Pursuing a degree in Family and Consumer Science

Family and consumer science, also popularly known as home economics or human sciences, is an educational program, which brings together the concepts of social and natural science. This field includes many disciples like consumer science, nutrition, food preparation, parenting, early childhood education, family economics and resource management, human development, textiles, apparel design, interior design along with other related subjects.

Benefits of pursuing a degree in Family and Consumer Science

Students in Family and Consumer Sciences courses learn about appropriate policy interventions, financial management, resource planning, childcare, and the skill of positive communication, as well as how to prepare for future jobs and improve practical skills for work.

Additionally, due to the flexibility of the field of study, people who pursue a degree in Family and Consumer Science end up having well-paying jobs in almost every industry. To know more about annual salary, employment opportunities, and industries to work under, go to Career Options below.

Categories under Family and Consumer Science

Apparel and Textiles

This program teaches people to work with clothing and fabric. In these you study about the actual production process of fabrics and different types of textiles along with that you learn the technical skills and latest technological developments. This program is offered by around 100 schools in the US. The various careers available are buyers and purchasing agents, costume and wardrobe specialists, fashion designers, interior designers, marketing managers, sewing machine operators, tailors, and upholsterers. Engineers, merchandisers, and designers are expected to find the maximum number of job opportunities in this field.

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies

This program teaches the students about microeconomic analysis behavior in units of consumers, families, or individuals. They are taught about consumer buying patterns. The students learn to analyze and identify the needs, behaviors, and problems faced by consumers. A student can opt for a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree. This course provides careers as an Economist, Market Research Professional, and Economics Teacher.

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services

In family and consumer sciences programs the relation between individuals, families, communities, and the environment in, which individual lives, are studied. This field provides a diverse career for the students including family financial planning and nutrition and human psychology and development.

A student can opt for a bachelor's or master's degree for this course either as a consumer science major degree or combined family and consumer science degree. Various doctoral-level degrees are also available for consumer science major degrees. This course provides careers as a teacher, dietician, nutritionist, and fashion retail manager. The student can also go for teaching economics in high school or a registered dietician in a hospital. Certain careers like educators require a state license or certification.

Family and consumer sciences/ human sciences

This program teaches individuals about how to develop and behave in different settings. They learn different ways about how people respond and relate to their family, work, or community. They use this knowledge to protect and support consumers, as well as sell the products and services. As the field is extensive, it provides a wide scope of opportunities. Various career options available for these courses are Child Care Workers, Dietitians, Home Health Aides, Marketing Managers, Public Relations Specialists, Sales Managers, Sales Worker Supervisors, Social and Human Service Assistants, and Writers.

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences- Other

This program teaches students the concept required to maintain a wholesome family structure and prosper. The various types of courses studied in this program are Mathematics, Child development, Statistics, Money management techniques, Quantitative research methods, Cooking skills, Clothing design and creation, Interior design, Economics, Teaching methods, Family dynamics, and Home safety. The students can have different careers in the fields like social workers, home economics teachers, personal finance advisors, and health educators.

Foods- Nutrition- and Related Services

The emphasis of this program is on food and nutrients, wellness, managing hospitality companies, customer service and marketing, human behavior, and food maintenance. In this program, as a student, we learn about food, nutrition, and wellness studies from various angles like scientific, psychological, sociological and educational. This program provides you career as dietetic technicians, dietitians, management advisors, high school teachers, public relations specialists, and social and community service managers.

Housing and Human Environments

In this program, the students learn how to fulfill the needs of individuals looking for housing or spaces for recreation or work purposes. It teaches the individuals about how to consider people's homes and other interior environments in a broad and thorough way. Less than 20 schools in the U.S. offer this program. It provides you career for architects, farm and home management advisors, interior designers, and set and exhibit designers.

Human Development- Family Studies- and Related Services

In this program, the students learn about the external factors that influence the cognitive and emotional development of humans during various life stages. It focuses mainly on mental health, family dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and social issues.

Work and Family Studies

Thought about the intricacies of human behavior, the relationship between family members, and ways of enhancing their life are taught during the course of this program.

Undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences

Bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences will be available as either a B.A. or B.Sc. degree. Students can choose from a variety of options that several universities will offer. However, the choices will be inclusive of either ONE of the above-mentioned categories.

Additionally, students can opt for a thesis-based or non-thesis-based degree. It is important to note that most universities DO NOT provide an option for the same, and would only keep the degree either thesis-based or non-thesis-based.

Graduate degree in Family and Consumer Science

As for a master's degree in family and consumer science, universities will offer either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree in the field of study. Some universities offer different bachelor's and master's subjects under family and consumer science, but it is a possibility that the bachelor's and masters would be the same subject.

Master's in family and consumer science is heavily research-based. Hence, most universities would prefer if the student has previous experience of writing a thesis under a supervisor. Additionally, quite a few master's degrees are combined with a Ph.D. degree, meaning that the student will be awarded a master's and a Ph.D. degree at the completion of the degree undertaken. Most universities provide an option to pursue ONLY a master's degree as well.

