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Welcome to Capella
Select your program and we'll help guide you through important information as you prepare for the application process.
Reduce your tuition by $5,000
Enroll in a qualified program and apply for a $5K Capella Progress Reward, a scholarship to help fund your master’s degree.
Classes Start September 14th
Ready to get started? We’re ready for you. Chat with an enrollment counselor or apply now to take the first step on the journey toward your future.
We’ve decided to waive all application fees until further notice.
What you’ll learn
Know the Field
Apply understanding of social, economic, and cultural impacts in for-profit, nonprofit, and government settings.
Collaborate for Change
Coordinate and manage direct service programs to best meet the needs of diverse stakeholders within the community.
Empower Your Community
Promote community engagement, advocacy, and collaboration in for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations.
Manage Effectively
Conceptualize, collaborate, and communicate solutions for direct care, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Develop Cultural Competence
Apply professional ethics and cultural competence in the human services profession.
Communicate Professionally
Scholarly and professional communication respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others.
MS in Human Services, Social and Community Services Program Features
Our program offers additional benefits you might be interested in.
Skills to Empower
Develop the skills to empower and advocate for individuals and communities in for-profit, nonprofit, or government settings.
Scholar-Practitioner Faculty
Learn the latest in theory and practice from experienced doctoral faculty who are actively engaged in their professions.
Professionally Aligned Curriculum
Gain the most relevant skills and knowledge with a competency based curriculum designed around professional standards.
Apply what you learn in a multidisciplinary environment with interactive tools that develop skills in collaboration and leadership. Through your coursework you will encounter challenging, realistic problems designed to help you become a more effective leader.
Cost & learning format
Online education isn’t one-size-fits-all. We know you’re busy—you need a learning experience tailored to your life, not the other way around. Capella has learning and tuition formats to suit you, however you learn.
A more structured learning format with an active peer community and faculty guidance. We’ll set the schedule, you meet the deadlines.
- Based on the quarter system; 1-3 courses per 10-week quarter
- 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
- Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
- Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or term
$19,800–$25,850*
MAX TRANSFER CREDITS–TYPICAL TRANSFER CREDITS
$550 per credit,
48 total quarter credits,
12 max transfer credits
*This is only an estimate, using general program pricing, and it does not include fees (including application and resource kit fees). Your price may be higher or lower depending on your specialization, transfer credits, and tuition discounts. If transfer credits are allowed in this offering, the prices above show what you would pay if you brought in the average number of transfer credits and the price if you brought in the maximum allowed transfer credits.
Get the details
Speak with an enrollment counselor to get a personalized cost estimate for what you can expect to pay.
Ways to save
At Capella, we believe your education is an investment in your future. It’s also an investment within your grasp. Your goals are achievable—there are more ways to save than you might think.
$5K toward your master's
Apply for a $5K Capella Progress Reward, a scholarship to help fund your master’s degree.
Employer & association discounts
If your employer or organization is a partner with Capella, you may be eligible for a tuition discount.
Accredited & recognized
Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accreditation and recognitions provide the assurance we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability. See all of our accreditations and recognitions.
Master's in Social and Community Services Sample Courses
Throughout this specialization you learn skills needed to manage services, track and identify trends within communities and organizations, evaluate appropriate programs to meet identified needs, and advocate for those you serve.
| HMSV5314 |
Program Development and Evaluation in Human Services
In this course, learners examine needs assessment, program development, and program evaluation as fundamental tools in a variety of organizations. In particular, learners use research-based models and best practices to inform program development and evaluation in for-profit, nonprofit, and government settings. Learners also gain the skills they need to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and address ethical implications of various approaches to program development and evaluation. |
4 quarter credits |
|---|---|---|
| HMSV5316 |
The Effective Use of Analytics in Human Services
In this course, learners develop the skills needed to apply the early aspects of the life cycle of human services analytics. Learners examine the various data sources, data models, and algorithms and use basic tools to complete an analysis. Learners also collaborate within teams to evaluate case studies and explore the ways in which stakeholders’ needs are met through data analytics. |
4 quarter credits |
| HMSV5334 |
Diversity and Inclusion in Human Services
This course is a survey of theories, research, and concepts that highlight the importance of race, culture, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity in individual and group experience. Learners consider the effects of gender, social class, religion, and disability on experience and evaluate the role of the human services and educational professional in addressing the multicultural needs of clients and colleagues in the workforce. Learners also examine community cultural competency and practice applying a variety of theoretical approaches and methodologies to real-life scenarios. |
4 quarter credits |
| HMSV5340 |
Leading in For-Profit, Nonprofit, and Government Organizations
This course familiarizes learners with the unique expressions of leadership in for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations. Learners differentiate among the capacities of various types of leaders and stakeholders to ensure continuous leadership and organizational development. |
4 quarter credits |
| HMSV5402 |
Social Change and Public Policy in Human Services
In this course, learners examine the concepts, principles, and stages of public policy development and analysis in the human services field. Learners gain an understanding of the approaches used by policymakers and policy analysts to evaluate the effects of programs and projects on societal problems in for-profit, nonprofit, and government settings. Other course topics include the policy process, agenda setting, advocacy, analysis, political process management, policy implementation, and public policy evaluation feedback based on information gained from the field. |
4 quarter credits |
Build and assess your leadership skills by applying them within social, cultural, and global markets through the use of case studies and interactive projects.
Faculty & support
You’re never going it alone at Capella. Our dedicated faculty and support teams are waiting to guide, help, and advise you through every step of your educational journey.
Enrollment counselors
These experts will set you up for success. They’ll help you find the right degree and program, and answer all your questions about Capella.
Advisors
Advisors know the details of your program. Got questions about courses? Instructors? Resources? Advisors have answers.
Faculty
Our courses are taught by distinguished faculty members who hold top credentials and have hands-on expertise in their fields. They know what you need to know today.
Career center
For this team, it’s more than resumes and interview tips. It’s about thoughtful and strategic career planning—beyond graduation.
Social and Community Services Career Insights
Why Collaboration is Key to Human Services
Collaboration is the new norm for human services. These three examples from the field demonstrate why.
Find the Right Human Services Career for You
Jobs in human services range from working with clients to managing organizations to building infrastructures.
Which Human Service or Public Service Career Path Is Best for Me?
A guide to options for working in public safety, public administration, or human services.
Social and Community Services Professional Paths
Here are just some of the career options you could explore with our online Master of Science in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services.
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.
Other programs to explore
Is this program close to what you need, but maybe not a perfect fit? The programs below might be interesting. Check them out to find one that suits your academic and professional goals.