BA in Human Services

The Human Services major at Hawai'i Pacific University is a multi-disciplinary major which prepares students to work as managers and support personnel in a variety of non-profit organizations. Emphasis is placed on the development of thinking and people skills necessary for success. Students also learn about the social context and organizational structure of nonprofits. The human services major draws from the fields of psychology, sociology, management, and political science to give students a broad understanding of how non-profit organizations function.

Program Objectives

Students who complete the course of study in Human Services will demonstrate:

  1. An understanding of what the nonprofit sector is, how it differs from the for-profit sector, its role in meeting human needs, its ethics, and the career opportunities it provides. (Five Themes: Global Systems, Values and Choices.).
  2. Communication skills appropriate to beginning managers, including public speaking, writing, and listening. (Five Themes: Communication Skills).
  3. An understanding of human needs and how these interact with culture. (Five Themes: Global Systems, World Cultures).
  4. An understanding of how nonprofit organizations raise funds (including the ability to write a grant), relate to the public, and market themselves.
  5. An understanding of the general methods that businesses use to manage themselves and their funds, and deal with risks.
  6. The ability to plan a program within an organization. (Five Themes: Research and Epistemology).

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