Dear Prospective Graduate Student:
Do you want to help people? That is a common theme among our current students and graduates in the MS in Human Services (formerly Family and Consumer Sciences). The Master's degree in Human Services is an applied graduate program that focuses on helping and supporting children, adolescents, adults across the lifespan, families and communities. We emphasize teaching, experiential learning, research, and theoretical application to problem-solve in order to support and enrich our diverse, global society.
Our graduates work in non-profit organizations, social service agencies, court advocacy, outreach programs, teaching, or go on to doctoral programs at other institutions. By further developing leadership and administrative skills; optimum written and oral communication skills; and critical and evaluative reasoning, graduate are ready to move forward into higher levels of their chosen field or shift into a new focus.
Courses are available online and face-to-face, creating the option of delivery methods that suits your location, schedule and goals. Students set the pace of completion of the 33-semester-hour program by choosing one, two, three, or four courses per semester.
Apply today and begin your journey in being the next MS in Human Services degree candidate!
- Applications accepted year-round for enrollment
- Minimum GPA of 2.75
- Our program welcomes new and returning students,
high school/middle school teachers, established
professionals continuing in career development, and
recent undergraduates. - Students may elect to enroll full-time or part-time.
- GRE not required
Transfer Hours Accepted: The Graduate School and the Human Services Graduate Coordinator will evaluate up to a maximum of 12 transfer hours completed in another institution’s accredited graduate program.
Contact information: Dr. Kathleen O'Rourke, Graduate Coordinator : kaorourke@eiu.edu / (217) 581-6076
Curriculum Requirements
The Master of Science in Human Services requires 33 semester hours of coursework; 21 hours required courses and 9-12 hours of electives. Other courses may be substituted or added, as agreed upon by advisor and student.
- Some elective courses may have prerequisites or require permission of instructor.
- There is a 6-year time limit for degree completion.
The program concludes with a Capstone Experience, completed by selecting one of the following options for a minimum of three and a maximum of six semester hours:
- HSL 5950 Thesis
- HSL 5980 Internship
- HSL 5990 Independent Study
Online or In-Person Format
Students choose an online or a hybrid (online + face-to-face course delivery) format. The online option requires no on-campus visits and all online students, regardless of residency location, are charged in-state tuition rates.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistants provide teaching, research, and service support in the Department of Human Services and in the Child and Family Life Education Center. Assistantships fund students with a three-semester tuition waiver along with a monthly stipend. Graduate students interested in a GA position should complete the GA Application as a part of their application to the Human Services Program (applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year until positions are filled).
Please contact Dr. Kathleen O'Rourke, Graduate Coordinator, via email kaorourke@eiu.edu with questions.
