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Family and Consumer Sciences Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) FCSE1.jpg

Family and Consumer Sciences Bachelor's Degree (B.S.)

Family and Consumer Sciences Bachelor's Degree (B.S.)

Family and Consumer Sciences at Messiah University 

Your enthusiasm for teaching healthy relationships and essential life skills can lead to a rewarding career in a profession that is currently in high demand.

Passionate about the well-being of children, teenagers and their families? Thinking about a career focused on equipping young people with critical life skills which will enhance their professional and personal lives? Messiah University’s fully accredited family and consumer sciences education major may be the correct fit for you. One of only two FCS programs in the state, Messiah’s program equips you with a K-12 teaching certification that enables you to teach courses in child development, family dynamics, foods and nutrition, and more. 

As a family and consumer sciences major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:

  • Actively engage in learning about human development and family science, education, food and nutrition, resource management and early childhood education.
  • Attend professional conferences and co-present papers with faculty.
  • Join the Messiah University Council on Family Relations (MCCFR) – a student professional organization affiliated with the National Council on Family Relations.
  • Become actively involved in the Pennsylvania Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (PAFCS), a state branch of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).
  • Discover the connections of Family and Consumer Sciences and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)- it is a national career and Technical Student Organization.
  • Study abroad for a semester or participate in a three-week cross-cultural trip.
  • Be well prepared to pursue graduate studies in counseling, higher education and more.
  • Develop an independent study program in an area of family science that particularly interests you.
  • Network with others at the department retreat, alumni career panel or (as appropriate) through the "Men of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS)" group.
  • Join the student ambassador program and share information and your enthusiasm about the department with prospective students.
  • Earn a Smith Scholar Internship, which allows qualified students to work in apprentice relationships with faculty members.

As a graduate of the family and consumer sciences education program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:

  • Family and consumer sciences teacher
  • Case manager
  • Parent mentors
  • Youth counselors
  • Early intervention teacher
  • Pre-school teacher

There are numerous job opportunities outside of education, as well, including apparel, textile, design and merchandising, food science and nutrition, housing, interior design and human environments, resource management, hospitality and event planning.

For more information on career planning for the family and consumer sciences education program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education majors engage in multiple experiential learning opportunities.

  • You will experience in-school placement during your sophomore, junior and senior years. You'll gain exposure to both urban and suburban schools, as well as middle and high school contexts.
  • Seniors participate in a 12-week student teaching experience.
  • You will design and implement instructional plans for the family and consumer sciences classroom.
  • You will interact with various populations of people and agencies through service-learning course requirements.

Program emphasis

As a result of this program, you will be prepared to teach students basic skills for independent living. You’ll take advantage of leadership opportunities in all four areas of family and consumer sciences instruction: financial and resource management; balancing family, work and community responsibility; food science and nutrition; and child development. You may even attend professional conferences, co-present papers with faculty or study abroad for a semester.

Hands-on learning opportunities

Beyond the classroom, the family and consumer sciences major at Messiah will give you many hands-on opportunities to participate in school settings, develop curricula and work one-on-one with our faculty. You will take courses in human development and family science, education, food and nutrition, and early childhood education.The curriculum includes at least four public schools, middle and high school, urban and suburban and early childhood practicum/student teaching experiences through the four year program. And, to top it off, graduates are in high demand. There are frequently more job offers than graduates to fill them.

Family and consumer science is a hands-on discipline at its core. Many courses will require hands-on projects and applications to real life beyond the classroom setting. You can also join the Pennsylvania Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, our state professional organization as well as Messiah University Council on Family Relations (MCCFR) – a student professional organization affiliated with the National Council on Family Relations.

View Courses

Students in the family and consumer sciences education program take a selection of courses that successfully prepare them for a career in a related field.
View Courses

First year student scholarships available

Scholarships available for graduating high school seniors admitted to the Family and Consumer Sciences program at Messiah University
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