With a degree in Human Services and Restorative Justice, you’ll have an opportunity to help and make a true difference. Your work will empower others, inspire change, contribute to healthy communities, and promote advocacy.
At Penn College, you’ll join a community of tomorrow-minded students and instructors dedicated to transforming tomorrow. In coursework and internships, you'll learn how to apply a well-rounded approach to enhance services for those who need them most. And thanks to small class sizes, an immersive approach to learning, and expert faculty by your side, you’ll have the skills and confidence to spark change in this rewarding field.
You'll be prepared to address substance abuse, family violence, counseling, policing, and aging in diverse professional settings such as probation services, group homes, mental health centers, and children and youth services agencies.
Join the Penn College Human Services & Restorative Justice Community 
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.
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Craig Miller, History Professor, and recent Human Services & Restorative Justice grad Ashlee Felix-Taveras discuss prison education and restorative justice in this can't miss episode of the Tomorrow Makers podcast.
The challenge course is designed to enhance problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and communication skills for students.
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.
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.
Alumni
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Caring for others is second nature for this Human Services grad.
Student
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Jerome's writing a better future for himself by helping others succeed.
Faculty
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Compassionate and caring, Sarah leads by example, inspiring tomorrow's agents of change.
Student
Human Services & Restorative Justice
After attending two other colleges, Ashlee decided hands-on was for her. She moved to Williamsport, found her community, and couldn't be happier with her new life at Penn College.
Student
Human Services & Restorative Justice
He knew from a young age that he was destined to make a difference. The Human Services & Restorative Justice program at Penn College was the perfect fit.
Industry
Accounting & Business Administration
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Information Technology
Student
Human Services & Restorative Justice
She found countless opportunities to challenge herself, quench her passion for serving others, and grow with each new semester. Above all, Krystle discovered a home and a community at Penn College.
Industry
Automotive
Baking & Culinary
Electrical
Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Information Technology
Welding & Metal Fabrication
From ess.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
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.
“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
“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
"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
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.
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.
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Internships are key for career preparation. As part of this curriculum, you’ll participate in three in-depth practical learning internships including 30 hours of observation in the community, a 175-hour internship and 350-hour internship.
This student-organized event was designed to raise awareness and humanize the local opioid epidemic.
Admission to the major does not guarantee permission to take the internship courses or to graduate from the program. Continuation in the program to graduation and permission to take internship courses are predicated not only upon satisfactory academic performance, but also upon satisfactory demonstration of professional and ethical responsibility, personal responsibility, and satisfactory demonstration of skills and abilities prerequisite to the ethical delivery of services in the field. For more specific information about the criteria used to evaluate students' progress, a copy of the program manual can be obtained from the School of Business, Arts & Sciences.
Students must complete all HSJ-designated courses and ENL-designated courses with a grade of 'C' or above. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course after the maximum attempts allowed by College policy, results in withdrawal from the major. Students should work closely with their advisers and program faculty to ensure that they are meeting all criteria for satisfactory progress in the program.
The following grading system applies to all HSJ-designated courses for students in the
Human Services & Restorative Justice major:
A= 90-100%
B= 80-89.99%
C= 70 –79.99%
F= Below 70%
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 must complete a 350-hour internship in addition to the requirements of the associate’s degree. 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.
Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
