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Studies & Degrees in Family and Consumer Science

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) is the modern name of the field once known as home economics. The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) defines it as the field of study focused on the science and the art of living and working well in a complex world. It applies knowledge from nutrition, psychology, economics and design to everyday life in families and households. The discipline is strongest in the United States, where the professional association was founded in 1909 by Ellen H. Richards as the American Home Economics Association.

The same field may also be called human sciences, health and human sciences or human ecology. According to the AAFCS, its main content areas are:

  • culinary arts, hospitality and tourism
  • education and training
  • food science and nutrition
  • health management and wellness
  • housing and interior design
  • human and child development and family relations
  • personal and family finance
  • textiles, apparel and retailing

A general FCS degree gives an overview of all these areas. Many students choose a concentration in one of them or prepare to teach the subject in secondary schools.

Qualifications and levels

Bachelor's degree. This is the main qualification. Programmes combine courses across the content areas with research methods and a practical placement. The Major in Family and Consumer Sciences Education at Colorado State University is an example of the teaching route: it has 120 credits, students apply to the educator preparation programme in their third year, and they do placements in a middle school and a high school. Graduates meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, a Colorado initial teaching licence in FCS and a career and technical education endorsement. The university notes that licensure requirements in other US states may differ.

Other universities organise the field as a department with several specialised programmes. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin offers undergraduate programmes in child and family studies, dietetics, FCS education, fashion merchandising, food and nutrition, gerontology, and hospitality and food service management.

Master's degree. A master's deepens one area or prepares for leadership and college teaching. The University of Tennessee at Martin offers a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (MSFCS) in two options, dietetics and general.

Accreditation and licences. The AAFCS accredits undergraduate FCS programmes; its standards are designed for bachelor's degree programmes. The department at the University of Tennessee at Martin holds this accreditation. Teachers in public schools also need a state teaching licence. At The Ohio State University, for instance, the FCS Education programme ends with testing for an initial Ohio teaching licence.

Where to study family and consumer sciences

SpainExchange lists 11 schools for this subject: ten in the United States and one in Russia. The US programmes are taught in English. Schools on the list include Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the University of Tennessee at Martin, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Purdue University in Indiana and Sam Houston State University in Texas. Texas Tech University hosts the Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, which develops teaching materials for the subject and carries online curriculum materials for thirty-six FCS courses.

Programmes change, so check the current offer before applying. The Ohio State University states that its Family and Consumer Sciences Education major is discontinued as of autumn 2026; students already enrolled can remain in the major.

When comparing programmes, check whether the degree is a general FCS degree or a specialised one, whether the unit is accredited by the AAFCS, whether a teaching licence is included, and how much supervised practice it offers. International students who want to teach should bear in mind that a US state licence is valid for that state's school system, and that FCS does not exist as a separate school subject in every country.

Careers

According to the AAFCS, FCS professionals work in education at every level from early childhood to higher education, in community education for adults and young people (including Cooperative Extension programmes), in business and industry, in government, and in health and human services. The Ohio State University lists FCS teacher in grades 7 to 12, extension educator and entry-level management positions in business and industry as career paths.

In US employment statistics, FCS teachers fall under career and technical education teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 250,200 such teachers in 2025 and projects little or no change in employment from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,500 openings a year, mostly to replace teachers who leave the occupation. They typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and public school teachers may need a state-issued certification or licence.

Frequently asked questions

Is family and consumer sciences the same as home economics?

Yes, it is the current name of the same discipline. The AAFCS, the field's professional association in the United States, was founded in 1909 as the American Home Economics Association.

Do I need a licence to teach family and consumer sciences in the United States?

Public school teachers may be required to hold a state-issued teaching certification or licence, according to the BLS. Teacher education programmes such as the one at Colorado State University are designed to meet the requirements of their own state, and other states may have different rules.

Can I study family and consumer sciences outside the United States?

The degree under this name is mainly a US qualification: ten of the 11 schools in the SpainExchange directory are in the United States. In other countries the same topics are usually studied as separate degrees, such as nutrition, education or social work.