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The University of North Georgia (¹û¶³´«Ã½) has been approved to offer a Master of Science degree in Human Services Delivery and Administration (HSDA), the first of its kind in Georgia.

"The curriculum of the graduate degree is designed to meet the economic needs of local and regional communities of northeast Georgia, and will be a draw for graduates from the sociology, psychology and social work disciplines," said Dr. Tom Ormond, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at ¹û¶³´«Ã½. "Offering this degree allows ¹û¶³´«Ã½ to better respond to the educational needs of the community and to promote excellence and the intellectual development and well-being of our students, which are priorities of our institution."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for social and community service managers is projected to increase by 27 percent until the year 2020, which is above the average growth rate projected for all occupations in the same timeframe. However, data from the Department of Labor indicates that there are a lack of workers with graduate degrees directly prepared for administrative positions in human services organizations.  

The master's degree in HSDA is being offered in response to state and national needs and begins fall 2017. It will build off the success of the bachelor's degree in HSDA offered at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ since 2011. At the time, it was the first and only nationally accredited bachelor's level human service program in Georgia and the Southeast.

Since the program's inception, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ students have completed nearly 200,000 hours of service, a benefit to area agencies that also helps ¹û¶³´«Ã½ graduates get into the workforce faster than their peers in non-accredited programs.

¹û¶³´«Ã½'s HSDA program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education and means that it meets all the established national standards. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ undergraduate students complete a minimum of 350 hours of practicum hours, making them eligible to sit for the credentialing exam prior to graduation.

"Our bachelor's students are successfully entering the work force in a wide variety of settings, such as group homes, halfway houses, correctional  facilities, community mental health centers, and family, child and youth service agencies," said Dr. Sara Mason, department head of human services and sociology. "The new graduate program will provide human services professionals the necessary training and degree to advance their career into management and supervisory positions, self-employment and/or prepare for licensure."

¹û¶³´«Ã½ provides opportunities for its students to gain career-related experience outside of the classroom and engage with their communities. Through partnerships with more than 70 regional agencies, businesses, and other entities, students complete internships and field service requirements more easily. Several of those agencies currently employ HSDA graduates.

For more information about ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s Human Services Delivery Administration (HSDA) program, visit the Sociology & Human Services website.