Alabama's Public Liberal Arts University

Undergraduate Bulletin

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

 

Professor Andrews (Chair); Instructors Bell, Bloom, Julian, Kottmeyer; Adjunct Instructors Day, DeVane-Hart, Guess, Hayes, Ott.

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences provides professional programs related to individual and family well-being and contributes to the liberal education of students.

General Education

FCS 291 (Individual and Family Development) and FCS 402 (Marriage and Family Relationships) help fulfill the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement.

Degree

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers a baccalaureate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a total of five concentration areas: family and child studies, dietetics, family and consumer sciences education, interior design, and retail merchandising. All undergraduate programs are accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The Family and Consumer Sciences Education program is included in the unit accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The Child Study Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Didactic Program in Dietetics is currently granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-5400.

Major

The Family and Consumer Sciences major has concentrations in family and child studies, dietetics, family and consumer sciences education, interior design, and retail merchandising.

Students concentrating in family and child studies complete a professional internship. Those in family and consumer sciences education must fulfill all requirements for teacher education as outlined in the College of Education page of this Bulletin. Graduates of the family and consumer sciences education concentration are eligible to apply for a Class B teaching certificate. Students in interior design complete professional internships in residential and commercial interiors. Students in retail merchandising complete a business minor and a professional internship.

Family and child studies graduates pursue careers in human resources, child and family services, and preschool teaching and administration. Dietetics students meet requirements for the Didactic Program in Dietetics and, upon completion of the degree, are eligible to apply for a dietetic internship. Dietetics graduates are prepared for careers in clinical practice, research, foodservice systems management, etc. Family and consumer sciences education graduates teach in middle/high schools, work in the Cooperative Extension Service, and in related positions. Interior design graduates pursue careers in residential and commercial design, space planning, consulting, computer-aided design, and related areas. Graduates in retail merchandising pursue positions in buying and selling of merchandise, placing and training personnel, in management, and in other related areas.

All students who enroll in the following courses may be required to participate in the state-mandated background check program. See Department of Family and Consumer Sciences office for details. Courses: FCS 291, 389, 391, 392, 394, 400, 405, 462, and 494.

Minors

Non-majors may pursue minors in one of four areas.

The Family and Child Studies minor requires FCS 281, 291, 391, 400, 402, and 494.

The Family and Consumer Sciences minor consists of 18–21 hours in family and consumer sciences courses, including 6 hours in foods and nutrition, 3 hours in family and child studies, 3 hours in resource management, 3 hours in clothing, and 3–6 hours in departmental electives.

The Foods and Nutrition minor requires FCS 170, 281, 291, 382, 472, and 485.

The requirements of the Business minor for Retail Merchandising students can be found in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business section of this Bulletin.

Courses in Family and Consumer Sciences

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)  

Course number Course name Credit hours
101 Introduction to Interior Design  3
102 Introduction to Architectural Drafting  3
120 Introduction to Retailing  3
150 Apparel Construction and Analysis  3
170 Introduction to Food Science and Preparation  3
181 Introduction to Dietetics  1
201 Promotion Techniques  3
205 Textiles, Materials, and Sources for Interior Design  3
209 Historic Interiors  3
211 Contemporary Interiors  3
212 Housing and Society  3
241 Professional Issues in Family and Consumer Sciences  3
254 International Retailing  3
265 Fashion Fundamentals  3
279 Computer-Aided Design for Interiors I  3
281 Introduction to Nutrition  3
291 Individual and Family Development  3
325 Professional Development  3
330 Consumer Economics  3
336 Technology in Retailing  3
350 Textiles  3
360 Merchandise Planning and Coordination  3
373 Seminar in Dietetics  1
379 Computer-Aided Design for Interiors II  3
382 Foodservice Systems Management  3
385 Nutrition and Metabolism I  3
389 Infant Development  3
391 Child Development  3
392 Methods of Teaching and Guidance in Child and Family Studies  3
393 Building Codes and Universal Design  3
394 Administration of Programs in Family and Consumer Sciences  3
395 Internship in Residential Interiors  3
396 Construction Systems  3
397 Lighting Interior Spaces  3
398 Residential Design I  3
399 Residential Design II  3
400 Adolescent and Young Adult Development  3
402 Marriage and Family Relationships  3
405 Adult Development and Aging  3
415 Study Tour  3–6
451 Retail Planning  3
452 Clothing Design—Flat Pattern  3
453 Clothing Design—Draping  3
454 Commercial Design I  3
455 Commercial Design II  3
456 Interior Design as a Business  3
457 Portfolio Review  3
458 NCIDQ Review  3
460 Problems in Family and Consumer Sciences  1–6
461 Supervised Internship  6
462 Professional Internship  6
464 Child and Elder Care Programs and Services  3
470 Experimental Study of Foods  3
472 Quantity Foods  3
480 Nutrition and Metabolism II  3
481 Nutrition and Metabolism III  3
482 Medical Nutrition Therapy I  3
483 Medical Nutrition Therapy II  3
485 Life Cycle and Community Nutrition  3
491 Methods and Materials for Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences  3
494 Implementation of Early Childhood Programs  3
495 Internship in Commercial Interiors  3


Suggested courses of study

B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Child Studies Concentration
Instructor Bloom, Adviser

