Human Services & Restorative Justice

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

About this program

Do you dream of making a difference in the lives of others? A career in human services and restorative justice may be your calling. At Penn College, you’ll find experienced faculty, learn through extensive field experience, and have the opportunity to explore flexible career paths. Become a corrections officer or restorative justice coordinator. Work with individuals of all ages from children to the elderly. Assist those with developmental delays or people struggling with chemical dependency. Coursework lays a solid foundation in theory, covers principles of assessing and responding to human needs, and comes full circle with a capstone project.

96%

Overall Placement

Immersive In-Field Placements

Flexible Curriculum

Careers

Social services caseworker
Drug & alcohol counselor
Youth development specialist
Probation officer
Restorative justice coordinator
Parole officer
Police officer
Corrections officer

Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

Introduction to Human Services and Restorative Justice (HSJ115)
General Psychology (PSY111)
Introduction to Sociology (SOC111)
Introduction to Interviewing Skills and Intake Processes (HSJ120)
Diversity and Inclusive Human Service Practice (HSJ210)
Human Services & Restorative Justice Application Elective (HSJ)
Assessment, Case Management and Crisis Intervention (HSJ223)
Criminal Justice (HSJ263)
Developmental Psychology (PSY203)
Counseling Theories and Techniques (HSJ225)
Internship I (HSJ255)
Serving and Surviving in Human Services (HSJ275)
Abnormal Psychology (PSY201)
Writing Proficiency Exam must be successfully completed prior to taking any 300/400 HSJ course except HSJ 311. (WRS)
Human Services Application Elective - 300 Level (HSA)
Community and Organizational Change (HSJ311)
Management and Administration in Government and Non-Profit Agencies (HSJ240)
Human Services Application Elective - 400 Level (HSB)
State and Local Government (PSC141)
Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services and the Criminal Justice System (HSJ412)
Research Methods (SOC313)
Internship II (HSJ455)
Capstone (HSJ495)

Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

General Psychology (PSY111)
Developmental Psychology (PSY203)
Science Elective (SCI)
Abnormal Psychology (PSY201)
Science Elective with lab (SCL)
Core Historical Perspective (HIP)
Core Arts Perspective (ARP)

Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Information, Technology, and Society (CSC124)
English Composition I (ENL111)
Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101)
Mathematics Elective (MTH)
Technical and Professional Communication (ENL201)
Topics in Mathematics (MTH153) or
Business Statistics (MTH157) or
Statistics for Health & Behavioral Sciences (MTH159) or
Statistics for STEM Fields with Computer Applications (MTH161)

View full course list

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 via video 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.

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.

Student Experience

"My experience was nothing short of excellent. The curriculum and professors challenged and gave me a solid base of professional skills that I utilize daily as a law enforcement officer. My adviser was a key support in identifying what career path I wanted to pursue after graduation and I am forever grateful for his guidance."

Jarod Corman

Parole Officer, Lycoming County Adult Probation