Program highlights
Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
---|---|
Program length | 8 months |
Start faster | Earn an education to apply for entry-level positions in human services in less than 1 year and open doors to many future degree pathways |
Credits | 24 credits |
Format | 100% online classes |
Degree pathways | Advance into an undergrad HHS degree program, or choose additional pathways in allied health, nursing, business, and more |
Overview: Health and Human Services diploma program
Get a fast start in the field of health and human services and discover a rewarding, impactful career path.
Strong communities rely on resourceful, passionate human services professionals to advocate for better community health and social outcomes. You have the potential to join the ranks of these important community leaders. The first step is earning an education.
Our diploma program is designed to help you earn a foundational education quickly, find early success in your work, and position yourself well for career advancement. You’ll learn a variety of career-focused skills applicable to several types of entry-level jobs in human services.
- Online classes. Learn online in Herzing’s Everywhere Classroom: on your schedule, at your pace
- Career-focused curriculum. Foundational behavioral health and human services classes include Behavioral Health in Communities, Human Development Across the Lifespan, Case Management and Crisis Intervention, and more
- Virtual services. Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services
- Lifelong support. Enjoy access to comprehensive student services and career development, with personal assistance throughout your learning experience and lifelong career coaching to support your ongoing career advancement
You can find a fulfilling career path and make a significant difference in your community. You are possible with Herzing University.
Classes Start March 6th
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Curriculum
Program classes & curriculum details
All didactic (lecture-style) classes are delivered online, and there is no field work, practicum, or internship included as part of the program. You can take the fundamental behavioral health and human services courses needed to succeed in your first entry-level job—and prepare for advancing your education in the future.
Programs | Monthsi | Credits |
---|---|---|
Diploma in Health and Human Services | 8 | 24 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time
Required Courses
All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Diploma in Health and Human Services program is $395 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Your chance to earn 20% tuition reduction
You can potentially save substantially by earning a diploma in health and human services with Herzing University. Join the inaugural class in our new program and you can earn 20% tuition reduction through the Herzing University Inaugural Class Scholarship.
You must be enrolled on the 5/8/2023 start date and remain continuously enrolled to qualify.
Requirements
Enrollment requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Diploma in Health and Human Services program include:
- Completion of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
- Complete an enrollment application

Degree Pathways
Find your educational pathway with Herzing University
We are proud to offer many degree pathways across all undergraduate and graduate levels.
Earning a diploma in Health and Human Services can build a foundation for you to pursue all sorts of different educational opportunities.
Undergraduate degrees
After earning a diploma in HHS, you can potentially transfer credit into an HHS undergrad degree program—or choose related associate or bachelor’s degree programs in psychology, allied health, nursing, or business.
Graduate degrees
Pursue a bachelor’s degree in HHS in the future and you can potentially earn dual credit towards a Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of Business Administration (MBA)—or explore healthcare administration or nursing.

Herzing University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online bachelor’s degree programs in 2023.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Classes Start March 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeWhat can I do with a diploma in health and human services?
The diploma program is designed to provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to quickly qualify you for entry-level positions in health and human services. You can earn a college-level credential in less than 1 year, start working in the field faster, and build a strong foundation to advance your education in the future.
You can earn a fundamental understanding of tools and skills to coordinate services case management within public and private agencies and organizations.
Potential job titles include, but are not limited to:
- Apprise Counselor
- Community Health Outreach Worker
- Community Health Program Coordinator
- Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep)
- Community Health Promoter
- Community Health Worker (CHW)
- Community Nutrition Educator
- HIV CTS Specialist (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Testing Services Specialist)
Salary potential & job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social and Human Service Assistants earn an average salary of $40,460 per year ($19.45 per hour).*
Employment of Social and Human Service Assistants is expected to rise 12% from 2021-2031, faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it may be more appropriate to say psychology is an important element in the delivery of human services—among other fields.
Psychology represents a discipline that is a crucial component in human services, though a degree in psychology can be applied in jobs outside of the generally accepted category of “human services” jobs.
There is some overlap when it comes to careers in human services and social work. In both career fields you’ll be helping individuals and/or communities solve problems and find better social outcomes. Degree programs typically cover introductory behavioral health and global topics relevant to both career pathways.
However, jobs in human services typically focus on the health of communities at large, while social workers tend to place more focus on helping individuals and their families. Human service workers apply interdisciplinary skills to solve many types of problems in communities, while social workers help those in need to secure access to important social resources.
On the social work side, our Master of Social Work curriculum zooms in on social services primarily for individuals and families, including clinical social work theory and practice, social policy and services, clinical social work interventions, and more.
How long it takes depends on several factors, including your prior college education and the degree path you choose.
We offer three different entry points into the field of human services:
- Diploma in Health and Human Services: 8 months
- Associate of Science in Health and Human Services: 24 months
- Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services: 36 months
All program length estimates are averages based on full-time enrollment.
Yes, earning a degree in human services is worth it!
You’ll earn a good educational foundation to pursue jobs making real, impactful change for individuals and their communities. You can become a difference maker, and advancing your education is an important first step towards success in your new career path.
Get your start in human services with a university dedicated to your success. We are your lifelong learning partner devoted to making your rewarding career possible.
The range of jobs you can potentially apply for with a diploma in health and human services can make this number difficult to identify.
However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides figures for the occupational grouping Social and Human Service Assistants, containing some of the most common types of professions in human services you can potentially qualify for with a college-level career diploma.
According to the BLS, Social and Human Service Assistants earn an average annual salary of $40,460 per year ($19.45 per hour).* Pay can vary based on your education, experience level, and state of employment.
The highest degree level we offer in health and human services is the undergraduate bachelor’s degree program.
If you want to advance your education to the master’s degree level in the future, we have many potential pathways you may consider. You can potentially earn dual credit towards a Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of Business Administration (MBA)—or choose to pursue more healthcare-focused options in healthcare administration or nursing.
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Disclosures
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2021. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.