Vermont State University’s A.S. in Human Services will open the door for you to start your career working with people. The field of human services helps people to help themselves, whether helping them meet basic needs like food and shelter or connecting them with guidance, counseling, or substance abuse treatment. We emphasize experiential learning and offer a combination of both psychology and human services courses. You’ll be prepared for a variety of jobs upon graduation through a hands-on practicum and your courses. We emphasize personal growth, professional skill development, social justice, and cultural understanding. Our students are highly employable and have gone on to work in a variety of social service agencies and schools or have continued on to earn their bachelor’s.
Why Study Human Services at Vermont State?
- Experiential learning: We are a very hands-on program emphasizing experiential learning.
- Flexible program: This degree is an excellent option for students who might be unsure or unable to commit to a four-year program or for someone who wants to combine their interests in psychology and human services with a degree in another program, such as Criminal Justice or Nursing.
- Career readiness: Upon completion of the A.S. degree, you will be ready to work in a wide variety of entry-level jobs — or continue on with us to complete your bachelor’s degree.
- Diverse placements: Students complete an 80-hour fieldwork placement, with a wide variety of placement options available.
- Social justice: We provide a strong emphasis on social justice in our courses.
Financial Aid for Human Services Students
Vermont State University is providing a high-quality, affordable degree in human services to students across Vermont and beyond. More than 80 percent of Vermont State students are awarded financial aid, including new students, transfer students, international students, out-of-state students, and first-generation students. Our financial aid team is here to help you explore all your options.
Internships & Experiential Learning in Human Services
We are unique in that we are a program with a strong emphasis on experiential learning with a lot of hands-on experience. Students receive a strong foundation in psychology and human services while having multiple opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom and the field.
- We provide students with an 80-hour field placement, and we work with students to find that placement — unlike many other schools where students are expected to find placements on their own.
- When in a placement, students are also enrolled in courses that support what they’re experiencing in the field.
- We have collaborative partnerships with almost every human services agency, along with many schools, in the Northeast Kingdom and other regions in Vermont and New Hampshire as well. This allows for rich and diversified placements.
Human services professionals work for a range of federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and private sector agencies. Some areas of work include:
- Aging and Disability
- Child and Youth Development
- Domestic Violence
- Family Support and Safety
- Food and Nutrition
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Homelessness
- Income and Employment
- Mental Health
- Public Health
- Substance Abuse
