Home
working with communities to
create change
through service learning and community-engaged scholarship.
Who We Are
GW’s Human Services and Social Justice (HSSJ) Program assists students in developing identities as leaders and professionals in nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government and private agencies. Merging sociology, counseling, education and psychology, the program's interdisciplinary major, minor, micro-minor and combined degrees blend rigorous academic classwork with scholarly research and community practice. Students are empowered to work against injustice, discrimination and poverty while making a focused impact on their local communities.
Hands-on service learning is central to the HSSJ Program, and we are proud of our partnerships with many nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions and government agencies in Washington, D.C. Through professional community-building and and innovative classroom experiences, students master lifelong expertise that will assist them in their professional pursuits.
What We Offer
Service Learning
Hands-on field experience through service learning is an integral part of the HSSJ Program curriculum.
Flexible Degree Options
Students may choose between a major, minor, micro-minor or combined degree, as well as dozens of course options.
Community Partnerships
HSSJ partners with GW's Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service as well as local groups.
Lifelong Benefits
Graduates are equipped with interpersonal skills, cross-cultural understanding and concrete job experience.
Student Spotlight
- Sondra Fiorella, Current Student
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"Since the semester began a fellow classmate and I have been partnered with the US Dream Academy working on evaluating the effectiveness of their programming. So far we have been collecting responses from a survey that we wrote which will help us and them determine the success of their first-ever online fundraising gala."
- Kaylah Fermaint, Current Student
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"My name is Kaylah Fermaint and I'm a senior pursuing a B.A in Human Services & Social Justice with a Sociology minor. I'm a first generation college student from New Jersey, longing to be with the rest of my family in Puerto Rico. As my undergraduate experience at GW comes soon to a close, I have been trying to figure out what is my #onlyatgw moment. After some thought, I realized my academic moment was sitting in Dr. Kelso’s office declaring my major in HSSJ. This program has not only given me a family, but also has prepared me to advocate for social justice and take steps to create equitable opportunities for the communities I serve. In three years, I worked with organizations like The Petey Greene Program, Latino Student Fund, and In The Streets. These experiences have prepared me to take my skills and knowledge to more professional settings in the future."
- Julia Sinsky BA '16
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"With my passions, I mainly focused on early childhood education as well as healthcare disparities, but my classmates allowed me to learn so much about LGBTQ+, poverty and homelessness, and food access, just to name a few. I am not exaggerating when I say that each and every course helped develop me into the person I am today and the goals I have for my future."
- Haley Amdur BA '19
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"I graduated with a major in HSSJ and a minor in music. I now work in the education department at Washington Hebrew Congregation, providing students in PreK-12th grade with Jewish education, social justice opportunities, and a sense of community. I have utilized so much of what I learned as part of the major, including grant writing, program evaluation, as well as pulling from experiences in service learning to help inform my choices today."
HSSJ Outcomes
92%
Of HSSJ students reported having a better understanding of the role they can play in addressing social problems
56.7%
Of alumni have worked for nonprofit organizations after graduation
Career Outlook
There is good news to report on the job front! According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment growth in our field is expected to grow 14 percent through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 371,900 jobs. From developing new ways to engage communities, to program monitoring and evaluation, careers in our field are diverse and in demand, with job opportunities projected to grow at a rate of 10% through 2024 according to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an education in Human Services & Social Justice, you will be well qualified to enter jobs with significant responsibilities and competitive salaries across the government, corporate and nonprofit sectors:
$64k
Nonprofit Program Officer
$83k
Program Specialist (Department of Health and Human Services)
$60k
Teacher
$50k
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
$40k
Community Health Worker
These wages reflect the median wages of these fields as found on Glassdoor. To see some of the great things our Alumni are doing check out our Alumni Outcomes page!
"My HSSJ major allowed me to connect theory to practice by going outside GW's campus and contributing to society through service. I feel forever indebted to the program for providing me with the opportunity to learn, wonder, question, act and grow."
Julia Resnik
BA '18
