Program Description and Goals
The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 30-semester-hour Master of Science with a major in Human Services Delivery and Administration (HSDA) degree in order to serve qualified, professionally oriented college graduates who aspire employment in the public and non-profit sector. The HSDA program is designed to serve students who are currently employed in the human services field at the entry-level and are seeking professional advancement or who seek to get an additional credential before entering the workforce. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for entrance in the fall semester. This program is offered completely online and can be completed in 1 year (including summer) as a full-time student.
For additional information, call the Department of Sociology and Human Services at (678)717-3878 or email hsda@ung.edu.
Accreditation
For specific information on program accreditation, refer to the Accreditations and Compliance section.
Program Requirements
Graduation for the Master of Science with a major in Human Services Delivery and Administration student include:
- Completion of 30 designated semester hours of core courses.
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.0, with no more than two courses with a grade of C.
- Successful completion of the field practicum requirements.
- Complete at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than 6 semester hours of transfer credit.
- Complete all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credit, within a six-year period.
Method of Delivery
Online
Time to Completion
30 hours
Admission Procedures
Applications may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the UNG website. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application material has been reviewed by Graduate Admission, the applicants will be notified and a copy of all material will be forwarded to the program. Upon review, a letter from the HSDA program will be mailed to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.
Students who are admitted but do not enroll without three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for complete application files.
Regular Admission
Requirements
The following documents must be received prior to admission:
- Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
- Prepare a written statement focusing on the following guidelines. Do not exceed 5 typed pages, double spaced with 12 point font. The statement should address the following:
- What are your career objectives? Please state your specific interest in the field of human services as well as what life experiences have contributed to these objectives. What do you wish to accomplish with your graduate education?
- How have your field practicum, service-learning, work, and/or volunteer experiences shaped your interest in the field of human services and your desire to work with people? What experiences have you had working with diverse populations?
- Describe the population of individuals you are interested in working with and the issue that matters to you related to this population. Why this issue? What are the possible causative factors and potential solutions?
- Describe an experience in which you have been given help and how it has contributed to your desire to enter the field of human services.
- What do you consider your personal strengths and limitations in the field of Human Services and what area would you like to strengthen?
- Three UNG recommendation forms from individuals able to address academic potential, professional experiences in the helping professions, and non-academic experiences that add breadth in understanding the human condition.
Provisional Admission
Students not meeting the entrance criteria for the program may qualify for provisional admission. To qualify for provisional admission, an individual must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
Applicants’ status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. A student who earns a grade of B or higher in all HSDA courses completed will be given regular admission status in the program. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade of C or lower in any graduate-level HSDA course taken during the provisional period would not be allowed to continue in the program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the Sociology & Human Services department head and a new application for readmission. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.
Non-Degree Admission
Description
An applicant interested in taking graduate courses in human services, but not interested in pursuing a graduate degree, may apply as a non-degree graduate student.
Requirements
- Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
- General Record Exam (GRE) score of not less than 290 (verbal and quantitative combined) or Miller Analogies Test score of not less than 400. You may exempt the GRE or MAT with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures or with evidence of a master’s degree in any field from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog). Note: Only test scores less than five years old will be considered.
- Pre-approval from the HSDA department head before enrolling in courses.
Required Supplemental Documentation
- Prepare a written statement focusing on the following guidelines. Do not exceed 5 typed pages, double-spaced with 12 font type. address the following:
- What are your career objectives? Please state your specific interest in the field of Human Services as well as what life experiences have contributed to these objectives. What do you wish to accomplish with your graduate education?
- What effect have your service learning, work, and volunteer experiences had in your interest in the field of Human Services and your desire to work with people? What experiences have you had in working with diverse populations?
- Describe the population of individuals you are interested in working with, explain your interest in this issue, and possible causative factors and potential solutions.
- Describe an experience in which you have been given help and how it has contributed to your desire to enter the field of Human Services.
- What do you consider your personal strengths and limitations in the field of Human Services and what areas would you like to strengthen?
- Three UNG recommendation forms from individuals able to address academic potential, professional experiences in the helping professions, and non-academic experiences that add breadth in understanding the human condition.
Non-Degree Students
- may register for no more than nine semester hours of graduate credit.
- will not be allowed to continue in the graduate level counseling courses if a grade of C or lower in any graduate course is earned.
- may apply for readmission after three semesters from the date removed from the program because of a deficient grade by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions with a letter addressed to the program coordinator requesting readmission.
- are not eligible for federal financial aid.
- must submit a new application to Graduate Admissions and meet all program admission requirements if the student later decides to pursue a Master of Science in Counseling degree at UNG.
Transient Student Admission
Description
A student currently enrolled at an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student.
- Permission to take courses does not indicate or imply subsequent admission into the program.
- Students must receive pre-approval from the HSDA department head before enrolling in courses.
- Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.
- Admission is for one semester only.
- Students who wish to return as a transient student for a subsequent semester must reapply through Graduate Admissions.
