The Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) program trains students to become family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers in middle and high schools. FCS teachers in this area are in high demand across Utah and the nation because they are qualified to teach many different subject areas, including apparel and textile construction, nutrition and foods, interior design, child and human development, financial literacy, and more. USU's family and consumer sciences education students boast nearly 100% pass rate on the Praxis exam (required of all teachers) and 100% job placement after they graduate.
The department works closely with the Nutrition, Dietetics, and Foods Sciences Department, Interior Design Program, Human Development and Family Studies Department, and the Secondary Education Department, to ensure that students receive a broad and well-rounded education. This major also provides undergraduate preparation for the Utah Extension service.
Emphases:
- School-Based Family & Consumer Sciences Education: The school-based FCSE emphasis prepares students to meet state teacher certification requirements to teach FCS content in public, charter and private schools. Students can become school-based FCS teachers and FCCLA advisors in middle, junior and high schools. School-based FCS teachers educate students on a wide variety of subjects, including financial literacy, human relationships, child development, apparel and textile construction, interior design, nutrition and foods, FCCLA leadership, analytical thinking and problem solving. Students have the unique opportunity to work with mentor teachers starting their junior year to receive instruction and build professional relationships with mentor teachers before they enter the classroom as student teachers. Upon successful completion of student teaching, students are eligible to apply and receive a secondary teaching license in the state of Utah.
- Community-Based Family & Consumer Sciences Education: This emphasis prepares students for outreach and education in nonformal settings and community engagement. Students will develop a diverse background in FCS content areas. The curriculum includes courses in all the FCS areas: financial literacy, human relationships, child development, apparel and textile construction, interior design, nutrition and foods, and FCCLA leadership. Additional courses in nonformal education include: nonformal teaching methods, volunteer programs, community programming and evaluation, and youth development. Students will also gain knowledge about communication, analytical reasoning, critical thinking, effective writing and teamwork. Students will complete two internships in a community-based emphasis starting their junior year with an FCS-based business, public or private agency, commodity organization, nonprofit organization or extension office. Students may take some additional course work to obtain a Family Finance Minor.
Education Component:
In order to obtain a secondary teaching license for grades 6-12, students must complete the 35-credit Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), which includes one semester of student teaching in a public school. This program is administered by USU's School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. These courses are taught in addition to the subject content taught through the School of Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education.
Students in the family and consumer sciences education program do not need to have a minor because the program provides students with knowledge in several subject areas, therefore, expanding their career options.