Human Services Administration, Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Human Services Administration is an online program that provides students with the skills and competencies needed to develop, implement, evaluation, and administer programs designed to enhance family and relationship health and well-being within non-profit or public settings. It is intended to meet the needs of individuals who seek introductory graduate training as well as those who have already earned a graduate degree but would benefit from academic study of human services administration in their current profession.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Human Services Administration Graduate Certificate, student will have met the following objectives:

1. Develop knowledge and skills related to the design, implementation and sustainability of human services programming
2. Develop essential knowledge and skills for effective leadership and management of human services agencies

Career Outlook

Graduates of this program can benefit a diverse range of professions and help you advance into leadership positions like executive director, supervisor, program manager or program developer. Our graduates work across public, private and nonprofit industries in areas such as:

County extension service programs
Military community services
Family advocacy programs
Child development centers
Consumer credit counseling
Community service programs
Emergency shelters
Crisis centers
Social service agencies

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

Graduates of Human Services Administration Certificate can expect job titles and median salaries similar to the following:

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings for Human Services Administration Certificate Students

Target Occupation

National Median Salary (USD)

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

$53,706

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

$53,934

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$55,952

Healthcare Social Workers

$62,941

Social and Human Service Assistants

$41,413

Disclaimer: Salary data is sourced from © 2025 Lightcast, based on information from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Please note that this information is intended solely for reference purposes. MSU Online disclaims any responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies, omissions, or errors in the data.

A Top-Ranked Education

29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
#1 in Online Graduate Programs for Health Care Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#1 in Online Graduate Programs for Human Resource Management — U.S. News & World Report, 2026

Tuition & Fees per credit

In-State Tuition

Out-of-State Tuition

$622

Cost of Attendance

The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.

The MSU Value Promise

You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.

As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will since 1855.

MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.

MSU has been offering online degree programs since 1998. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.

MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.

MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.

MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.

Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.

Course Information

Core Courses

YD 820 Grant Development and Management (3 credits)
FAM 808 Program Administration and Management (3 credits)
FAM 809 Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation (3 credits)

Electives

Choose one of the following courses (3 credits)

HDFS 875/FAM 805 Family Resilience (3 credits)
FAM 803 Family Crisis Intervention (3 credits)
FAM 802 Family Dynamics and Intervention (3 credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

A bachelor's degree
Résumé/CV
- Previous work experience preferred
A written personal statement
- Detailing your professional interests and goals
A written academic statement
- Detailing why you are academically interested in the field and how you wish to use the degree in professional settings
3 letters of recommendation
- At least one academic reference is preferred. If the applicant has been out of
  school for a while, ask letter writers to discuss the applicant's ability to apply research and theory
Official transcripts from all previous schools
No GRE required
- GRE needed for international students
TOEFL is English is not your native language

To apply to this program:

Complete a university graduate application
- Including paying the application fee
Submit all required materials to the application portal.
Send all official transcripts to Michigan State University.
Complete a department application form
GRE scores are not required if you are a U.S. resident applying to the Masters Plan B program. International applicants must submit GRE scores. Send the GRE scores directly to the University.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores
from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last 2 years. The code for Michigan State University is 1465.

Human Services Administration

Graduate Certificate

Online

Course Delivery

12

Total Credits

$622

Credit Hour

1 year

Minimum Duration

Dr. Yuya Kiuchi

Director of IDEA's graduate programs

Program Overview

Program Outcomes

Career Outlook

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

A Top-Ranked Education

Key Dates

Fall Semester

Application Deadline

Spring Semester

Application Deadline

Summer Semester

Application Deadline

Tuition & Fees per credit

Cost of Attendance

The MSU Value Promise

Next Steps

Course Information

Core Courses

Electives

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

To apply to this program: