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BPA – Human Services Major: Overview

What is a BPA-HS degree?

The BPA-HS is a degree-completion program designed to help practitioners educated and working in the human services fields such as early childhood, child and youth care, all areas of counselling, services to persons living with disabilities, child care education, rehabilitation, social services, and corrections—to name a few—to complete a university degree.

It is designed for recent diploma graduates

  • We may recognize the education you bring to this program.
  • Your diploma must be an Athabasca University (AU) approved college credential (please go to the University’s Transfer Credit Database to view approved diplomas. For assistance in using this tool, please contact an advisor)
  • Recognition of your credential results in transfer credits towards your 120 credit degree.

It is designed for entry-level and mid-career practitioners/professionals

  • The BPA-HS is a comprehensive program that combines your practical knowledge earned from a college diploma and work experience with our degree’s academic focus to prepare you for a wide variety of leadership positions in the Human Services.
  • This unique combination of skills and knowledge gives you a competitive edge in the job market.
  • This degree can help you achieve your personal career goals.

It can recognize equivalencies

If you do not possess an AU approved college diploma, we may still consider your post-secondary education, training, and work experience for degree entry.

For more information, please see our pages entitled Entrance Requirements and/or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.


What is this major about?
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The main goal of the BPA-HS program is to provide you with advanced skills and knowledge to function as a professional.

This major will enable you to:

  • broaden your intellectual and professional understanding of the contexts in which human services are delivered
  • build on your knowledge, expertise, and practical experience that you acquired in the workplace and from previous studies
  • transfer and integrate knowledge, experience, and values in new settings
  • prepare you to assume leadership positions, including performing greater administrative, counselling, supervising, and managing functions within your chosen field
  • contribute positively to the development of the human services sector

With a wide range of courses to choose from you can customize the BPA-HS to meet your professional needs (see HS Major: Degree Requirements and Course Descriptions).


How does this major fit with my career path?
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The BPA-HS responds to the career and educational needs of human services professionals in areas such as (but not limited to):

  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Child and Youth Workers
  • Disability and Community Service Workers
  • Social Service Workers
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Addictions Counselors
  • Aboriginal Counselors
  • Group Home Workers
  • Crisis Intervention Counselors
  • Special Needs Consultants
  • Gerontology Specialists
  • Mental Health Workers
  • Career Development Counselors
  • Intake Interviewers
  • Home Support Workers
  • Juvenile Court Liaison Workers
  • Advocates for the Abused
  • Therapeutic Recreation
  • Community Wellness Program coordinators
  • Corrections Workers
  • Northern Human Services Counselors
  • Child Advocates
  • Halfway House Counselors
  • Rehabilitation Case Workers
  • Residential Program Providers
  • Family Day Home Providers
  • Life Skills Instructors
  • Community Organizers
  • Aboriginal Community Workers
  • Community Outreach Workers


What can I do with a BPA-HS?
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Graduates find that this degree helps them:

  • acquire the knowledge and skills to perform a broader and more responsible range of tasks
  • gain a promotion
  • make a career change and/or
  • gain entry to post-graduate education or further study at the graduate level.

 

Student and Academic Services - Last Updated December 06, 2007, 14:05:05 MST/MDT