- Students may be required to submit an official transcript from the home institution in order to verify adequate prerequisite knowledge/skills.
Appeal of Graduate Admission
An applicant whose admission is denied may appeal the decision, regardless of the basis for denial. To submit an appeal, email a signed letter of appeal as a PDF attachment to the Office of Graduate Admissions at grads@ung.edu.
Your letter must present substantial evidence supporting the basis of your appeal. The information provided should go beyond what was previously submitted in your application and clearly demonstrate your potential for success in graduate-level study.
Graduate programs at the University of North Georgia grant appeals for provisional admission status only. If admitted under provisional status, your academic record will be reviewed post enrollment to determine eligibility for regular status. Timelines and requirements vary by program. While enrolled provisionally, you may register only for the maximum number of credit hours permitted for provisional students in your program and must maintain the GPA required by your program each term to continue enrollment. Students admitted under provisional status are not eligible for federal financial aid. Additional program-specific restrictions can be applied.
If your appeal is approved, the Graduate Admissions Office will notify you of your admission status.
MS HSDA 4+1 Program
UNG BS Human Services Delivery & Administration majors may apply for acceptance into the MS HSDA 4+1 program after they have completed at least 90 undergraduate credit hours (typically at the end of their junior year). Students interested in this path should see the MS HSDA 4+1 Admissions Requirements below. Otherwise, please follow the MS HSDA Admission Requirements. Students who are accepted to the 4+1 prgoram will be able to apply three courses, HSDA 4125, 4145, & 4201 to their graduate course work and receive the MS HSDA after one additional year (including summer) of school. 4+1 students can begin the MS program in summer or fall.
4+1 Admission Requirements
Students who wish to enroll in this accelerated master’s program must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current UNG BS HSDA major.
- Have complete at least 90 undergraduate hours
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and an HSDA GPA of 3.0
- Earn a B or higher in the two undergraduate classes that will be counted towards the MS HSDA Degree (HSDA 4125, HSDA 4145) and an S in HSDA 4201.
- Submit the following:
- Two letters of recommendation from UNG faculty
- A current resume
- Prepare a written statement focusing on the following guidelines. Do not exceed 5 typed pages, double spaced with 12 point font. The statement should address the following:
- What are your career objectives? Please state your specific interest in the field of human services as well as what life experiences have contributed to these objectives. What do you wish to accomplish with your graduate education?
- How have your field practicum, service-learning, work, and/or volunteer experiences shaped your interest in the field of human services and your desire to work with people? What experiences have you had working with diverse populations?
- Describe the population of individuals you are interested in working with and the issue that matters to you related to this population. Why this issue? What are the possible causative factors and potential solutions?
- Describe an experience in which you have been given help and how it has contributed to your desire to enter the field of human services.
- What do you consider your personal strengths and limitations in the field of Human Services and what area would you like to strengthen?
- Receive approval from MS HSDA Graduate Admissions Committee.
Students who apply to the program cannot currently be under a Fitness for the Profession Personal Improvement Plan.
Academic and Professional Integrity
Code of Conduct
Students are expected to perform in accordance with the regulations stated in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. At the end of each semester, the program faculty or HSDA program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the HSDA program coordinator with copies forward to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.
Academic Integrity
The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.
Professional Integrity
The HSDA program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. In addition, students must adhere to the professional standards and Code of Ethics established by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE). Students who fail to meet these standards will be subject to the Human Services Program Fitness for the Profession policy: https://ung.edu/sociology-and-human-services/hsda/fitness-for-profession.php. Students in the Human Services Delivery and Administration program will be evaluated every semester with reference to the professional and personal attributes, as well as the academic performance as it related to their growing professional skills.
Academic Information and Policies
Academic Standing Policy
HSDA students who have been regularly admitted and whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:
- Probation – Student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
- Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
- Student earns a U or any other grade of C or lower.
No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below 3.0. Probation will be removed when a student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
- Suspension – Student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
- Student earns two or more grades of C or below (including U’s).
- Student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.
The period of suspension will consist of one semester (fall, spring, or summer). No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student must reapply and be accepted to the program through Graduate Admissions. A student seeking reinstatement in the HSDA program must petition the HSDA program coordinator in writing presenting a rationale for reinstatement. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and the HSDA program coordinator.
Transfer Residency Requirement
To be awarded a Master of Science with a major in Human Services Delivery and Administration degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. In addition, no more than 6 semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the HSDA degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credit, must be completed within a six-year period. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG—password required) and submit the form to the HSDA program coordinator for approval.
Satisfactory Progress
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all required coursework.
Incomplete Grades
The HSDA program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two incomplete (“I”) marks either of which has been extended over one semester, may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the HSDA Program Coordinator. In completes which are not finished by the beginning of the second semester will automatically become an F grade. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved “I” mark remain on his/her transcript.
Repeated Courses
Students may only repeat one class one time during enrollment in the HSDA program in order to improve a grade.
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