Program: B.S., Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Program Description
Family and Consumer Sciences encompasses the study of the relationships among people and their personal environments. The department focuses on the impact of the physical, biological, social and economic environments on human behavior and development. Students who major in Family and Consumer Sciences learn to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities by providing practical solutions to problems involving food science and nutrition, apparel and interior design, child rearing and family relations, and family and consumer economics.
Students select from six areas of study: Apparel Design and Merchandising; Consumer Affairs; Family and Consumer Sciences Education; Family Studies; Interior Design; and Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science. All Family and Consumer Sciences majors take five Core courses that include concepts common to all specializations, as well as courses in their options. The department offers experiential learning opportunities through its lab and studio courses and the Child and Family Studies Laboratory, the Consumer Resource Center and the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. All Family and Consumer Sciences majors gain practical experience through internships in professional settings. Students gain leadership skills through the Student Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Kappa Omicron Nu national honor society.
Program Requirements
A. Core Courses Required of All Options (14 units)
FCS 170 Creative Expression in Family and Consumer Sciences (2)
FCS 232 Individual and Family Development (3)
FCS 320 Family Resource Management (3)
FCS 380 Family and Consumer Sciences Foundations and Research (3)
FCS 494 Academic Internship (2)
FCS 494I Academic Internship Evaluation (1)
B. Family and Consumer Sciences Education Option
BIOL 101L General Biology Lab (1)
CHEM 110 Chemistry in Action (3)
CHEM 110L Chemistry in Action Lab (1)
FCS 150/L Apparel Construction I and Lab (2/1)
FCS 160 Introductory Textiles (3)
FCS 201/L Introductory Food Science and Lab (2/1)
FCS 207 Nutrition for Life (3)
FCS 303 Cultural Aspects of Food and Nutrition (3)
or FCS 309 Maternal, Infant and Child Nutrition (3)
FCS 321/L Contemporary Issues in Food and Nutrition and Lab (2/1)
FCS 322/L Equipment I and Lab (2/1)
FCS 324 Consumer Rights, Issues and Problems (3)
FCS 330 Child Growth and Development I (3)
FCS 340 Marriage and Family Relations (3)
General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.
15 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CHEM 110 satisfies B1 Physical Science; BIOL 101 satisfies B2 Life Science; BIOL 101L satisfies B3 Science Laboratory Activity; FCS 315 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; FCS 340 and FCS 357 satisfy D1 Social Sciences; and FCS 207 satisfies E Lifelong Learning and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 61
General Education Units: 33
Additional Units: 26
Total Units for the B.S. Degree: 120
Contact
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Chair: Yi Cai
Sequoia Hall (SQ) 141
(818) 677-3051
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of human ecological theory and the integrative nature of the family and consumer sciences profession.
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge from their program of study to current and future issues of well-being for individuals, families and global communities.
- Demonstrate knowledge of ethical standards.
- Apply professional practice standards and skills.