 

Freshman Year Credit hours
ENG 101, 102  6
HIST 101, 102  6
FCS 212, 291  6
KNES 117  2
CHEM 100  4
COMS 101  3
MATH 131/Math elective  3
Total credit hours  30

Sophomore Year  
ENG 231, 232, 310  9
Fine arts  3
FCS 241, 281, 330, 389  12
Kinesiology activity  1
ED 334  3
MATH 144, 147, or 154  3
Natural sciences (e.g., BIO 100)  4
Elective  1
Total credit hours  36

Junior Year  
FCS 325, 391, 400, 494  12
ED 408  3
Natural sciences (PHYS 100/GEOL 110, 115)  4
Humanities and fine arts  6
Electives  9
Total credit hours  34

Senior Year  
FCS 392, 394, 402, 405  12
FCS 462  6
KNES 480  3
Electives  9
Total credit hours  30

Students who desire the B.A. degree rather than the B.S. degree must complete the second-year sequence of a foreign language, but are not required to take an additional 7 hours of math and science.

B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Dietetics Concentration
Professor Andrews, Adviser

 

Freshman Year Credit hours
ENG 101, 102  6
HIST 101, 102  6
CHEM 101, 102  8
PSYC 201  3
FCS 170  3
FCS 181  1
Kinesiology activity  1
Fine arts  3
Total credit hours  31

Sophomore Year  
BIO 105  4
EC 231  3
ED 334 or MIS 161  3
ENG 231, 232  6
FCS 241, 281, 291  6
MATH 144, 147, or 154  3
KNES 117  2
PSYC 300  3
Total credit hours  33

Junior Year  
AC 221  3
BIO 341, 342  8
FCS 330, 382, 385, 472  12
FCS 373  1
COMS 101  3
PHIL 220  3
Humanities and fine arts  3
Total credit hours  33

Senior Year  
BIO 300  4
FCS 325, 402, 470, 480, 481, 482, 483, 485  24
MG 361  3
Electives  2
Total credit hours  33


B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences Education Concentration
Professor Andrews, Adviser

 

Freshman Year Credit hours
ENG 101, 102  6
HIST 101, 102  6
FCS 150, 170, 281  9
CHEM 100  4
MATH 131/Math elective  3
Kinesiology activity  1
COMS 101  3
Total credit hours  32

Sophomore Year  
FCS 212, 241, 265, 291, 350, 472  18
Natural sciences (BIO 100)  4
ENG 231, 232  6
KNES 117  2
Natural sciences (PHYS 100, GEOL 100, 115)  4
MATH 144, 147, or 154  3
Total credit hours  37

Junior Year  
FCS 325, 330, 391, 402, 405, 464  18
ED 335, 402, 412  9
Fine arts  3
Humanities and fine arts  3
ED 407  3
Total credit hours  36

Senior Year  
FCS 491*  3
ED 418*  2
ED 450*, 490*  6
ED 453, 463  2
EDF 405, 462  4
EDI 440*  9
Humanities and fine arts  3
Total credit hours  29

Students must enter the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before enrolling in courses marked by an asterisk (*).

B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Interior Design Concentration
Instructors Julian, Kottmeyer, Advisers

 

Freshman Year Credit hours
ENG 101, 102  6
HIST 101, 102  6
FCS 101, 102, 281  9
CHEM 100  4
ART 218, 219  6
Total credit hours  31

Sophomore Year  
FCS 205, 209, 211, 241, 279  15
ENG 231, 232  6
MATH 131/Math elective  3
MATH 144, 147, or 154  3
MIS 161 or ED 334  3
Natural sciences  4
Total credit hours  34

Junior Year  
FCS 291, 379, 393, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399  24
BIO 100  4
COMS 101  3
KNES 117  2
KNES elective  1
Total credit hours  34

Senior Year  
FCS 325, 330, 402, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 495  27
Elective  1
PHIL 220  3
Total credit hours  31

Students who desire the B.A. degree rather than the B.S. degree must complete the second-year sequence of a foreign language, but are not required to take an additional 7 hours of math and science.

B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Retail Merchandising Concentration
Instructor Bell, Adviser

 

Freshman Year Credit hours
ENG 101, 102  6
HIST 101, 102  6
FCS 120, 150  6
CHEM 100  4
COMS 101  3
MATH 131/Math elective  3
KNES 117  2
Fine arts  3
Total credit hours  33

Sophomore Year  
FCS 201, 241, 254, 281  12
Business elective  3
Natural sciences (PHYS 100, GEOL 110, 115)  4
ENG 231, 232  6
Kinesiology activity  1
BIO 100  4
EC 231  3
Total credit hours  33

Junior Year  
FCS 212, 291, 330, 336, 350, 360  18
MIS 161 or ED 334  3
MATH 144, 147, or 154  3
AC 221  3
MG 308  3
Total credit hours  30

Senior Year  
Business elective  3
Humanities and fine arts  6
FCS 325, 402, 451, 461  15
MG 361  3
MK 351, 352 (Business elective)  6
Elective  1
Total credit hours  34

Students who desire the B.A. degree rather than the B.S. degree must complete the second-year sequence of a foreign language, but are not required to take an additional 7 hours of math and science.