Top universities for Family and Consumer Sciences

University of Arizona

• The University of Arizona offers a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Family studies. The bachelor's degree is known as a B.Sc. in Family Studies & Human Development and the master's degree is known as an M.Sc. in Family & Consumer Sciences.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Family Studies & Human Development include a high school degree which must include the following subjects - English, Maths, statistics, research, and natural sciences or arts & humanities. A minimum of 2.0 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) is acceptable by the university.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $13,000 for in-state students and $37,000 for out-of-state students.
• The entry requirements for M.Sc. in Family & Consumer Sciences include an undergraduate degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• The tuition fee for the degree is $14,000 for in-state students and $34,000 for out-of-state students.
• Additional documents include transcripts and at least two letters of recommendation.
• The English language requirements include submission of either ONE of the following - TOEFL score of 79 overall or an IETLS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component, or PTE score of 60 overall, or CEPT (offered by the University of Arizona) with an overall score of 110, and lastly the English Language Endorsement with a Graduate certificate.

Cornell University

• The Cornell University offers a B.Sc. and an M.A. in Family studies. The bachelor's degree is known as a B.Sc. in Human Development and the master's degree is known as an M.A. in Human Development.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Human Development include a high school degree which must include the following subjects - Statistics and research, with some experience with MiniTab/SPSS/SAS/STATA. A minimum of 3.5 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) is acceptable by the university.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $41,000 for in-state students and $60,000 for out-of-state students.
• The entry requirements for M.A. in Human Development include an undergraduate degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and proof of submission of a thesis that should be empirical in nature.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $21,000.
• Additional documents include transcripts and at least two letters of recommendation.
• The English language requirements include submission of either ONE of the following - TOEFL score of 100 overall or an IETLS score of 7.5 overall, with no less than 7.0 in every component, or PTE score of 70 overall, or Duolingo English Test with a score of 120 overall, or the Cambridge English Scale of 191 or higher.

University of Georgia

• The University of Georgia offers a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Family studies. The bachelor's degree is known as a B.Sc. in Family & Consumer Science and the master's degree is known as an M.Sc. in Human Development & Family Science.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Family & Consumer Science include a high school degree which must include the following subjects - English, Maths, statistics, research, and natural sciences or arts & humanities. A minimum of 2.0 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) is acceptable by the university.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $12,000 for in-state students and $31,000 for out-of-state students.
• The entry requirements for M.Sc. in Human Development & Family Science include an undergraduate degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• The tuition fee for the degree is $9,000 for in-state students and $25,000 for out-of-state students.
• Additional documents include transcripts, entrance test scores, and at least two letters of recommendation.
• The English language requirements include submission of either ONE of the following - TOEFL score of 80 overall or an IETLS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in every component, or Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher.

Ohio State University

• The Ohio State University offers a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Family studies. The bachelor's degree is known as a B.Sc. in Human Development and Family Science and the master's degree is known as an M.Sc. in Human Development and Family Science.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Human Development and Family Science include a high school degree with minimum grades of 3.0 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) overall.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $11,500 for in-state students and $33,500 for out-of-state students.
• The entry requirements for M.Sc. in Human Development and Family Science include an undergraduate degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• The tuition fee for the degree is $12,500 for in-state students and $39,400 for out-of-state students.
• Additional documents include transcripts and at least two letters of recommendation.
• The English language requirements include submission of either ONE of the following - TOEFL score of 79 overall or an IETLS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component, or Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher, and lastly a score of 82 on MELAB.

University of Utah

• The University of Utah offers a B.A. and an M.Ed. in Family studies. The bachelor's degree is known as a B.A. in Family, Community, & Human Development and the master's degree is known as an M.Ed. in Human Development and Social Policy.
• The entry requirements for Bachelor's in Family, Community, & Human Development include a high school degree which must include the following subjects - statistics, research, and natural sciences or arts & humanities with a minimum of C+ grade overall.
• The tuition fee for the degree is $9,500 for in-state students and $31,000 for out-of-state students.
• The entry requirements for a Master's in Human Development and Social Policy include an undergraduate degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• The tuition fee for the degree is $8,000 for in-state students and $25,000 for out-of-state students.
• Additional documents include transcripts, a statement of purpose, a CV, and at least two letters of recommendation.
• The English language requirements include submission of either ONE of the following - TOEFL score of 80 overall or an IETLS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in every component, or Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher.

Career options

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of people who pursued a degree in Family and Consumer Science ranges between $35,000 to $135,000. The employment rate in the field of Family and Consumer Science is marginally great and is expected to rise higher in the upcoming years.

Areas of employment that can be pursued after completing a degree in Family and Consumer Science are mentioned below:

• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Education
• Family Law
• Human Resources
• Child/Adolescent Care Specialist