Quick facts about the Herzing Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership program
| Format | 100% online coursework with accessible faculty and a community of supportive online students |
|---|---|
| Program length | 12 months on average; 3 semesters, 48 weeks |
| Career advancement | Interdisciplinary coursework is designed to help current behavioral health practitioners advance to positions in leadership and/or management |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Learn More Today!
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Advance your career to new heights with a master’s degree in health and human services
The Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership is a 31-credit graduate program which prepares behavioral health practitioners to advance to jobs in management or leadership. The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in strategic planning, information literacy, fiscal management, policy, leadership of multidisciplinary teams, and much more.
Open doors to new career opportunities. Our master’s degree curriculum equips you with the tools to guide health and human services institutions towards a better future. Build upon your current education and experience in human services to begin making a new impact facilitating better outcomes for organizations and the communities they serve.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Your pathway: MS HHSL courses & curriculum details
Our master’s degree curriculum, designed in collaboration with industry experts, puts emphasis on the application of skills as opposed to strictly scholarly writing.
Students are consistently challenged with real-world tasks and challenges they may encounter in the future in a leadership position, learning how to apply evidence-based practices reflecting emerging global trends.
This is a 100% online program. There is no field work, clinicals, or internship included as part of the program. Flexible online graduate coursework is designed to help working students earn the education they need to advance or switch career paths while continuing to work.
| Program | Months i | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership | 12 | 31 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time
Courses & curriculum details
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership program is $630 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.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Admissions requirements
Enrollment prerequisites to enroll in Herzing’s Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership program include:
- Completed bachelor’s or graduate degree from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or have completed a three or four year bachelor’s degree at a foreign college or university recognized as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree by an approved foreign credential evaluator.
- Meet and interview with a Herzing admissions advisor
- Complete an application form
No minimum GMAT/GRE score is required for eligibility!
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Discover what it takes to become a leader of health and human services organizations
The Health and Human Services Leadership curriculum covers a broad set of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills relevant to many potential career outcomes.
Rather than directly preparing students to become a board-certified practitioner (HS-BCP), our master’s degree curriculum provides the education needed for practitioners to advance to the next level.
Social workers, health education specialists, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, and other types of behavioral health practitioners can develop the management and administrative skills required to thrive in leadership positions.
Engage with an innovative, comprehensive leadership curriculum preparing you to lead the way and make your impact in health and human services.
Salary potential & job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social and Community Service Managers earn an average salary of $86,100 per year ($41.39 per hour).*
Employment of Social and Community Service Managers is expected to rise 8% from 2023-2033, faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.
Meet Our Leadership
"The Master's in Health and Human Services Leadership program is designed to equip students with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to lead and innovate in the dynamic fields of health and human services. The leadership program focuses on individuals prepared to take the next step into creating strong, efficient teams that can continuously improve and innovate for future generations.
This degree allows those in multiple fields to take the next step into a leadership role. Not only will you be helping people from multiple backgrounds and situations, but you will also be leading the people who provide these necessary services."
Dr. Chadwick Church, PsyD
Program Chair - Health and Human ServicesDr. Church, or Dr. C as his students call him, took the extended route in his educational journey, electing to work in various fields before starting his higher educational journey. Throughout his life, he has lived in 11 different states, gaining an expansive perspective on the different regions and people of the US. Dr. Church was awarded the Applied Doctoral Project of the Year award for his innovative work on motivation and drive for unique pursuits in the world of sports, and he has translated his passion and research into the world of higher education.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
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.
This depends on your specific career goals, namely if you want to continue specializing solely in social work, or if you want to branch out into health and human services more broadly.
The biggest difference between these two master’s degree curriculums is the MSW program prepares you to continue as a practitioner in the field as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).i
The Health and Human Services Leadership curriculum prepares you to advance from a role as a practitioner to a position in leadership or management. This is not a track to become an LCSW—rather, you would become more qualified to manage a team of social workers, or multidisciplinary team including social workers and other types of human services professionals.
i. Individuals considering the Master of Social Work program should be aware that state certification/ licensure requirements and eligibility to apply for certification/licensure vary from state to state. While certification/licensure is not a requirement for certain types of jobs, in some states, it may be required for any positions titled ‘Social Worker’ and to refer to yourself as a Social Worker in professional settings.
No, our program is designed both for practitioners already in the field as well as career changers coming from other focus areas, including fields like:
- Business Management
- Counseling, Life Coaching, or Psychology
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Human Resources (HR)
Experience in the field may be an advantage for certain job opportunities, but the courses in our program will help introduce you to the health and human services field and prepare you to succeed in many types of leadership positions.
The range of jobs you can potentially apply for with a master's 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 Community Service Managers, containing some of the most common types of professions in human services you can qualify for with a master's degree.
According to the BLS, Social and Community Services Managers earn an average annual salary of $86,100 per year ($41.39 per hour).* Pay can vary based on your education, experience level, and state of employment.
Psychology focuses on understanding individual human behavior and functioning, emphasizing an interpersonal skillset transferable to many different professions.
Human services focuses on the leadership and management of social service agencies designed to address social problems, emphasizing how to provide services.
In general, the difference is psychology more commonly regards individuals while human services more commonly regards communities. Our psychology and health and human services curriculums reflect this basic difference.
However, both fields are close neighbors in the field of behavioral health. Pursuing one major now does not necessarily mean you cannot advance in the other in the future!
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.
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.
Program Finder
Master of Science in Health and Human Services Leadership
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
Request Information
Ready to get started?
Contact us to request more information
The Student Experience at Herzing
My classes helped me better understand what was expected of a professional medical office administrator, and I feel very prepared for my career.
Zhiara Mae Chesley
Healthcare | Online CampusDisclosures
1. Certification in this program is not a state requirement.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.