Oct 30, 2014 04:49 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college with 24 campuses in Minnesota, today launched human service's bachelor's degree program in the college's AcceleratedED format.

The online bachelor's degree completion program is designed to help human service professionals advance their careers in as few as 18 months. The new program is also being offered at an affordable $260 per credit, saving students money on the total cost of their degree.

"The curriculum for our AcceleratED Human Services Bachelor's degree program is based on national industry standards and best practices and prepares students for success in a wide range of roles in the human services field," Currie Myers, dean of the School of Justice Studies at Rasmussen College, said in a statement. "Graduates will be prepared to work in career opportunities such as social service manager, human services assistant and community service manager, and in settings that range from courts and victim advocacy organizations to foster homes, juvenile justice centers and health facilities."

The Human Services AcceleratED Bachelor's degree program comes as the demand for social and community service managers is on the rise.

Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 21 percent job growth by 2022. The Rasmussen College's program is designed to meet the needs of today's human services professionals by providing experiential learning opportunities that immerse students in the multi-disciplinary field of human services. The fully online degree option also allows those currently working in the field to fast-track their careers by applying new knowledge and leadership skills to their current job or internship.

"The program was designed with important transferable skills in mind," Myers said. "Those skills are critical thinking, digital fluency, information literacy, ethics and professional responsibility, communication and teamwork. Together, these skills will prepare our graduates to serve diverse populations and contribute to local global communities."

Students can enroll in the Human Services AccelertatED Bachelor's degree program immediately, with classes beginning in January 2015.

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