and 4) Gerontology. The course of study leads to a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and meets the academic requirements and standards for: 1) a Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) offered by the Center for Credentialing Education (CCE); 2) a certification conferred upon human services professionals in Oregon by the Mental Health and Addictions Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO); 3) a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies; or 4) a certificate in Aging. Course of study may lead to graduate work in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work or other related field.

Prerequisite for the HS Major:

· Introduction to Psychology

· Introduction to Human Services, or Introduction to Social Work, or its equivalent

Degree Requirements

Foundation Human Services Courses (20 credits)

HS 303Trauma Informed Helping Professional

4

HS 305Human Services Management Systems

4

HS 307Inquiry, Evaluation & Accountability

4

CFS 391Family Theories

4

CFS 487Examining Bias and Belief

4

Advanced Practice Courses (12 credits)

The following series of practice and skill development courses will nurture competencies essential for effective and empathic communication with diverse individuals, families, and communities. These courses will draw on real-world scenarios to simulate effective practice in human services and will incorporate virtual and time-limited scheduled assessments of competency.
HS 411Introduction to Practice and Skill Assessment I: Portfolio Learning

4

HS 412Practice & Skill Development in Human Services II

4

HS 413Practice & Skill Development in Human Services III

4

Prior Learning will be assessed in HS 411, which may lead to the award of Credit for Prior Learning in lieu of HS 412 and HS 413.

Workforce Based Concentrations (12 credits)

Addictions

CCJ 385Domestic Violence

4

CCJ 415Counseling Skills for Criminal Justice

4

CCJ 485Restorative Justice and Rehabilitation

4

CFS 310Critical Histories in CYFS: Gender/Race/Class

4

CFS 360Critical Disability: Impacts on Children, Youth, & Families

4

Coun 437Current Issues in Addictions Counseling

3

Coun 441Introduction to Counseling

3

PHE 350Health and Health Systems

4

Psy 450Psychopharmacology

4

SW 410TOP: TRAUMA INFORMED MENTAL HE

4

SW 416Motivational Interviewing

4

Behavioral Health

CCJ 385Domestic Violence

4

CCJ 415Counseling Skills for Criminal Justice

4

CFS 310Critical Histories in CYFS: Gender/Race/Class

4

Coun 430Introduction to Psychiatric Diagnoses

3

Coun 441Introduction to Counseling

3

PHE 350Health and Health Systems

4

Psy 350Counseling

4

Psy 450Psychopharmacology

4

Soc 419Sociology of Mental Illness

4

SW 375Intimate Partner Violence: Theories & Practices

4

SW 410TOP: TRAUMA INFORMED MENTAL HE

4

SW 416Motivational Interviewing

4

WS 426/Soc 426Gender & Mental Health

4

Children and Youth Work

CCJ 305Juvenile Justice Reform

4

CCJ 385Domestic Violence

4

CFS 310Critical Histories in CYFS: Gender/Race/Class

4

CFS 360Critical Disability: Impacts on Children, Youth, & Families

4

CFS 440Critical Youth Studies

4

CFS 450Youth Work Practice

4

CFS 460Grief and Loss in Families

4

CFS 492Family Law and Policy

4

Coun 445Ecosystems of Youth in Schools

3

SpHr 385Autism

4

SpHr 473Perspectives on Disability

4

SW 410TOP: TRAUMA INFORMED MENTAL HE

4

WS 467Work and Family

4

WS 480Introduction to Critical Disability Studies

4

Gerontology

PHE 410Selected Topics

1-12

CFS 360Critical Disability: Impacts on Children, Youth, & Families

4

CFS 460Grief and Loss in Families

4

PHE 350Health and Health Systems

4

PHE 416Families and Aging

4

PHE 423Business and Aging

4

Psy 350Counseling

4

Soc 466Sociology of Dying and Death

4

Soc 469Sociology of Aging

4

SW 410TOP: TRAUMA INFORMED MENTAL HE

4

SW 416Motivational Interviewing

4

Race and Ethnic Studies Courses to Promote Culturally Responsive Practice (12 credits)

Anth 320Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast

4

Anth 417Advanced Topics in Native American Studies

4

BSt 412Oregon African American History

4

BSt 414Racism

4

CFS 440Critical Youth Studies

4

CFS 450Youth Work Practice

4

CFS 488Structural Oppression

4

ChLa 305Latinx Youth Cultures

4

ChLa 420Chicanx Families

4

Comm 415Problems of Intercultural Communication

4

CR 312Intercultural Conflict Resolution

4

CR 449Intro to Holocaust and Genocide Studies

4

NAS 392Indigenous Ways of Knowing

4

NAS 426Tribal Critical Race Theory

4

PHE 415Native American Health: Decolonizing Health Equity

4

Psy 425Psychology of Black Manhood in America

4

Psy 428Diversity, Prejudice and Intergroup Relations

4

WS 451Interrupting Oppression

4

Total Credit Hours: 56

Pass (P) grades will be allowed in Practice Skills Courses (HS 411, HS 412, HS 413). 

All other courses require a C- as the minimum grade.