Human Services Programme
Human service agencies are engaged in the delivery of direct support, policy development, and research across a number of areas, such as education, health, housing, justice, police, mediation, and welfare. Such services are people-oriented and have developmental, preventative, remedial or rehabilitative functions.
Internationally, the study of Human Services is a growing discipline and provides exciting career pathways. Statutory and not-for-profit agencies require highly qualified staff to attend to the complex needs of a diversity of clients.
Human Services is also referred to as the study of the professions. At UC, courses include a focus on professional issues such as workplace bullying, management and supervision, social and political contexts, and the dynamics of the worker-client relationship. In the core course HSRV 301, students have the option of applying for an internship. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical work experience and integrate that with theoretical knowledge gained in course work.
Students majoring in subjects such as Psychology, Law, Education, Engineering, Management, and Sociology also have the opportunity to strengthen the human service component of their studies by including HSRV courses.
HSRV 100-level courses
Two courses taken from the options HSRV 101, HSRV 102 (or SOWK 101 and 102), HSRV 103 or HSRV 104 (or SOWK 104), are the prerequisites for Human Services courses at 200-level.
HSRV 101 Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Human Services
HSRV 102 Introduction to Human Services and Practice in Aotearoa
HSRV 103 Violence in Society
HSRV 104 Youth Realities
HSRV 200-level and beyond
A range of courses is offered at 200 and 300-level. At these levels, course topics are dynamic and contemporary, and closely related to staff research interests. Courses at 200-level include:
- Human Behaviour and Human Systems
- Policy Debates in the Human Services
- Gender Sensitivity and Human Services
- Culture, Citizenship and Indigeneity
- Child Protection and Family Welfare
- Social Organisation: Community Development and Global Change
- Change and Change Process in Human Systems
- Social Research Methodologies
- Women, Offending and Victimisation: Perspectives
- Non-Governmental Organisations and Social Development
- Perspectives on Ageing in Human Systems.
For more information on courses beyond first year go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses
HSRV Study Pathways
A Human Services major provides students with the opportunity to choose courses in particular areas of study, maximising their scope to develop more focused career directions within their degree. There are five broad study pathways within the Human Services progamme at the University of Canterbury:
- Health and Family Systems
- Work and Organisational Systems
- Youth Development
- Local and Global Community Development
- Violence and Criminal Justice Systems.
Human Services courses can be complemented by courses from other subjects, such as Sociology, Anthropology, Human Geography, Psychology, Political Science, Health Sciences, Law, Social Work, Management, and Māori and Indigenous Studies.
Health and Family
Students with an interest in the area of health and wellbeing can develop a study pathway that includes HSRV courses: HSRV 101, HSRV 102, HSRV 103, HSRV 104, HSRV 202, HSRV 204, HSRV 206, HSRV 208/308, HSRV 301, and HSRV 306.
In addition, suggested courses outside the HSRV programme that compliment this study pathway include, for example, SOWK 303, SOCI 243, ANTH 212/312, SOCI 244, HLTH 201, ANTH 308, HLTH 202, SOCI 247/347, POLS 225, SOCI 202, GEOG 322.
Work and Organisational Systems
Students with an interest in the organisation of work and human service systems have an opportunity to combine courses that will them with the knowledge to understand, and implement change in, organisational systems, to consider critical debates and trends within policy, as well as to develop knowledge and skills in the area of organisational communication.
Human Services courses relevant to this study pathway include HSRV 101, HSRV 103, HSRV 202, HSRV 203, HSRV 208/308, HSRV 301, HSRV302, HSRV 305, and HSRV 306.
In addition, suggested courses outside the HSRV programme that compliment this study pathway include: SOCI 219, POLS 225, SOCI 290, GEOG 202, POLS 206, SOCI 392
Youth Development Work
Students with an interest in youth culture, youth development work, and organisations are able to assemble a study pathway that includes the following HSRV courses: HSRV 104, HSRV 102, HSRV 103, HSRV 101, HSRV 202, HSRV 203, HSRV 206, HSRV 208/308, HSRV 301, HSRV 302, HSRV 306.
