Family Consumer Science Education (BS)

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Program Requirements

Required General Education

This course emphasizes cognitive, emotional, and social development within our diverse society. Multi-generational local and national-level underrepresented/diverse family forms and practices are highlighted, relating to inter/intrapersonal communication, conflict resolution, mate selection, marriage/family dynamics, sexual development, family strengths, stress and crisis, parenting, decision-making, parent-child relationships, and the balancing act of family and work. As an introductory level course, no prerequisite knowledge is required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-05
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

An introductory nutrition class which emphasizes the scientific method and natural science principles from biochemistry, physiology, chemistry, and other sciences to explain the relationships between food and its use by the human body for energy, regulation, structure, and optimal health. GE-3 non-lab

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-03

Addresses drugs and drug use from psychological, behavioral, pharmacological, historical, legal and clinical perspectives - while examining the effects of drug use on personal health and social functioning.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-05

Major Common Core

An overview of the scope of family consumer sciences and the career potentials of the profession.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-02

Relationship of clothing to people from cultural, social, psychological, economic and aesthetic perspectives.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Introduces students to basic food science, food preparation and culinary techniques. The course is taught from the lens of different global cultures and the roles of individuals and nations in a global context using food habits as a model. Foods from around the world are prepared by students to develop culinary skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Physical, psychological, social, and managerial aspects of housing. Reciprocal relationship between housing and people. Guidelines and basic principles in planning for individual and family needs.

Prerequisites:
none

Economic decision making related to achieving maximum satisfaction from resources spent in the marketplace on housing, food, clothing, transportation, and other dimensions of the family. Basic information about the functions and responsibilities of the consumer, laws and agencies affecting consumer well-being and sources of help.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Nature and scope of family and consumer sciences (FCS) education for grades 5-12. Principles and application of traditional, career/technical and critical science FCS education perspectives studied. Presentation of varied FCS teaching methods and techniques.

Prerequisites:
none

Study of the family from a historical perspective; in terms of the family system and the broader ecological system; in terms of stresses faced and coping responses. This course will address issues at each of four life stages: infancy and early childhood; the school years; transition from school to adult life; and the adult years.

Prerequisites:
none

Introduction to principles and hands on application of construction techniques for clothing and home furnishings. Emphasis on terminology, equipment, application and practice of sewing skills. Emphasis on consumer aspect of textiles and applications. Student projects will be aligned with sewing skills and experience.

Prerequisites:
none

This class will explore why, how, and when physical and chemical phenomena occur during the preparation of food. Includes discussion and laboratory experience demonstrating how preparation methods affect food quality, composition, and nutritive value. Includes National Restaurant Association ServSafe Certification.

Prerequisites:
FCS 150

An analysis of culturally diverse family systems in America; emphasis on relationships within the family and with the larger community across the family life cycle.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Students are provided information of past and present policies that impact underserved families nationally and internationally. Students will identify, review, and discuss family policy using relevant and applicable theory. This course will advance student knowledge for careers in family policy as well as becoming an ethically-minded advocate and/or professional. Students will be provided a variety of opportunities to develop their knowledge and professional writing skills in the subject matter.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Introduce students to the how's and why's of family financial management to reduce mistakes made in successfully managing financial aspects of life. For non-business majors.

Prerequisites:
none

Curriculum development,implementation, and administration of family consumer science educational programs for youth of varied abilities, interests, and socioeconomic levels. 12 hour program clinical required. For FCS Education majors only; unless permission from instructor.

Prerequisites:
none

A systems perspective on parent-child relationship. This course covers parent-child issues during the stages of human development. It also focuses on special needs children and families, cross-cultural issues and family violence. Emphasis is on research and theory and parenting education strategies.

Prerequisites:
none

Explores biological, physiological, and sociological perspectives of human sexuality. The course examines personal and family relationships and addresses family life and sex education teaching methods for school and community settings.

Prerequisites:
none

Other Graduation Requirements

See the K-12 Teaching Programs section of the catalog for admission requirements for professional education and for a list of required professional education courses.
All students seeking a teaching license must meet and maintain the requirements to be admitted into professional education.

4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 14 Credits

This course emphasizes cognitive, emotional, and social development within our diverse society. Multi-generational local and national-level underrepresented/diverse family forms and practices are highlighted, relating to inter/intrapersonal communication, conflict resolution, mate selection, marriage/family dynamics, sexual development, family strengths, stress and crisis, parenting, decision-making, parent-child relationships, and the balancing act of family and work. As an introductory level course, no prerequisite knowledge is required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-05
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

An introductory nutrition class which emphasizes the scientific method and natural science principles from biochemistry, physiology, chemistry, and other sciences to explain the relationships between food and its use by the human body for energy, regulation, structure, and optimal health. GE-3 non-lab

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-03
General Education Course * 4 credits
General Education Course * 4 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

An overview of the scope of family consumer sciences and the career potentials of the profession.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-02

Introduces students to basic food science, food preparation and culinary techniques. The course is taught from the lens of different global cultures and the roles of individuals and nations in a global context using food habits as a model. Foods from around the world are prepared by students to develop culinary skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Addresses drugs and drug use from psychological, behavioral, pharmacological, historical, legal and clinical perspectives - while examining the effects of drug use on personal health and social functioning.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-05
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Elective Course * 3 credits

Second Year

Fall - 18 Credits

Relationship of clothing to people from cultural, social, psychological, economic and aesthetic perspectives.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Economic decision making related to achieving maximum satisfaction from resources spent in the marketplace on housing, food, clothing, transportation, and other dimensions of the family. Basic information about the functions and responsibilities of the consumer, laws and agencies affecting consumer well-being and sources of help.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Physical, psychological, social, and managerial aspects of housing. Reciprocal relationship between housing and people. Guidelines and basic principles in planning for individual and family needs.

