FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Peterson Hall
206-281-2195
www.spu.edu/depts/fcs

FACULTY: Raedene Copeland, Joey Freeman, Daniela Geleva, Sandra Hartje, Sharleen Kato, Jaeil Lee, Beth Miller, Gaile Moe

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) is a multidisciplinary field of study integrating and applying knowledge from research within the discipline, the natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the arts.

Using basic principles from these disciplines, family and consumer sciences offers solutions to problems faced by individuals, families, and communities. Students can major in the following:

• Secondary family and consumer sciences education
• Individual and family development
• Food and nutritional sciences
• Clothing and textiles
• Interior design

The program provides a strong undergraduate background for those students wishing to attend graduate school. Practicum and internship experiences are available in related industries, public service, and government, and are an integral part of the curriculum.

Admission to the Majors

Admission to the food and nutrition major requires completion of the following courses: BIO 2129, BIO 2130, CHM 1211, CMH 1330, FCS 1050, and FCS 2365 or FCS 3340. A grade of C- or higher in each of these courses is required. An overall GPA of 2.8 or higher is required for the dietetics emphasis; an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for the other food and nutrition emphasizes.

Formal application to the interior design major should be made upon the completion of the following courses: FCS 1050, Art 1102, FCS 1710, FCS 2702 and FCS 2204. Admission to the major requires an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher and a GPA of 2.8 or higher in the five courses previously listed. More specific requirements for the application process will be available in the department, but will include submitting a completed application form, a color board presentation, a short essay, and current transcripts. Applications will be reviewed during Spring Quarter.      

Admission to all other FCS majors and specializations requires completion of at least three FCS courses and an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

The application for major status should be by the junior year. Faculty must approve all admissions. A student must complete the major requirements in effect when the student is admitted to the major.

Requirements for the Majors
Family and consumer sciences views families as the fundamental social unit, and understanding individuals and families is central to each FCS major. The FCS general major prepares students to understand individuals and families and to motivate students to use their specialization knowledge to affect the direction of our culture through service to families and communities.

A variety of degree programs are available in family and consumer sciences, each built around a common core of courses designated as the family and consumer science core curriculum. Of the total credits required for a family and consumer science major, 25 credits must be upper-division credits.

Core Curriculum Required for All FCS Majors.

Individual and Family Development Major
The individual and family development major is intended to prepare students to understand individuals and families, and to use their specialization knowledge to affect the direction of our culture through service to families in business, social service, and educational settings. The major includes supplementary upper-division coursework in sociology, psychology, and health sciences. All majors take the family and consumer sciences core.

Requirements for Individual and Family Development Major.

Family and Consumer Sciences Secondary Education Major
The B.A. degree is offered in secondary family and consumer sciences education. All students working toward this degree are required to take the family and consumer sciences core and the required courses in the major to meet the endorsement standards in secondary certification.

Students who complete required courses in the major also meet endorsement standards in secondary certification. Students who complete the required courses in the major for secondary certification also meet state standards for certification in FCS career and technical education.

Students seeking teacher certification in family and consumer education at the secondary level must meet the requirements of the teacher education program. For complete FCS secondary education requirements, see the School of Education.

Requirements for FCS Secondary Education Major.

Food and Nutritional Sciences Major
The B.S. degree is offered in food and nutritional sciences. All majors must take the family and consumer sciences core courses and all required food and nutritional science courses, and specialized courses in one of three areas of study. Chemistry and biology prerequisite courses are best completed by the junior year.

The dietetics emphasis (DPD) in the food and nutritional sciences program, also known as the didactic program in dietetics, is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, which you can contact at:

• Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995
• Phone: 312-899-0040, extension 5400
• Web: www.eatright.org/cade

Students who complete the dietetics specialization are eligible to apply for a dietetic internship at another institution. Successful completion of the dietetic internship confers eligibility for the national registration exam for dietitians. If passed, the student becomes a registered dietitian (R.D.).

Requirements for the Food and Nutritional Sciences Major - Dietetics Emphasis

Requirements for the Food and Nutritional Sciences Major - Food and Nutrition Emphasis

Requirements for the Food and Nutritional Sciences Major - Sports and Exercise Emphasis

Post-Baccalaureate Students Seeking to Fulfill Didactic Program Requirements
Post-baccalaureate students, or those who have already completed an undergraduate degree, may also apply to the DPD program.

Individuals interested in this option should contact the DPD director early to discuss admission and program requirements. Course requirements for non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate students desiring to fulfill didactic program requirements are the same as those for the dietetics emphasis except that FCS 1050 and FCS 3240 are omitted.

Clothing and Textiles Major
The B.A. degree is offered in clothing and textiles. The curriculum is designed to train individuals for careers in the areas of retail merchandising, apparel manufacturing, and advertising.

Requirements for the Clothing and Textiles Major - Apparel Design Emphasis

Requirements for the Clothing and Textiles Major - Fashion Merchandising Emphasis

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Students in the clothing and textiles program who have major status and have maintained over a 3.0 GPA may select from nine additional specializations if they are accepted into the liaison program with the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Specializations offered through the liaison program with FIT include accessories design; advertising and communication; advertising design; manufacturing management; fashion design; fashion buying and merchandising; jewelry design; textile/surface design; or textile development and marketing. Students considering this option should seek advisement early in their academic careers in order to meet the requirements of both FIT and SPU.

Interior Design Major

The B.A. degree is offered in interior design, with two possible tracks, one in interior design and the second in interior merchandising.

Both tracks involve interdisciplinary courses with art, business, and family and consumer sciences. A student chapter of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) is on campus to assist students as they prepare for entrance into the  professional design community. Principles of universal design and sustainability are integrated into all studio courses.

Curriculum for the interior design track was developed to educate and train individuals for a variety of entry-level positions in interior design, including residential, commercial and hospitality design, as well as in specialization areas such as lighting.

Curriculum for the merchandising track was developed to educate and train individuals for a variety of entry-level positions in retail or wholesale, operations, sales, and promotion components of merchandising products used in interior spaces, such as furniture, textiles, and lighting. Students can apply directly for admission into either interior design major track – design or merchandising. However, a maximum of 16 students will be accepted into the design track each year.

Requirements for the Interior Design Major - Interior Design Emphasis

Requirements for the Interior Design Major - Interior Merchandising Emphasis

Requirements for the Minors
Three minors are offered:

• Individual and Family Development
• Food and Nutritional Sciences
• Clothing and Textiles

A minimum of 30 credits in family and consumer sciences, including 15 upper-division credits, are required for each of the three minors.

Minor in Individual and Family Development
Minor in Food and Nutritional Sciences
Minor in Clothing and Textiles

Integrated Studies Major with a concentration in Health and Fitness

(For students seeking K-8 certification)

Students who are planning to obtain elementary school certification and are interested in health and fitness must major in the integrated studies major with a concentration in health and fitness.

• The concentration consists of courses in nutrition, health, and physical education.

• Application (PDF) to this major is through the advisor for the Health and Fitness concentration, JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner ( jaas@spu.edu ).

• Further information on the elementary certification program is available in the School of Education section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Requirements for Integrated Studies: Health and Fitness concentration

Requirements for Elementary Certification

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