Program Overview

Health and Human Services

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Majors

• Health and Human Services BA - Child and Family Studies Concentration
• Health and Human Services BA - Community Mental Health Concentration
• Health and Human Services BA - Social Gerontology Concentration

Combined

• Health and Human Services BA - Child and Family Studies Concentration/Social Work MSW
• Health and Human Services BA - Child and Family Studies Concentration/Early Childhood/Childhood Education EdM
• Health and Human Services BA - Community Mental Health Concentration/Social Work MSW
• Health and Human Services BA - Social Gerontology Concentration/Social Work MSW

Minor

• Health and Human Services Minor
• Nonprofit Leadership Minor

Program Description

The health and human services program is designed for people who care about others in need and want to make a real difference for individuals and communities. At UB, you'll get the science-based knowledge and broad interdisciplinary experience to be an effective advocate for others—whether you want to help children, seniors, people with mental health issues or other groups.

What will I learn?

You'll typically start with intro classes in subjects like psychology, human services, and medical ethics, then move on to more advanced classes in related areas such as communications, sociology, and global gender studies. By your junior year, you’ll usually choose a concentration and focus on electives within that area. Throughout the program, you may also take a number of interdisciplinary courses designed to show you how to combine expertise from different areas to solve complex challenges.

What can I do outside of class?

• Internships: Most of our students do at least one internship, which lets you practice your skills in a real-world environment, work side-by-side with professionals, and build your network.
• Study abroad. We encourage students to spend time living and learning in another country.
• Clubs and events. UB has hundreds of student groups where you can make new friends and explore your interests.

What can I do with a health and human services degree?

Management analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Senior director of hospital operations at the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. Program manager for a county-wide health education center. These are just a few of the jobs that our grads have held.

In fact, our students have enjoyed careers at a wide variety of private institutions, nonprofit groups, and government agencies, including:

• Boys & Girls Club
• Buffalo Board of Education
• Buffalo City Mission
• Child & Family Services
• GrandeVille Senior Living Community
• JCC of Greater Buffalo
• Just for Kids
• Memorial Sloan Kettering
• New Directions Youth & Family Services
• People, Inc.
• Queens District Attorney’s Office
• Rochester General Health System
• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital
• Teach for America
• Victims Assistance Center
• Western New York Independent Living, Inc.
• YWCA

Many students also choose to go to graduate school and get an advanced degree in a related field such as social work, public health, health care administration, psychology, counseling, or education.

Who will I learn from?

Study community-wide behaviors with expert sociologists. Explore the brain with award-winning psychology professors. Learn from faculty who specialize in bringing together insights across multiple disciplines.

In this program, you'll get to take courses with faculty throughout the university—just one benefit of being in an interdisciplinary major. Of course, your instructors may also include working professionals from various fields and industries who come to UB so they can share their experience (and connections!) with the next generation.

With such a wide range of teachers and mentors, you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet the people who can guide you on your career path, every step of the way.