Prerequisites:
none

Nature and scope of family and consumer sciences (FCS) education for grades 5-12. Principles and application of traditional, career/technical and critical science FCS education perspectives studied. Presentation of varied FCS teaching methods and techniques.

Prerequisites:
none

Explores biological, physiological, and sociological perspectives of human sexuality. The course examines personal and family relationships and addresses family life and sex education teaching methods for school and community settings.

Prerequisites:
none
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits

Third Year

Fall - 16 Credits

In this course, teacher candidates will explore the equitable use of current and new technologies to support the wide range of student learning variability, while addressing safe, culturally responsive, and ethical use. Teacher candidates will also discuss innovative educational technologies to reflect on their use for professional, personal, and community purposes.

Prerequisites:
none

The purpose of this course is for teacher candidates to engage in self-reflection to deeply explore their intersectional identity. Furthermore, teacher candidates will examine historic and ongoing systemic inequities in education. Finally, teacher candidates will analyze the implications of systemic oppression on pedagogy, curriculum, communication, relationships, and learning in classrooms.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-11, GE-7A
Diverse Cultures:
Gold

The purpose of this course is for teacher candidates to apply a critical lens to unit and lesson planning to foster critical thinking, discussion, engagement, and inquiry. Teacher candidates will examine cognitive processes associated with learning. Teacher candidates will also explore theory and methods to develop equitable, accessible, and culturally sustaining learning experiences to eliminate barriers to learning, including asset-based pedagogy, and identity affirming classroom environments.

Prerequisites:
none

Study of the family from a historical perspective; in terms of the family system and the broader ecological system; in terms of stresses faced and coping responses. This course will address issues at each of four life stages: infancy and early childhood; the school years; transition from school to adult life; and the adult years.

Prerequisites:
none

This class will explore why, how, and when physical and chemical phenomena occur during the preparation of food. Includes discussion and laboratory experience demonstrating how preparation methods affect food quality, composition, and nutritive value. Includes National Restaurant Association ServSafe Certification.

Prerequisites:
FCS 150

An analysis of culturally diverse family systems in America; emphasis on relationships within the family and with the larger community across the family life cycle.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Spring - 15 Credits

In this course teacher candidates will critically explore asset-based pedagogy grounded in anti-racist, culturally relevant, and responsive practices to differentiate instruction. Additionally, teacher candidates will explore their intersectional identity and the importance of ongoing self-reflective practices necessary to cultivate identity affirming learning environments and experiences for students. Finally, teacher candidates examine instructional strategies that model and explain concepts and skills in multiple ways to support the diverse needs of students.

Prerequisites:
none

Introduction to principles and hands on application of construction techniques for clothing and home furnishings. Emphasis on terminology, equipment, application and practice of sewing skills. Emphasis on consumer aspect of textiles and applications. Student projects will be aligned with sewing skills and experience.

Prerequisites:
none

In this course teacher candidates will explore strategies to cultivate learning experiences that are equitable, culturally relevant, justice-oriented, student-centered, and meaningful. Candidates will have an opportunity to create a unit plan, formative and summative assessments, and rubrics that emphasize multiple ways of expressing learning. Furthermore, candidates will examine grading practices and methods for providing/sharing feedback that supports learner variability and facilitating student ownership of their learning.

Prerequisites:
none

Students are provided information of past and present policies that impact underserved families nationally and internationally. Students will identify, review, and discuss family policy using relevant and applicable theory. This course will advance student knowledge for careers in family policy as well as becoming an ethically-minded advocate and/or professional. Students will be provided a variety of opportunities to develop their knowledge and professional writing skills in the subject matter.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple
General Education Course * 3 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

In this course, teacher candidates will explore strategies to build strong relationships with and advocate for students, families, and the community. Candidates will examine ways that the curriculum addresses multiple perspectives, cultures and backgrounds to emphasize culturally sustaining learning experiences. They will explore professional responsibilities and teacher leadership roles. Finally, teachers will examine ways to use data and information gathered from the students, school, and caregivers to advocate and support students for positive change.

Prerequisites:
none

In this course, teacher candidates investigate how traditional methods of reading instruction can contribute to systemic oppression in classrooms and how anti-oppressive methods can help break the cycle of inequities in education. Teacher candidates apply understanding of systemic oppression and inequity to provide asset-based, ongoing support for students. This includes knowledge and implementation of content area reading instruction, recognizing the characteristics of reading disabilities and implementing accommodations to meet student needs, and using the language development framework to support multilingual learners.

Prerequisites:
none

Introduce students to the how's and why's of family financial management to reduce mistakes made in successfully managing financial aspects of life. For non-business majors.

Prerequisites:
none

Curriculum development,implementation, and administration of family consumer science educational programs for youth of varied abilities, interests, and socioeconomic levels. 12 hour program clinical required. For FCS Education majors only; unless permission from instructor.

Prerequisites:
none

A systems perspective on parent-child relationship. This course covers parent-child issues during the stages of human development. It also focuses on special needs children and families, cross-cultural issues and family violence. Emphasis is on research and theory and parenting education strategies.

Prerequisites:
none

Spring - 12 Credits

In this seminar, teacher candidates will reflect upon and assess /discuss practices, experiences, challenges, and success in their student teaching experience.

Prerequisites:
none

In this course, teacher candidates apply learning from coursework to practice in the 5-12 classroom.

Prerequisites:
admission to student teaching.

Degree
Bachelor of Science

Major Credits
76

Total Credits
120

Locations
Mankato

Career Cluster
Education and Training

Accreditation
CAEP
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation


This program satisfies licensure-to-practice standards for Minnesota and may satisfy standards for other states or US territories.

Licensure/Certification Disclosure