Curriculum

Graduate Certificate - Human Services Administration

The 12-credit online Human Services Administration graduate certificate is offered by the University of Missouri, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, and Michigan State University. It includes three core courses and a choice of one elective.

Core Courses

This course introduces students to the grant development and management process. This course is not intended to cover all aspects of grant development and management; it is intended to give students confidence in their grant development abilities and inspire them to learn more. Students learn and use professional writing skills throughout the course.
This course introduces students to the development, administration, and management of youth, family, and community service organizations. It includes special focus on the roles and responsibilities of administrators and managers.
This course is an overview of the program development process and outcome evaluation of community, children, and family programs. Students develop knowledge through participating in a community-based project involving the practical application of program design and evaluation methods.

Elective Courses

Choose one of these recommended courses.

In this course, students explore the evolution of a resilience approach to the study of families and human development across the life cycle.
This course provides students with resources related to managing stress and coping with crises across the lifespan to use in their own lives and the lives of families they serve. Students learn about the biopsychosocial nature of stress; methods of coping with stress, anxiety, and conflict; and models of effective family functioning in the presence of stress and crises.
Students examine theories of family function and dysfunction, techniques of assessment, and models of family intervention.
Program Summary
Cost per credit hour:

2023-2024: $600
2024-2025: $610
Learn more about tuition and cost

Average time to complete:
Master's degree: 27 months or less
Graduate certificate: 6-12 months

36 Hours


12 Hours

University Contact
These campus coordinators can help you navigate Great Plains IDEA. Click on the university name to learn more about how Great Plains IDEA works at that campus. Ashley Schultz
Meagan Rau
Rae Ann Montgomery
Sarah (Heewon) Kim
Janice Clawson
Lisa King
University Members
Members of the Great Plains IDEA are universities accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Member universities recruit, admit and graduate students, teach in an academic program and contribute to the leadership and maintenance of the alliance. Membership in the alliance is a selective process that engages institutional leadership at all levels.

Shaun Libby is a graduate student in the youth development program at Michigan State.It is incredibly refreshing to see major universities working together in order to offer such high-quality degree programs and experiences for their students all while keeping tuition rates affordable. I had a roughly 10-year gap between finishing my bachelor’s degree and starting my master’s program. I have found all of the faculty at the different universities extremely welcoming and encouraging, which has made my return to school so much smoother.

– – Shaun Libby, Youth Development Master's Degree Student,
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