Human Services & Restorative Justice

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

You want a career that really matters, one that enriches the lives of others and strengthens your community. When you work in the growing field of human services and restorative justice, you’ll have a chance to make that happen. Study theories and methods then apply them through extensive hands-on experiences. From direct care to the administrative side of human services, the options are diverse and far-reaching. Select courses that focus on specific areas of interest such as mental health, criminal justice, or administrative positions. For those who want to keep the momentum going, this program can seamlessly transfer into the bachelor's program.

Join the Penn College Human Services & Restorative Justice Community

Ethical Standards, Background Checks and Clearances

The Human Services and Restorative Justice program abides by the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) ethical standards, which can be found here. Additionally, field experiences and internship sites may require background checks and clearances. Learn more.

Courses

Your coursework will cover classes specific to your area of specialization along with foundational concepts and lessons that invite fresh perspectives.

Semesters

Courses

Credits

Legend# Credits
Program-specific courses
General courses

Fall 2026

Spring 2026

Fall 2027

Spring 2027

Please Note: The outlined curriculum assumes a fall semester start for students completing a full credit load schedule without additional developmental math requirements. Students beginning in the spring or summer, taking less than a full load, and/or requiring developmental coursework follow an altered curriculum sequence. Speak to your academic advisor or school office with questions.

Detailed Major Requirements

Careers

Entry-level positions in youth & aging programs
Drug & alcohol counseling programs
Child care development agencies
Correctional facilities

Hours of Field Exposure

100%

Overall Placement

Seamless Associate-to-Bachelor Degree Pathway

Featured Video: Leadership challenge course

The challenge course is designed to enhance problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and communication skills for students.

Facilities: Mentoring Lab

Reserved for Human Services and Restorative Justice students, this lab is the premier location for our mentoring program. All incoming students are paired with current students. Together they design a study plan for their time at Penn College. The lab can also be used for study sessions and peer-to-peer advising.

Launch Virtual Lab Tour

Facilities: Counseling Lab

Also reserved for Human Services and Restorative Justice students, this applied learning space is used for mock one-on-one and group counseling sessions—all of which are captured for the future review and can be used as part of a resume. Upper division students play the role of the clients while students taking lower level courses act as counselors.

Immersive Learning

Selfcare is vital to the success of human services professionals. As part of a class activity, student Natalie Schrader, led a guided meditation with a focus and peacefulness and mindfulness. Students participating in the activity shared their take on being a Human Services & Restorative Justice major.

Helping Others

“We need to really make time for ourselves. All of us want to help other people, and that's what this activity is centered around, taking care of ourselves so we can help other people.”

– Natalie Schrader

Impactful Moments

“When I first got here, I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do. Dr. Winder sat me down one day and she just said, “tell me your story.” And that was the first time I actually told my story. I believe those were the most impactful moments, just knowing that the faculty cares as much as I do.”

– Jerome Frazier

Experienced Faculty

"One of the real-life scenarios that's really impacted me is crisis intervention. I've really gravitated towards that aspect of this major - learning how to respond to individuals who are in crisis. Some of the professors have had jobs that deal with counseling and they share their experiences with us."

– Skylar Bartholomew

Tour Schedule: Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Jul18

Undergraduate Open House

Saturday, July 18 9 AM - 3 PM

Scholarships

As a Human Services & Restorative Justice student at Penn College, you may be elgible for 115 scholarships.

7 Program-related scholarships

108 Additional scholarships

Explore scholarships

Penn College News: Real World Ready

Professional development day features childhood trauma expert

February 20, 2026

Penn College’s human services & restorative justice program recently hosted a professional development day and welcomed Jennifer Lake, founder and executive…

HSJ Expo offers opportunities for internships, employment

February 05, 2026

Sixteen employers participated in the January Human Services & Restorative Justice Internship and Job Expo. The event, which takes place every fall and spring,…

Restorative Justice Week highlights importance of empathy

December 12, 2025

Pennsylvania College of Technology recently wrapped up Restorative Justice Week, which aimed to highlight the importance of understanding the expansive impact…

‘Food4Fines’ kicks off Nov. 17

November 14, 2025

As part of Restorative Justice Week, Nov. 16-22, Human Services & Restorative Justice Club members and first-year students of the program will accept…

Cross-curricular collaboration explores poverty

May 06, 2025

Can you survive a month in poverty? That was the key question at a recent Community Action Poverty Simulation explored by Penn College students in various…

Building meaningful professional connections

February 17, 2025

Over 65 Penn College students engaged with 16 employers at the Human Services & Restorative Justice Internship and Job Expo. “Engaging with employers early and…

Restorative justice circles boost students' skills

December 13, 2024

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s human services & restorative justice major recently observed Restorative Justice Week, an annual international celebration…

Penn College classes add global travel to students’ education

October 15, 2024

Supporting Pennsylvania College of Technology’s mission to equip future leaders with real-world experience, faculty members led students in exploring new parts…

Human services students fold hope into community effort

May 02, 2024

Several students in Penn College’s human services & restorative justice major provided volunteer support recently to the Union County Giving Closet. The Penn…

Therapeutic Community among topics of corrections class visit

April 15, 2024

The Introduction to Corrections (HSJ 215) class at Penn College recently received a real-world glimpse into the corrections system, courtesy of Allyson…

People: Meet the Makers

Industry Partners: Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

Internship: Your knowledge in practice

Internships are key for career preparation. As part of this curriculum, you’ll participate in two in-depth practical learning internships including 30 hours of observation in the community and a 175-hour internship.

Learn More

Student Life: Lead and put your skills to the test

National Human Services Organization

The National Human Services Organization has established a code of ethics, which is designed to protect the rights and dignity of human service professionals and their clients. Students are introduced to this early in their coursework and it is reinforced through the internship experience.

Learn more

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Get Involved

Study Abroad: Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

Learn More

Student Experience: The community as their classroom

Human service students see firsthand example of civic impact

At Penn College, learning often goes beyond textbooks and into the real world.

More Information

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

The Human Services and Restorative Justice program abides by the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) ethical standards, which can be found here. Students in this program are required to complete a 30-hour supervised field experience and a 175-hour internship. Depending on work site requirements, some of the placements may require some or all of the following background checks: completion of standard basic health appraisal form and receipt of Children's Services Protection Act 33 clearance, State Police clearance, and FBI clearances. Please note that we do not assume responsibility for the requirements of any external organization, and we cannot guarantee placements if the necessary clearances are mandated but cannot be secured by the student.