Family and Consumer Sciences Education - BS, School-Based

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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education

About This Degree:

The Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) program trains students to become family and consumer sciences (FCS) educators in both school-based and community-based settings.

The program prepares students to enter a high-demand profession throughout the U.S. FCSE graduates are qualified to teach many subjects, including apparel and textile construction, nutrition and foods, interior design, child and human development, financial literacy, and more.

Students in the school-based program are qualified to teach in secondary settings and can advance to higher education with continued graduate degrees.

School-Based Family & Consumer Sciences Education Emphasis: 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 sophomore year to receive instruction and build professional relationships before entering the classroom as student teachers. Upon completing student teaching, students are eligible to apply for and obtain a secondary teaching license in Utah.

For more information about Family and Consumer Sciences Education, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor, Caisa Shoop, at c aisa.shoop@usu.edu or 435-797-2282.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 1050: College Algebra (QL) .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 3.0 GPA

Program Information

It is very important for each student to meet with the advisor to build a successful plan based on individual needs.

The program trains students to become family and consumer science teachers in middle and high schools through a well-rounded curriculum in teaching content areas.

The major includes study in nutrition, dietetics and food sciences; family and human development; interior design; apparel and textiles; and consumer sciences. Many states, including Utah, require a master’s degree to work for extension.

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. Student must apply to the School of TEAL the semester before taking STEP courses. This is usually the fall of their junior year. Students learn subject content through the Department of Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education and spend the last year or two studying education techniques through the STEP program. Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and a 3.0 major GPA to graduate and be recommended for teaching licensure.

For more information, contact the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Academic Advisor, Caisa Shoop, at c aisa.shoop@usu.edu or 435-797-2282.

Required Support Courses (12 credits)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) 4 credit(s)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s) (grade of C- or better)

Major Required Courses (90 credits)

A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.

FCSE 1350 - Financial Literacy (BSS) 3 credit(s)
FCSE 2040 - Intermediate Clothing Construction Skills, Principles and Alterations 3 credit(s)
FCSE 2350 - Financial Literacy 2 3 credit(s)
FCSE 2510 - Orientation to Family and Consumer Sciences Education 3 credit(s)
FCSE 3030 - Textile Science (DSC/QI) 4 credit(s)
FCSE 3040 - Advanced Clothing Studies: Patternmaking 3 credit(s) or
FCSE 4040 - Advanced Apparel Studies 3 credit(s)
FCSE 3080 - Fashion Studies and Society (DHA) 3 credit(s)
FCSE 3300 - Family and Consumer Sciences Education Clinical Experience I 1 credit(s)
FCSE 3400 - Family and Consumer Sciences Education Methods I 3 credit(s)
FCSE 3790 - Housing and Interior Design Teaching Methods 3 credit(s)
FCSE 4300 - Family and Consumer Sciences Education Clinical Experience II 1 credit(s)
FCSE 4400 - Family and Consumer Sciences Education Methods II 3 credit(s)
FCSE 5500 - Student Teaching Seminar 2 credit(s)
FCSE 5630 - Student Teaching in Secondary Schools 10 credit(s)
HDFS 1500 - Human Development Across the Lifespan (BSS) 3 credit(s)
HDFS 2400 - Couple and Family Relationships (BSS) 3 credit(s)
HDFS 2660 - Parenting and Child Guidance (HR) 3 credit(s)
HDFS 4550 - Preschool Methods and Curriculum 3 credit(s)
IAD 1750 - Design in Everyday Living (BCA) 3 credit(s)
ITLS 2500 - Technology Enabled Instruction 3 credit(s) or
ITLS 5500 - Integration and Innovation of Technology in Education 3 credit(s)
NDFS 1020 - Science and Application of Human Nutrition (BLS) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 1240 - Food Literacy 3 credit(s)
NDFS 2020 - Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle 3 credit(s)
NDFS 3070 - Science of Food Preparation 4 credit(s)
SCED 3210 - Educational and Multicultural Foundations (CI/DSS) 3 credit(s)
SCED 5100 - Motivation and Classroom Management 3 credit(s)
SCED 5200 - Language, Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (CI) 3 credit(s)
SCED 5210 - Learning Theory, Curriculum, and Assessment 3 credit(s) or
FCSE 4210 - Cognition and Evaluation of Student Learning in Career and Technical Education 3 credit(s)
SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities 3 credit(s)

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure and was designed to meet licensing qualifications in the state of Utah. If students wish to work in another state within the United States, they should review the qualifications for that state and the Education Licensure Compliance Table provided by School of Teacher Education and Leadership.

For more information, please contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at https://cehs.usu.edu/teal/

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 123

Suggested Degree Map

Family and Consumer Sciences Education BS, School-Based - 4 Year Degree Map