The Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major is a degree-completion program designed to meet to the career and professional needs of workers in the human services fields of child and youth care, corrections, counselling, early childhood education, personal support services, rehabilitation, social services, and other related fields.
35
Average age
89%
Employment rate
$65k
Average salary
78%
Student recommended
Source: institutional data analysis
Q: Why take the Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services (BPA-HSRV)?
A:
AU’s Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major program lets you turn your diploma into a degree while still being able to work and meet personal commitments. You bring your knowledge and professional experience, and we engage with you in understanding the broader contexts that inform your life and work.
Q: How long will it take to complete?
A:
Finish this program in 2 years of full-time study, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Program summary
Program overview
The Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major is a degree-completion program designed to meet the career and professional needs of workers in the human services fields of
child and youth care
corrections
counselling
early childhood education
personal support services
rehabilitation
social services
other related fields
Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major brings together your knowledge and experience with theory and research from the human services fields. You will learn about:
helping others respond to challenges in an ethical manner
advocacy, human rights, and policy-making
interpreting clients’ situations in a rapidly changing environment
initiating an activist stance in professional activities
When you graduate, you will have a sound knowledge of the multiple contexts that shape your practice:
cultural
economic
historical
political
theoretical
You will also be prepared to take on leadership positions, including performing greater administrative, counselling, supervising, and managing functions in your field.
Why take the Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major?
AU’s Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major program lets you turn your diploma into a degree while still being able to work and meet personal commitments. You bring your knowledge and professional experience, and we engage with you in understanding the broader contexts that inform your life and work.
Completion times
Finish this program in 2 years of full-time study, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Admission requirements
The Bachelor of Professional Arts is designed for students who have completed an approved 2-year diploma or equivalent from an accredited college or institute of technology. You can also apply to the program with a combination of post-secondary education and related work experience.
You will be considered a pre-program student until your admission requirements are confirmed. You can still take courses during this time.
In addition, applicants must also complete AU’s English Language Assessment (ELA) prior to being enrolled in the program.
To self-enrol in the English Language Assessment, please follow the steps below:
Under "Self-enrol with Key," enter the enrolment key: ela22bpa
Click "Enrol me."
Click "Quiz."
Click "Attempt quiz now" at the bottom of the page.
How to apply
You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.
Once we receive your transcripts the transcripts related to your previous post-secondary education can be evaluated for transfer credit. Make sure your transcripts reach us.
Transfer and advanced credit
If you have several years of life and work experience that relates to this program, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). You can use PLAR credits either toward program entry, if you don’t have a related diploma, or toward program requirements, which could mean fewer courses to complete your AU degree.
You must complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework at AU.
Our program plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order for taking courses that best suits you. If you’d like academic advice, our academic advisors can help.
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
Graduates from the Bachelor of Professional Arts–Human Services (BPA-HSRV) program will demonstrate the ability to:
Synthesize the foundational knowledge of human services concepts, theories, principles, models, practices and competencies in social policy development, communication theory, political science, organizational behaviour, Indigenous issues, and in the support of vulnerable populations.
Evaluate the merits of various policies and practices, existing and emerging social, ethical, global, political, and legal concerns relevant to the field of human services and other related disciplines.
Appraise qualitative and quantitative data drawn from disciplinary and interdisciplinary sources, to make appropriate judgements and recommendations to improve policy and practice in the human services field.
Utilize effective decision-making and problem-solving skills to create solutions to social problems within the scope of their practice.
Synthesize theory, research, and evidence-based practice, within a framework of social justice, while working with individuals, communities, human service organizations and governments, consistently following legal, ethical, professional and academic codes of conduct, acknowledging the influences of the limits to one’s knowledge and ability.
Formulate beliefs, concepts, propositions and arguments that are well-informed with respect to the delivery of human services in coherent, concise, technically correct forms, adapted according to the purpose, audience, occasion and technology used.
Execute, competently and professionally, the required duties of a human services worker, independently or collaboratively, with accountability and integrity, while maintaining confidentiality.
Program outcomes
The general program outcomes, categorized by areas of study, are as follows.
A. Interpersonal Communications
Express self clearly: demonstrate effectiveness in speech and in writing.
Be attentive to the framing of problems: contextualize problems using sophisticated analysis.
Nurture value-based learning: use values to guide theory and practice.
Work well with others in a variety of settings: demonstrate values, skills and knowledge for successful team-building.
B. Relating Practice to Theory
Employ skills related to practice.
Succeed in intervention and/or advocacy efforts: demonstrate effectiveness in intervention and/or advocacy.
C. Using Critical Perspectives
Recognize, critically evaluate, and analyze arguments and theories: demonstrate critical perspectives and analytical thinking related to the human services sector.
Use strategies for inclusive personal and social change: demonstrate effectiveness in the use of strategies to achieve inclusiveness in personal change as well as social change.
D. Familiarity and Understanding of the Human Services Sector
Know emergence and breadth of the sector of human services: demonstrate familiarity with the history and evolution of the human services sector, along with several of its fields.
Contribute to the developing professional character of the human services sector and one’s place/role within it.
E. Professionalism
Demonstrate ethical professional conduct and attitudes.
Relate self to the role of the human services provider in broad contexts: demonstrate the impact of contexts and exhibit ethical professional conduct and attitudes.
Use continuous learning to integrate knowledge of related concepts, theories and policies.
F. Demonstration of Success as Human Services Educator
Continue learning from experiences for personal growth and development through self-reflective practices.
Display evidence of professional effectiveness such as lobbying, policy-making, protest and advocacy
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* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.
Resources and links
Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.