What to Expect
Family and consumer science students gain a sense of the importance of
family life, how it's affected by the world around us and how it can be improved
for the benefit of society as a whole.
Jennifer Moroskat majored in textiles, clothing and culture. She took such
classes as textile science, textile and apparel design, textile conservation
and curatorship, as well as cross-cultural textiles.
Classes outside of her major included marketing, art, art history, chemistry,
computers, economics and statistics.
Students majoring in textiles, Moroskat notes, must also participate in
a practicum placement.
"Some students have gained experience in video or print media, marketing,
museum curatorship, costume design and commercial window displays," she says.
Taras Jereniuk took all the standard classes within the consumer sciences
major and then focused his electives in business and marketing.
"Dare to be different," he says. "A lot of people don't know what
human ecology is. If you understand the basics as well as the background,
you can sell it to your employer. It can help you stick out a bit from the
other applicants."
Kathryn Kirby took graduate studies in family and consumer science at Harding
University in Arkansas. She loved it.
"Every class you take is applicable in your life every day," she
says.
Some of Kirby's classes included consumer economics, family financial management,
nutrition food science, meal management, home technology, housing and home
furnishing, human lifespan, early childhood, parenting, textiles and sewing.
Kirby says it is common for many of these classes to have labs.
Since she was a graduate student, she was also a student-teacher for a semester.
Survival Tips
The program has a variety of specializations to offer, Moroskat says. "I
took courses in as many areas as possible, mostly because all of them interested
me, but also because I wanted to leave many career options open," she says.
"I would advise students to plan all four years of their program in
advance, so you have a definite outline as to what courses you will have
when you graduate. Take a variety of introductory courses, but only pursue
those that you are passionate about."
Kirby suggests students get involved in clubs and activities and
take advantage of leadership opportunities.
"You should also take your classes seriously. A low GPA is very
hard to bring up," she says.