In addition, suggested courses outside the HSRV programme that compliment this study pathway include: PSYC 106, COMS 203, SOWK 303,SOCI 290, COMS 204, SOCI 392, COMS 303.
Local and Global Community Development
The study of community development is growing both nationally and internationally. Courses relevant to this study pathway include HSRV 101, HSRV 103, HSRV 104, HSRV 201, HSRV 204, HSRV 208, HSRV 211, HSRV 301, HSRV 302, and HSRV 306.
In addition, suggested courses outside the HSRV programme that compliment this study pathway include: POLS 106, GEOG 110, SOCI 368, COMS 205, ANTH 213/313, HLTH 201, ANTH 302, SOCI 223, GEOG 322, GEOG 202, SOCI 292
Violence and Criminal Justice Systems
The Human Services courses make use of staff specialisms in the areas of violence and human services provision across contexts. Most of these consider violence as a contemporary and historical issue within broader content. A number of Human Services courses focus more specifically on the contemporary topic of violence, and offer students the opportunity to consider violence in a more focused, theoretical and practical manner. Courses relevant to this career pathway include HSRV 102, HSRV 103, HSRV 104, HSRV 201, HSRV 204, HSRV 206, HSRV 301, HSRV 302, and HSRV 210/303.
In addition, suggested courses outside the HSRV programme that compliment this study pathway include: SOWK 303, PSYC 106, SOCI 111, POLS 106, SOCI 218, COMS 306, SOCI 358
The five study pathways and their complementary courses, are suggested rather than prescriptive. These study pathways aim to maximise students' ability to develop more focused career directions.
Recommended background
Human Services programmes and courses are now being introduced and taught at universities in New Zealand and internationally, and human services are amongst the fastest growing fields of employment. To participate in courses in the Programme, all that is required is an enquiring mind, an openness to diversity and an interest in what people do to and with each other. Mature students are often able to bring a wealth of life experience to the study of human services.
Further study – HSRV Postgraduate Programme
The University of Canterbury’s Human Services Programme offers a full range of postgraduate degree options, enabling students to continue their studies to doctoral level. To qualify for entry into BA(Hons) and MA courses, which offer a broad range of applied and theoretical topics and may include a thesis, students must have 60 points with a B average in courses at 300-level approved by the Head of School.
Students completing postgraduate study in the Human Services Programme have the opportunity to pursue knowledge in a specific human service area and maximise their ability to follow more focused career directions. Courses in the postgraduate programme cover issues such as violence, policies and politics of sex, criminal justice, communication, non-government organisations, public policy and the law, research methods, development and postcolonialism, indigenous and cross-cultural issues, service co-ordination, youth development and culture, child protection, and ageing.
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours or the Master in Arts (University Regulations website).
Students should consult with the Postgraduate Programme Coordinator to discuss their interest in HSRV postgraduate study and to determine whether and to what extent their undergraduate work qualifies as related to Human Services.
HSRV Postgraduate Coordinator:
Dr María Perez-y-Perez
University extension phone: 3164
Phone: +64-3-364 3164
Email:maria-victoria.perez-y-perez@canterbury.ac.nz
Career opportunities
The BA in Human Services provides students with career opportunities in the fields of education, law enforcement, health, community and other social service/support organisations, including international organisations. Graduates may find roles in policy analysis, research, administration, management, supervision, community development, youth work, and various types of support work.
For more information, talk with a departmental academic advisor, and see http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/what_can_i_do_with_a_degree_in/humanservices.shtml
For further career information, please go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
Contact: General Inquiries
Department of Human Services and Social Work
School of Social and Political Sciences
Telephone: +64 3 364 2443
Email: admin@sowk.canterbury.ac.nz