Bachelor of Arts in Human Services (B.A.)

National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Human Services prepares students to advance in organizations that provide support and service to individuals, families, and communities in need. These include social service agencies, community health centers and rehabilitation clinics.

Consider getting your Bachelor of Arts in Human Services at National Louis University (NLU) if you:

  • Want to learn more about interpersonal communication, group process and family dynamics
  • Have an interest in working in community service
  • Have experience working in the field, or even if you don't—NLU's program offers a practicum option
  • Want to study either full or part-time depending on other life commitments

Why NLU for Human Services

In 1886, NLU was created as a learning institution dedicated to teaching teachers—with the ultimate goal of helping others and supporting communities so they could grow and prosper. Today NLU continues to carry out its original mission as the oldest still active human services program in the Chicago-area—educating students so they can work in the fields that serve individuals and communities.

We Make it Convenient to Get Your Degree

NLU recognizes many students are balancing work and family while in school, so courses are scheduled to accommodate those important commitments. With a small class size model that provides students with a support network for study and professional development, NLU's Human Services program is offered in both a traditional on-campus model and a hybrid classroom/online format.

What You Will Learn

  • How to better understand, and effectively deal with the behavior of individuals and groups
  • Common support skills and how to implement them
  • How diverse backgrounds and special needs impact today's workplace and communities
  • Strategies for community intervention and the management of health and human service organizations

Career Outlook

The number of jobs for social and human service assistants is expected to grow by nearly 23 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in large part to the aging population and increased demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment.[1]

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services hold various positions such as social service assistants, case management aides, social work assistants, residential counselors, community support workers, child-care workers, community outreach workers, life skills counselors or gerontology aides.

Human Services with Practicum Option

With the same general education and core course requirements, the Human Services with Practicum program adds a professional studies sequence—a series of four quarters of practicum along with supervision that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must demonstrate english competency by passing the English competency examination or by passing English Composition I (LAE101) and English Composition II (LAE102) at NLU with a grade of "C" or better. evaluation of prior non-transcripted learning is available through the course Career Assessment and Planning. There is a 45 quarter hour limit on this credit.

* Students must consult with their advisors to select courses that match an identified area of specialization.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the basic NLU admission requirements, the Bachelor of Arts in Human Services requires two letters of recommendation and the following courses to be completed prior to beginning the program's core content:

  1. English 101
  2. English 102
  3. One Social Science course
  4. Additional 20 quarter hours of general courses/elective courses with a "C" grade or above

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements. Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at www.nl.edu/applyonline.

Locations

  • CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

    NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

    122 S. Michigan Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60603
    800.443.5522

    Info » | Directions »

  • ELGIN

    Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

    620 Tollgate Road
    Elgin, IL 60123
    800.443.5522

    Info » | Directions »

  • NORTH SHORE

    Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

    5202 Old Orchard Road
    Skokie, IL 60077
    800.443.5522

    Info » | Directions »

  • LISLE

    Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

    850 Warrenville Road
    Lisle, IL 60532
    800.443.5522

    Info » | Directions »

  • WHEELING

    Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

    1000 Capitol Drive
    Wheeling, IL 60090
    800.443.5522

    Info » | Directions »

  • FLORIDA (TAMPA)

    Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Tampa campus serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, the campus features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

    4950 West Kennedy Blvd. #300
    Tampa, FL 33609
    800.366.6581 | www.nl.edu/florida

    Info » | Directions »

  • WISCONSIN

    NLU's Milwaukee campus has a proud history of serving graduate students in education in southeastern Wisconsin. Nearly one in five certified Wisconsin teachers looks to NLU for graduate education programs – more than any other university in the state. In addition to classrooms with high-tech media equipment, the campus offers a state-of-the-art computer lab with wireless Internet access and an extensive IDS research library.

    12000 West Park Place, Suite 100
    Milwaukee, WI 53224-3007
    414.577.2658

    Info » | Directions »