Social and Community Services
Master of Science in Human Services

Social and Community Services

Career exploration guide

This guide provides tools to help you explore careers related to this specialization. Use this information to start researching this field and the opportunities in it. This research can help you make a transition into positions related to this field. Start by gaining an overview of this program and learning about the field, jobs, and employment settings that are related.

About this specialization

The master’s Social and Community Services specialization is designed for individuals who are focused on helping individuals and communities in nonprofit, for-profit, or government settings. Throughout the specialization, learners gain the skills they need to manage services, track and identify trends within communities and organizations, evaluate appropriate programs to meet identified needs, and advocate for those they serve. Successful graduates of this specialization are prepared to pursue leadership roles in a variety of diverse work settings. This specialization is not designed to meet licensure requirements for counseling or social work professions.

Skills gained through this specialization:

This specialization was designed to help you gain the following skills related to this field:

  • Apply interdisciplinary knowledge about human needs and the social, economic, and cultural impacts to help solve issues in for profit, nonprofit, and government settings
  • Collaborate with diverse stakeholders within the community to help coordinate and manage direct service programs to best meet client needs
  • Promote empowerment, community engagement, advocacy and collaboration in for profit, nonprofit, and government organizations
  • Employ human services management skills to conceptualize problems, contribute in collaborative settings and communicate recommendations regarding direct care, resource management and service delivery
  • Apply professional ethics and cultural competence in the human services profession
  • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others consistent with expectation for members of the Human Services profession

Explore this field

Professional associations, social networks, and other industry-specific resources can provide a wealth of information about a specific field or industry, including best practices, career overviews, trends and access to industry professionals. By reviewing website information, attending events, and connecting with people in the field, you can deepen your knowledge about the field. 

Professional associations

Industry information

Explore jobs and employers

In addition to exploring the field, take some time to research specific jobs and employment settings related to this program. Consider how these jobs and settings fit with your experience, skills, interests and values. This is a sample list of job titles and employment settings related to this field. To learn more, review job postings and talk with people who have these roles or work in these settings. You can find these professionals through LinkedIn, family, friends, schools, employers and community groups. Spend time researching your industry and prospective employers to decide whether this type of degree will help advance your career.

Related job titles to explore*

  • Social services manager
  • Social services director
  • Program coordinator
  • Program manager
  • Program director
  • Executive director
  • Community outreach manager
  • Community outreach director
  • Adoption services manager
  • Director of child welfare services
  • Vocational rehabilitation manager

Employment settings to explore

  • Individual and family services
  • Continuing care retirement facility
  • Government - local, state, federal
  • Grantmaking/giving service
  • Religious organization
  • Nonprofit organization
  • Private for-profit social service company
  • Clinic
  • Hospital
  • Shelter

*These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.

Job boards

This is a sample of jobs boards with positions related to this field. Use them in your research to identify additional job titles, common hiring requirements and local employers. 

Further exploration

There are a lot of factors that influence whether a career is a fit or not. These can include monetary compensation, benefits, work environment, organization culture, work/life balance, etc. As you consider your career, think about what is important to you in your employer, role and setting. These resources can help you perform this additional exploration.

For a more detailed guide on career exploration, review Capella’s Career Exploration YouTube series that helps you identify what is important to you in your career and how that aligns with the world of work. 

Accreditation

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.