Course details

Summary

Human Services is referred to as the study of the professions. Human Services (HSRV) programmes and courses are now being taught at universities in New Zealand and internationally, with human services among the fastest growing fields of employment.

Studying Human Services gives you the opportunity to learn research skills and choose courses in particular areas of study, maximising your ability to develop more focused career directions within your degree.

Students majoring in subjects such as Psychology, Law, Education, Management and Sociology also have the opportunity to strengthen the human service component of their studies by including HSRV courses.

At UC, courses include a focus on professional contexts and issues such as workplace bullying, management and supervision, and the dynamics of the worker-client relationship.

There are five broad pathways within the Human Services program at UC:

• Health and Family Systems – for those interested in health and well-being
• Work and Organisational Systems – gain knowledge to implement change in organisational systems, to consider critical debates within policy, as well as to develop skills in organisational communication
• Youth Development – looks at youth culture, youth work and relevant development organisations
• Local and Global Community Development – an area of growing popularity in New Zealand and overseas
• Violence and Criminal Justice Systems – many Human Services courses make use of UC staff specialisation in the areas of violence and provision of services across different contexts. Most of these courses consider violence as a contemporary and historical issue.

The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities.

A PhD involves extensive, sustained and original research and study in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.

The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two years and the maximum period four years; most PhD students take between three and three-and-a-half years.

Career opportunities

Human Services courses are designed for students wanting to pursue careers within fields such as education, law enforcement, health, community and other social service/support organisations including international organisations.

Graduates may find roles in policy analysis, research, administration, management, supervision, community development, youth work, and various types of support work.

Entry criteria

Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master's degree at first-class or second-class division 1 level (or equivalent qualifications). Applicants with qualifications from outside New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.