In 1996, the National Association of State Administrators for Family and Consumer Sciences Education (NASAFACS) worked on a project to develop National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), which were released in the spring of 1998 at a meeting of FCS representatives from the participating state. Every state has designed a model Academic Standards for Family and Consumer Education to support and complement the family’s role. The models support the development of knowledge and skills that students need as family members, skilled & non skilled workers, and dwellers in a diverse, global society, both now and in the future. At the national level academic standards are kept consistent with amendments.
Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Family and Consumer Sciences train students for their family life, work life, and careers. The education empowers students to deal with challenges in life and to work in diverse environments.
Several universities offer a Bachelors of Science (BS) degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with options in many disciplines such as consumer science, nutrition, parenting, human development, interior design, textiles, apparel design, family economics, consumer education, and resource management. Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offer:
- Family and Consumer Sciences Education –which prepares students for a secondary teacher certificate; and,
- Family and Consumer Sciences –which train students for a job in academic institutes, government, and industries.
Generally, all degree programs of Family and Consumer Sciences are accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), a national organization comprising of family and consumer sciences professionals.
Career in Family and Consumer Sciences
A wide variety of occupations can be found in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. Graduates can make careers as researchers, educationalists, teachers in vocational centers, marriage and family therapists, senior managers/ administrators in specialized fields, childcare workers, dietitians, service specialists, consumer specialists in business or industry, apparel & textile design merchandisers, etc.
Moreover, Family and Consumer Sciences skills are also used in some different career segments, such as:
- Arts, Audio-Video Technology & Communications
- Business and Industry
- Cooperative Extension Service
- Education & Training
- Government Service
- Marketing Sales & Service
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Health and Human Services
- Counselors
- Food Manufacturers
- Financial Institutions
- Management & Administration
- Public Agencies
- Public Utility Companies
- Retail Firms
For teachers, salaries depend on qualification, experience, skill, the size, and location of the school, and the amount of work required. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the starting salary for postsecondary teachers is about $63,790 per year. The median annual salary for college-level teachers is $61,970 per year. Teachers with professional courses earn a median annual salary of $68,580. The average salary for home economist jobs is $61,000. Average home economist salaries can vary greatly due to company, location, industry, experience, and benefits. According to the US Department of Education, the opportunity of jobs for teachers in this field is excellent throughout the nation.
Conclusion
The Family and Consumer Sciences Education program is so comprehensive that graduates can choose from a variety of career options such as business, industries, and social agencies.