Explore the College of Health and Human Services

If you are a prospective GSU undergraduate or graduate student seeking more information about the College of Health and Human Services degree and certificate programs, check out our website for details or take advantage of our online request form.  Along with providing lots of information about our programs, we also offer several Summer and Fall Term introductory courses from a number of our departments.  This provides a great way to explore new pathways and career options, even if you are not ready to commit to a new major or program. 

Our selection of introductory Summer classes includes courses from our Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health degree programs.  Students will have the opportunity to take the Substance Abuse Current Concepts course online or several other courses from the department offered in a traditional classroom setting.  We are also offering several courses from the Community Health/Health Science program and the Communication Disorders Department. 

From our Health Administration Department, we are offering the course, An Introduction to Health Disparities.  In Occupational Therapy, students have the choice of two online courses, Intro to Occupational Therapy and Medical Terminology.  For anyone interested in exploring the Physical Therapy profession, the department is offering an online Orientation to Physical Therapy course in both Summer and Fall.   Please see our website for details regarding all of the CHHS’ Summer/Fall programs.  

 

If you plan to take a summer course at GSU, you will need to get registered.  Registration ends May 26^th.  As a student, you will not find a better group of individuals who are more dedicated to your future success than the Faculty and Staff of CHHS.   With seven academic departments, we are certain to have a program that meets your needs. 

Academic excellence and innovation are natural partners. At Governors State University, you’ll find an abundance of both.  We have a highly diverse student body and our courses are taught by gifted professors. Our rich history, cultural amenities and a beautiful campus all contribute to making us one of the best universities in Illinois.

Learn More about CHHS’ Programs

Making the decision about something as important as your college major, or considering whether the time is right to move your career forward by pursuing your master’s or doctoral degree is difficult.  This is why GSU’s College of Health and Human Services regularly holds information sessions and open houses. 

Our information sessions present a perfect opportunity for prospective students or someone just starting the process of exploring their options, to learn more about our many degree and certificate programs.  During these sessions, you will get the chance to meet the faculty who are teaching the courses and find out more information about the prerequisites, degree requirements and the profession. 

In response to new research on evidence-based practices, the Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health has added a new 60-hour Addictions Counseling Concentration to its Master of Health Science in Addictions Studies degree program.   To properly introduce the program to our students, we are offering two informational sessions on the following dates:  Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. and on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at 3 p.m.  For additional information, contact the Program Coordinator, Serena Wadhwa at swadhwa@govst.edu.

Another information session and open house taking place this summer is for our Bachelor and Master of Health Science in Communication Disorders degree programs.  We invite all interested students who wish to learn more about these programs to schedule an Informational Meeting with the Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders.  For Summer Term, 2015, meeting times for prospective undergraduate students are: GSU Open House, Saturday, July 11, 10-11 a.m.  For prospective graduate students, dates are: GSU Open House, Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m. -12 p.m.  See our website to schedule an appointment and to see additional dates for the Fall Term. 

With seven departments that include Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health, Communication Disorders, Health Administration, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Social Work, we are sure to have a program that meets your needs.   Please visit our website to learn more. 

We encourage you to explore our many degree, certificate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  Each college has stellar programs and world-class professors, all of which are focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  We look forward to helping you achieve your educational and career goals.

Health and Human Services Professionals

While health and human services professions include a broad range of careers in a variety of work environments, they all provide a valuable public service.  The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) defines the field of human services as “uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations.” 

Services are designed to meet the most basic needs of a community and provide care for individuals and families, assistance for social services when required, and work to prevent and solve problems.  As a professional, you will work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, government agencies, halfway houses and group homes and private practices.  Jobs include rewarding careers in nursing, health administration, social work, occupational or physical therapy and drug counseling, among others.  

As it is a service oriented profession, it is important that anyone considering a career in the field have a real desire to help others. You need to be a patient, understanding person who has good communication skills and a strong sense of responsibility.  The area you work in will depend on the educational path you chose.   

For those interested in a career in the field, the employment outlook is continuing to grow.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that jobs such as social workers, rehabilitation counselors, marriage and family therapists and health educators are among the health and human services careers that are expected to see better than average employment growth in 2012 through 2022.  

At GSU, our College of Health and Human Services includes the following seven departments:  Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health; Communication Disorders; Health Administration; Nursing; Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Social Work.  Please see our website for information on all of our programs.   

Sources:

nationalhumanservices.org/what-is-human-services

publichealthonline.org/human-services/

 

If your passion is to make someone’s life better, the degrees and certificates we offer in the College of Health and Human Services are your perfect fit.   Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top universities in Illinois.