Online Health and Human Services Programs for Working Adults

Can you earn a health and human services degree while working full-time and raising a family? At Herzing University, that's exactly who these programs are designed for. Our Health and Human Services programs are offered online so you can prepare for work that helps people in your community without stepping away from the job and family you're supporting right now.

This guide walks through what the field looks like, what you’ll study, where the work can lead and how to fit a degree into a full life.

Why choose an online degree in health and human services?

For a working adult, the right program will fit into the life you already have. Here’s what makes an online health and human services degree a practical choice.

• Flexibility you can actually use. Online coursework lets you learn when it works for you: early mornings, evenings after the kids are asleep or a quiet stretch on the weekend. You log in from home instead of rearranging your week around a commute.
• Skills you can connect to real life. So much of human services is built around real situations: how to listen, how to connect people to resources and how to support someone through a hard season. If you already work in a helping role, you will have real-life experiences that you can relate to your coursework.
• Work that matters in your community. Human services is about people. The field prepares you to work alongside families, the elderly, people experiencing substance use disorders, people experiencing mental illness, former inmates, immigrants and more. For many students, that sense of purpose is tremendously motivating.

What to expect: curriculum and practical skills

If you’re weighing this path against a related field, it helps to understand how human services compares to social work before you choose a program. And if studying online is new to you, take a look at the convenience and flexibility that come with learning this way.

Health and human services is a broad field. Programs are designed to give you both a foundation in how support systems work and the hands-on skills to help individuals directly.

Coursework in human services programs commonly explores areas such as:

• Case management — coordinating the right services for the people you serve
• Human behavior and well-being — the social factors that shape health and daily life
• Ethics and professional standards in the helping professions
• Community resources and systems of care — how public programs and services fit together
• Communication, interviewing and crisis support

Across these courses, you build skills that carry from one role to the next: interviewing and active listening, connecting clients to the right resources, documenting your work clearly and helping people set goals and follow through. These are the everyday tools of human services work, and they transfer across employers and settings.

Herzing offers Health and Human Services at four levels: a diploma, an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. You can start where you are and keep going as your goals evolve.

Career outcomes and job demand

A degree is an investment, and it’s fair to ask where it can lead. Health and human services is a large, people-centered field with a wide range of roles, and the broader outlook is encouraging.

Top career paths in human services

Human services graduates work in many settings: nonprofits, government agencies, hospitals, schools and community organizations. A few roles to know:

• Social and human service assistant — helps people access benefits and community services and supports the work of counselors and social workers.
• Community health worker — connects people to health resources and helps them adopt healthier habits, often right in their own neighborhoods. 
• Case manager — coordinates the services a client needs, from housing to healthcare to follow-up support.
• Behavioral health and substance use support roles — support individuals and families working through substance use and related challenges. 
• Social and community service manager — plans and directs programs and community outreach, often leading a team.

How to balance work, life and online learning

Going back to school as a working adult is a real commitment, and thousands of people do it every year. A few habits make it more manageable:

• Protect a regular study window. Pick consistent times that fit your week and treat them like any other appointment. Even short, steady sessions add up.
• Use the small pockets. Reviewing notes over lunch or replaying a recorded lecture during a commute keeps you on track between bigger study blocks.
• Set expectations with the people around you. Letting your family, and sometimes your employer, know your schedule makes it easier to get the support you need.
• Lean on student support. Advisors, tutoring and tech help exist so you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

It’s also worth asking your employer about tuition assistance. Some employers help cover the cost of education for employees building skills in relevant fields, and it never hurts to ask. There are a variety of employer-backed tuition options to explore. And if you’re balancing school with raising a family, you’re in good company; many students do exactly that, and online learning can work with parenthood.

How to choose the right program for your goals

Not every program is the same, so it helps to know what to look for.

• Accreditation. Accreditation is an independent review of a school’s quality, and it matters for transferring credits and qualifying for federal financial aid. It’s worth understanding a school’s accreditation before you enroll.
• Student support for online learners. Studying online works best when support is built in. Look for advising, tutoring, career resources and responsive tech help. At Herzing, career development services are part of the experience, not an afterthought.
• Fieldwork and flexibility. Many human services programs include applied or field experiences. A program built for working adults will help you plan for those requirements in a way that respects the rest of your life.
• Cost and financial aid. Understanding tuition, scholarships and aid up front helps you plan with confidence. A financial aid advisor can walk you through your options. If you’ve earned college credit before, ask how transfer credit could shorten your path. Herzing awarded over $20 million in scholarships and grants to qualified students in 2025!

Take the next step

You don’t have to choose between the life you’ve built and the work you want to do. Online health and human services programs are designed to meet you where you are: letting you keep your job, support your family and prepare for a career that helps people in your community. The field is growing, the work is meaningful and the path is more reachable than it may feel right now.

If you’re ready to take the step, the next move is simple: request information about Herzing University’s Health and Human Services programs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I earn a health and human services degree online?

Yes. Herzing University offers Health and Human Services programs online at the diploma, associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels, so you can study from home and fit coursework around your week.

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

Graduates work in roles such as social and human service assistant, community health worker and case manager. With added experience and education opportunities expand even further. 

Is a degree in human services worth it?

That depends on your goals, but it’s a people-centered and growing field. BLS projects community and social service occupations to grow much faster than average from 2022 to 2032. A degree can help you prepare for the work and build toward roles with more responsibility. 

How long does it take to earn a human services degree?

It depends on the level you choose and whether you attend full-time or part-time. A diploma takes the least time, while associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees build from there.