Family Life

In this major, you will learn techniques to help families create satisfying experiences for members of all ages and needs. Give them the tools they need to develop enriching relationships and to manage time, money and work. Help them to be wise consumers of products and media. Equip them with skills to address the needs of others in their community and in the world. Teach principles of sustainable living to empower people to make “greener” choices.

Graduates work for child care centers, community development organizations, government agencies and private companies

In class, study how to provide environments that support each family member’s unique intellectual, social and developmental needs. Learn how to guide families as they make choices about basic needs such as housing, money, and food and nutrition. Learn about managing money, obtaining credit and creating household budgets. Explore how to balance work responsibilities with family life. Understand how to evaluate consumer products for quality, safety and value.

Students are encouraged to complete an internship the summer between their junior and senior year.

Prepare for Success

This major is a good fit if you can see yourself:

• Helping families of all types, with members of all ages.
• Exploring the nuances of human relationships.
• Taking a hands-on approach to improving quality of life for others.

To prepare, you may want to:

• Volunteer in your community.
• Work with children, the elderly or other special-needs groups.
• Develop your leadership skills in student office.

Your First Year

Your first year, you will hone your communication skills with course work in writing. You will also take classes that focus on individual and family development and family and consumer sciences.

More advanced major courses cover topics such as consumer economics, contemporary family relationships and parent-child relationships.

See the four-year plan.

What You Can Do

With this degree, you’ll have job possibilities like:

• Family counselor: Help families identify and address their needs. Help support families experiencing domestic violence, substance abuse, or illness and grief.
• Work-life specialist: Provide company employees with resources and referrals for child care, elder care, and other work-life needs.
• Family advocate: Promote laws and programs that improve life for families.

• Family life educator: Provide families with educational materials, programs, and guidance that enable healthy choices in relationships, marriage, nutrition, finances, housing and care for members with special needs.
• Financial counselor: Help families manage household and personal finances.

Opportunities

Graduates work for child care centers, community development organizations, government agencies and private companies with starting salaries of up to $50,000.

You may also choose to continue your education. Earn an advanced degree in nursing, social work, counseling, psychology, or speech and language pathology.

Current Research

Gather, organize and analyze data with a faculty member. Administer surveys for a study on how single parents balance work and family. Help determine the results of an abstinence-only program for teens. Study the feasibility of delivering family and consumer sciences education via podcast.

Activities

Family and Consumer Sciences Club: Join the student branch. Attend an annual state conference and meet professionals in the field.
Food and Nutrition Club: Travel to local and national conferences.
Phi Upsilon Omicron: Join the national honor society in family and consumer sciences.

Hands-On Experience

Intern. Get practical experience in professional settings such as these:

• Hospital: Write a resource booklet for families with elderly members facing memory loss.
• Consumer credit agency: Meet with families to develop household budgets.
• Youth center: Write a grant proposal for a program to address anger in youth.

Study abroad. Deepen your understanding of your major—and the world—in countries like these:

• Mexico: Visit a youth center.
• India: Tour a nursing home.
• Taiwan: Observe a middle school classroom.

Facilities

The on-campus Child Development Laboratory offers a real-world setting to practice and learn.