Human Services Online Program
- Bachelor of Science
- Darden College of Education & Professional Studies
- Department of Counseling & Human Services
Degree completion
- For students with some college credits
- Complete at least 30 credits online from ODU
Full degree
- A start-to-finish curriculum for students to earn a degree online from ODU
- 120 credit hours
Why ODU for Human Services?
ODU's online human services bachelor's program will prepare you for entry-level positions in a variety of community service agencies.
You will learn:
- the roles and functions of the human services professional;
- characteristics of human growth and development;
- characteristics of human services agencies;
- theories and skills of human services; and
- basic skills related to program evaluation, grant writing, and fundraising.
You will also learn the ethical, legal, and multicultural issues related to being a human services professional.
When you graduate, you will earn a Bachelor of Science in human services.
Interested in becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor?
Our human services program is approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling and the Virginia Certification Board as a provider of addiction education leading to Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification. After graduation from ODU, you will be required to complete the residency requirement and take the exam set by the Virginia Board of Psychology.
Outside Virginia? Contact your state board regarding didactic requirements for specific credentials. The CSAC credential is recognized by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and is eligible for reciprocity.
Want to learn more? Contact us!
A Well-Rounded Human Services Education
You'll learn professional writing skills in many of your human services classes. This is to prepare you for the documentation requirements in the human services field.
You'll graduate with your bachelor's degree and a thorough understanding of documentation such as legally defensible case notes and justification for service billing.
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Ranked #9
Best Online Human Services Degree Programs, 2022 - Intelligent.com
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Ranked #1
Best Online Mental & Social Health Services School in Virginia
and #4 nationwide, 2021 - CollegeFactual.com
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Get Guaranteed Admission at Old Dominion University
We've partnered with the Virginia Community College System and select educational institutions to make transferring easy. The Guaranteed Admission Agreement is intended to ease the transfer process between these select colleges and Old Dominion University.
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Required Courses
To earn a bachelor's degree from ODU, you must complete at least 30 credit hours with us. This Bachelor of Science requires 120 total credit hours.
This program requires a supervised internship in the last semester. Already have direct work experience in human services? You may be able to submit a portfolio in lieu of doing the internship.
Talk with our enrollment team to determine how your credits will transfer.
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Online Learning Environment
Access course materials online from any location. Some classes will have live, regular online meeting times, while others will not. Instructors may schedule assignments and exams at specific times. This program requires a practicum or internship. All courses follow ODU's regular academic calendar.
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Bright Outlook
Employment of counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
— Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, April 2024
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Careers in Human Services
Our graduates work as human service practitioners, case workers, counselors, and advocates for families and individuals struggling with:
- mental illness and intellectual or physical disabilities
- substance abuse
- aging and gerontology
- domestic violence
- youth services
- parole, probations, and correctional issues
- vocational rehabilitation
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Calculating Cost
- In-state Virginia Residents
- $393 per credit hour*
- Out-of-State Students
- $426 per credit hour
Active duty military students may qualify for a discounted undergraduate tuition rate.
These tuition rates are effective Fall 2023 and subject to change.
* In-state rate assumes residency requirements are met.
State Licensure
In order to work as a substance abuse counselor, you must be licensed or certified. Some states accept national certification with reciprocity agreements, while others require licensure at the state level. Education and residency requirements vary by state.
We encourage you to contact your state's licensing authority to determine specific requirements. Use our licensure disclosure directory link to find contact information for your state.
If you have questions about how this degree can help you reach your career goals, please contact us using the form above.
Meet Your Team
Our dedicated enrollment team will guide your transition to ODUGlobal.
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Missy Magerkorth
Enrollment Coordinator
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phone:
- 1-800-482-3957
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email:
- educationonline@odu.edu
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Courtney Allunario
Enrollment Coordinator
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phone:
- 1-800-482-3957
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email:
- educationonline@odu.edu
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Ready to get started?
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How to Apply
This program is available completely online, which means you can apply to ODU as a freshman.
Already have college credits? Before you apply, our enrollment team can provide a free transfer evaluation to see how your credits will transfer to ODU.
No matter where you're starting, we'll help you succeed from application to graduation.
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Get Guaranteed Admission to ODU
ODU has partnered with the Virginia Community College System and select educational institutions to make transferring easy.