Major code BS6370

Patton College of Education  
Department of Human and Consumer Sciences 
Grover Center E160
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.2880
Fax: 740.593.0289
http://www.cehs.ohio.edu/academics/hcse/fcse/

Ann Paulins, contact person

Program Overview

The major in family and consumer sciences education (FCS ED) is offered by the College of Education through the Department of Human and Consumer Sciences. Students completing this program fulfill the requirements for a career-technical teaching license in Family and Consumer Sciences to teach in grades 4 - 12. FCS education majors receive Serv-Safe Certification and can select electives to receive the Certified Family Life Educator credential (CFLE). Teacher candidates are also prepared to be future advisors of the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) career-technical student organization.

FCS education majors learn and apply principles of consumer economics, financial literacy, and resource management; learn and apply theory and research on human development, interpersonal relationships, and family systems to build and strengthen individual family assets; know and demonstrate the role of food and nutrition in constructing a healthy lifestyle; investigate and plan career pathways and research transitioning processes through the life cycle.

Family and consumer sciences education empowers individuals and families throughout their lives to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society. The unique focus is on work, families and interrelationships.

Students beginning this major at an Ohio University regional campus have the opportunity to acquire most of the courses recommended for the freshmen and sophomore year.

You must meet the criteria for selective admission to and retention in teacher education established by the Patton College (see “Admission to Professional Education” in the college section), including a 2.75 GPA in your major, in required professional education courses, and overall. You must be admitted to Professional Education in order to take any teacher education course beyond EDTE 1500.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements. Students interested in changing into this major should contact the chair of the Human and Consumer Sciences Department.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements. A college or department advisor can offer assistance with the transfer of courses to Ohio University. A good resource for the planning of transfer credits is through Ohio’s Course Applicability System.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Graduates entering the middle school or high school teaching field might teach courses in Healthy Living, Healthy and Safe Foods, Consumer Economics and Financial Management, Career Search or Career Search with a mentorship program for students, Child Development and Parenting, Resource Management Skills, or Managing Personal Transitions. Family and Consumer Sciences Education teacher candidates are prepared to coordinate GRADS, Ohio’s in-school teen pregnancy program, provide leadership development through the FCCLA student organization, provide leadership for in-class service learning, teach foundation classes for the Human Services career pathways. In Ohio, FCS education is a legislated program to teach the required financial literacy for high school graduation.

Graduates of the FCS education program have also acquired jobs in the human services field, in businesses related to the courses required in this varied curriculum, programs working with adolescents, private day care, and other programs such as Peace Core.

Graduates often select graduate programs in one of the concentrations of health and nutrition, food science, retail or hospitality, family studies, educational administration or school counseling. Research opportunities are varied and usually relate to the vision and mission of family and consumer sciences.

Requirements