Bachelor of Science in Family Studies (Family and Consumer Science)

The B.S. in Family Studies with a Family and Consumer Sciences emphasis prepares students for careers focused on family and community services, consumerism, and education. The course content allows students to develop an interdisciplinary, broad-based view of how people interact with and are shaped by their environments. It is not a certification degree, so students interested in teacher certification within the field of Family and Consumer Sciences will need additional course work and training after the completion of the degree.

The Family Studies curriculum has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as meeting the Standards and Criteria required for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Relevant course work for each of the 10 family life substance areas needed for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator designation is included in the degree program. Courses noted with an asterisk (*) must be completed in order to qualify for the abbreviated CFLE application process.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Identify programs and services that improve families and communities​.
  2. Assist families and individuals with quality of life decisions​.
  3. Engage in problem-solving and decision-making.
  4. Effectively communicate both orally and in writing.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120   

Major: 58 SCH 

Program Code: FAMLYSTUD.BS.FCS;   CIP Code: 19.0701.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

HDFS 1001Seminar in Family Sciences1
HDFS 1513Human Development (*)3
HDFS 1603Child in the Family and Community3
HDFS 2003Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective (*)3
HDFS 3533Research Methods in Family Sciences3
HDFS 3613Crisis in the American Family (*)3
HDFS 3633Older Persons and the Family3
HDFS 3713Family Housing3
HDFS 3733Family Life and Consumer Education3
HDFS 4523Family Development (*)3
HDFS 4543Developmental Sexuality (*)3
HDFS 4583Parenting Issues and Education (*)3
HDFS 4603Occupational Issues in Family Sciences (*)3
HDFS 4713Family Economics3
or HDFS 4733 Family Financial Planning
HDFS 4773Family Resource Management (*)3
HDFS 4803Public Policy: Family Sciences Perspectives (*)3
HDFS 4923Professional Development in Family Sciences (Grade of "B" or better required)3
HDFS 4943Practicum in Family Sciences (*) Grade of "B" or better required)3
Pick 2 of the following:6
Family Changes and Diversity
Communication in Marriage and Family
Adolescent Development Within the Family
Housing and Families
Time Management for Families
Total SCHs58

The Family Studies curriculum has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as meeting the Standards and Criteria required for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Relevant course work for each of the 10 family life substance areas needed for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator designation is included in the degree program. Courses noted with an asterisk (*) must be completed in order to qualify for the abbreviated CFLE application process.

FCS Track

HDFS 4233Applied Design for Home and Family3
HDFS 4703Methods of Teaching in Family And Consumer Sciences3
EDUC 2003Schools and Society3
FT 1013Principles and Techniques of Design Construction3
NFS 1301Food Preparation Principles Laboratory1
NFS 1302Food Preparation Principles2
NFS 2343Nutritional Management for the Family and Child3
Electives2
Total SCHs20

 Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
HDFS 1513Human Development 3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
MATH 1013Financial and Quantitative Literacy MATH 13323
 SCHs 13
SpringTCCN
HDFS 1001Seminar in Family Sciences (Must take during 1st or 2nd semester) 1
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Creative Arts Core3
Social & Behavioral Sciences Core3
Wellness Core2
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
HDFS 1603Child in the Family and Community TECA 13033
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core3
Life & Physical Sciences Core3
Multicultural Women's Studies Core3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HDFS 2003Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective 3
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
NFS 1301Food Preparation Principles Laboratory 1
NFS 1302Food Preparation Principles 2
FT 1013Principles and Techniques of Design Construction 3
Life & Physical Sciences Core3
 SCHs 15
SummerTCCN
NFS 2343Nutritional Management for the Family and Child (only offered in the summer) 3
HDFS 4233Applied Design for Home and Family 3
 SCHs 6
Third Year
FallTCCN
EDUC 2003Schools and Society EDUC 13013
HDFS 3613Crisis in the American Family 3
HDFS 3733Family Life and Consumer Education 3
HDFS 4523Family Development 3
HDFS 4543Developmental Sexuality 3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HDFS 3533Research Methods in Family Sciences 3
HDFS 3633Older Persons and the Family 3
HDFS 3713Family Housing 3
HDFS 4583Parenting Issues and Education 3
 SCHs 12
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
HDFS 4603Occupational Issues in Family Sciences 3
HDFS 4713Family Economics 3
HDFS 4773Family Resource Management 3
HDFS 4803Public Policy: Family Sciences Perspectives 3
HDFS 4923Professional Development in Family Sciences 3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HDFS 4703Methods of Teaching in Family And Consumer Sciences 3
HDFS 4943Practicum in Family Sciences 3
HDFS 5153Family Changes and Diversity 3
HDFS 5243Adolescent Development Within the Family 3
Electives2
 SCHs 14
 Total SCHs:  120

** Please note that this plan of study only includes two summer courses. Students can reduce the number of courses taken in Fall and Spring if they opt to take additional courses in the summer.