Human Services Education in South Carolina

Part of the American South, with Atlantic coastline on its eastern border, South Carolina is a beautiful state with much to offer. South Carolina also needs human services workers to help it provide services in its schools, universities, private practices, non-profits and government agencies. Whether you feel called to be a probation officer in Columbia or a community outreach worker for a non-profit in Charleston, there are a variety of human services jobs available. South Carolina is in need of well-educated human services workers and you can give back to your community by starting a wonderful career in this sector.

When considering what kind of education you want and eventual career path, you should recognize the importance of this decision. This choice is one that will impact you for many years to come and is one that is worthy of careful consideration. We here at humanservicesedu.org created a resource that can help you make this important life decision with greater ease. By browsing our database on careers you can get an in-depth look at the makeup of various jobs including: the salary ranges, job duties, impact on community and also the educational and licensure requirements. Below you will find a sampling of some of the human services jobs available in South Carolina, based on level of education you have achieved.

Once you have earned your Bachelor’s degree from an South Carolina university or college human services program, you will be able to apply for work in the following positions:

• Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE accredited program)
  • You can learn about all of the rules and laws surrounding Social Work licensure for all levels of licensure in our article on the subject here
• South Carolina Substance Abuse Counselor (Bachelor of Sociology, Social Work or Psychology)
  • You can learn all about certification and other aspects of this career at the South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors website:
• Child Life Specialist (Bachelor of Science; Child Life Specialist)
  • With over 60 major hospitals, South Carolina is in need of Child Life Specialists to help the children who are receiving medical care to deal with emotional stresses of treatment. For example, the MUSC Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping children who need medical treatment:
• Rehabilitation Case Worker (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
  • The Rehabilitation Case Worker is dedicated to helping disabled people find their skills and abilities and maximize them so that they can join the work force. The Office of Voc. Rehab is the primary employer of this occupation and also a valuable resource:
• Community Outreach Worker (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
  • There are myriad different agencies in need of Community Outreach Workers such as this North Carolina Non-Profit ECCO:
• Gerontology specialist (Bachelor of Science; Gerontology)
  • Many hospitals and long term care facilities employ Gerontology Specialists. You can learn more about Gerontology from the South Carolina Office of Aging:
• Case Management Aide (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
  • By operating as a facilitator, the Case Management Aide helps Case and Eligibility Workers maximize their efficiency and in turn gains on the job training in these careers through the Department of Human Services:
• Juvenile Court Liaison (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or Criminal
  • The South Carolina Department of Corrections is the major employer of both these occupations and also has a great amount of knowledge about the field of Criminal Justice to offer visitors to its website:
• Behavioral Management Aide (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
  • With over 100 school districts throughout the great state of South Carolina the need for Behavioral Management Aides is high. Some children need special attention to overcome their emotional and behavioral issues so they can resolve them and get the most out of their education and for those that help them this is a challenging and rewarding career. For more information on this career and others in education visit the South Carolina Department of Education:
• Probation Officer (Bachelor of Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or Criminal Justice)
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When you graduate with a Master’s degree from an South Carolina college or university Human Services program, you will have eligibility for some of the following positions:

• Social and community service manager (Masters in Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology or Sociology)
• Child welfare case manager (Masters in Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology or Sociology)
• Licensed master social worker (Master of Social Work from a CSWE accredited school)
• Licensed independent social worker – clinical (Master of Social Work from a CSWE accredited school + field experience)
• Licensed independent social worker – advanced practice(Master of Social Work from a CSWE accredited school + field experience)
• Marriage and family therapist (Master’s in Counseling, Psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy)
• School social worker (Master of Social Work)

Some people will want to take their educational journey to its conclusion and earn a doctorate in their field of study. Once you have earned your Ph.D., the career options within your field are limitless. For example, you can go directly into a management or director position within a human services agency. You can open your own private practice in mental health once you have attained licensure. You could also choose to lead a research team in a clinical setting investigating a study you yourself have created. You could also pursue a career in academia where you will be able to teach a whole new generation of students in your discipline. You also will have enormously increased earning power with your doctorate. Once you have your doctorate your options are wide open.

All journeys must begin somewhere, and your journey towards the career of your dreams will start with gathering information to make an informed decision. We have compiled a valuable resource of information here at Humanservicesedu.org with the goal of helping you find the career and educational path to meet your goals. Browsing our database of job overviews, along with our licensure section, is one way of helping you to dial in on a career that fits with your inborn skills and interests. It is important to keep in mind, that for many of the advanced licenses in human services there are not only educational requirements, but also you will be required to have post-graduate field experience. Once you have decided on a career and know what education is required, you can use our database of schools to find the right accredited program at a South Carolina college or university that meets your needs. You will want to contact your school directly to find out about your school’s particular application process.