Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

Our mission is to enhance the physical, social, and economic well-being of individuals, families, and communities, em­phasizing healthy and sustainable living across the lifespan. We fulfill our mission through instructional, research, and outreach/extension efforts that challenge, motivate, and inspire. Family and Consumer Sciences integrates the fundamental components of human life—food, shelter, clothing, human relationships, and family--with larger societal systems. Through programs in textiles, apparel and design; food and nutrition; and human development and family sciences, our department prepares learners to meet the opportunities and challenges of today’s complex world. Dietetics: Students who complete the dietetics op­tion meet academic requirements as approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition. Completion of this curriculum allows students to pursue a post-graduate competitive internship to become eligible to take the examination for Registered Dietitians. The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND) is currently accredited. Human Nutrition and Food: Students who graduate from the human nutrition and food option will be prepared to pursue careers in human nutrition, the food industry, or to pursue graduate degrees. Premedicine Career Track in Human Nutrition and Food: Students who wish to pursue the pre-medicine career track will obtain the necessary coursework to apply to medical or other appro­priate professional schools. This track requires that specific substitutions and additions must be made to the general human nutrition and food curriculum. Professional Child Development: The professional child development option is offered by distance delivery only but has the same quality and requirements as on-campus programs. All students are assigned an advisor who works closely with them throughout their program. Completion of this degree prepares students for teaching and administrative po­sitions in early childhood development and care; work in resource and referral agencies; Early Head Start home visitor positions; and child advocacy. It also provides a foundation for simultaneous completion of a birth-to-five teaching endorsement, for those students who apply, or post-graduate completion of a teach­ing certificate in early childhood special edu­cation. The distance delivery of this program allows students who have existing A.A. or A.S. degrees in child development, early childhood education, or a closely related field to complete their bachelor’s degree. Place bound students, many of whom currently work in early child­hood programs, have the opportunity to earn a degree from their own hometown. Many of the courses also satisfy requirements of the Early Childhood Program Director’s Certificate. Human Development and Family Sciences: This option provides a strong foundation in the areas of human development and family sciences while allowing personalized selection of electives and internship experiences that support specific student interests. The pro­gram prepares students to work in a variety of settings, serving individuals and families across the lifespan or to pursue graduate level education. Design, Merchandising, and Textiles: Design, Merchandising and Textiles is a diverse and competitive field in which individuals plan, provide, and promote apparel, interiors and related goods desired by the consumer. A specialization in merchandising offers knowledge of business principles within the fashion and interior industries; entry into the world of retailing, manufacturing, and design; involvement in marketing apparel and residential and commercial furnishings; and study and observation in all facets of fashion and interior organizations.