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College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Dean: Carol B. Meeks
Emeritus Dean: Beverly J. Crabtree
Emeritus Dean: Ruth E. Deacon
Associate Dean: JaneAnn Stout
Associate Dean: Suzanne Hendrich
Associate Dean: Mary Winter
Departments of the College
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences
(CFCS) is committed to advancing the well-being of families, consumers, and related
business organizations through the creation, application, and dissemination of knowledge.
These objectives are accomplished by fostering a supportive community committed to
optimizing student learning, promoting high quality scholarship that addresses important
issues for individuals, families, communities, and related business organizations, and
engaging key constituents and partners in addressing needs of families, communities,
societies, and related business organizations around the world. The fields of study
encompassed by the College are represented within the departments described above. The
College faculty and staff work to create and communicate knowledge not only in a given
field, but to combine that knowledge into an integrated whole. Each part of that whole is
needed to achieve the goal of enhancing quality of life for all people.
Students in CFCS learn how to contribute to the
well-being of society through a variety of careers. At the baccalaureate level, students
are prepared to become family and consumer sciences educators, early childhood educators,
childcare providers, housing specialists, personal financial managers, apparel designers,
merchandisers and entrepreneurs; also restaurant, hotel and institution managers; food
scientists, dietitians and nutritionists. They also are prepared to pursue
postbaccalaureate education at other institutions in such areas as social work, law,
medicine or other health care professions. In addition, the College offers masters and
doctorate programs in each department. Graduates are prepared for careers as researchers,
educators, marriage and family therapists, or upper level managers and administrators in
professional fields.
Faculty and staff members of the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences aspire to create personal well-being. There is a strong
committment to a love of learning and to nurturing students through rigorous and dynamic
curricula. Extensive extracurricular opportunities, both local and international, for the
personal and professional development of students are provided. These commitments are the
foundation for becoming the best FCS College in the nation.
Accreditation
All degree programs in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences are accredited by
the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Accreditation includes
commitment to self-regulation, ongoing self-study, peer and external evaluation, and
regular review by the Council for Accreditation for the AAFCS. These accreditation
activities ensure that graduates of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences have had
educational experiences of high quality and relevance as judged against nationally
accepted standards. Throughout the United States, only a small number of colleges and
universities offering bachelors degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences meet the high
standards of the AAFCS accreditation.
In addition to the College accreditation, the
following program-specific accreditation/registrations have been attained by Departments
within the College:
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Education and Studies:
Family and Consumer Sciences Education Teacher Licensure Program by the Iowa Department of
Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition:
Food Science and Technology by the Institute of Food Technologists;
Dietetics Internship has initial accreditation and the Didactic program in Dietetics is
currently granted approval status by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for
Dietetics Education of The American Dietetic Association, 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago,
IL 60606-6995, 312/899-4876.
Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management: by the Accreditation
Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, the accrediting agency of the
International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education.
Department of Human Development and Family Studies:
Early Childhood, Birth - Grade 3 by the Iowa Department of Education;
Early Childhood Education-Unified by the Iowa Department of Education;
Marital and Family Therapy by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family
Therapy Education;
Child Development Laboratory by the National Academy for Early Childhood Programs;
Financial Counseling and Family Resource Management curricula by the Association for
Financial Counselors and Planning Education.
Department of Textiles and Clothing:
Production focus of the Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production major is
endorsed by the American Apparel Manufacturers Association.
Curricula in Family and Consumer Sciences
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences is fully accredited by the American
Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Council for Accreditation. The curricula are
planned to meet a variety of academic interests, abilities, and goals of the student. Each
curriculum requires depth in a discipline. Breadth is acquired through general education
and careful use of electives.
Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production—Options:
Merchandising; Design; Production
Child and Family Services—Options: Child Programs; Youth Programs; Adult
Programs; Family Programs; Policy and Advocacy
Dietetics
Early Childhood Education
Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies—Options: Teacher Licensure;
Educational Services; General Studies
Family Resource Management and Consumer Sciences—Options: Family Resource
Management and Consumer Sciences; Family Financial Counseling
Food Science—Options: Food Science and Technology; Consumer Food Science; Food
Science and Industry
Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
Housing and the Near Environment
Nutritional Science
Minors
Minors are available to all Iowa State students including family and consumer sciences
majors. Minors consist of at least 15 credits and are available in the following areas:
Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production
Child and Family Services
Educational Services in Family and Consumer Sciences
Family Resource Management and Consumer Sciences
Food Science
Gerontology (interdisciplinary minor)
Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
Housing and the Near Environment
Nutrition
Special Interest Programs
International and Cross Cultural Programs
Study abroad opportunities are available and encouraged through the College of Family
and Consumer Sciences to broaden international and cross-cultural perspectives.
Scholarships and other forms of financial assistance are available which provide partial
support for students studying abroad. The college has established programs with Glasgow
Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
the International College of Hospitality Administration, Brig, Switzerland. Students also
study at the London College of Fashion, London, England, and participate in group study
abroad programs to Europe, Africa, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Other opportunities may be
developed through consultation with the associate dean of undergraduate programs and the
student’s adviser; for example, students have acquired internships and studied in
such countries as Kenya, Spain, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Guatemala, Switzerland, England,
Australia, Germany, and France. Faculty members bring diversity and global perspectives to
instruction and research, through their work in the Pacific Rim, India, South Korea, Latin
America, Asia, Africa, and many countries in Europe.
Families Extension
Students may prepare for a career in the Cooperative Extension Service by enrolling in
any curriculum in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences that provides them with a
broad subject matter base for conducting educational programs for families. Advice on
choice of courses should be sought from the associate dean and director of Iowa State
University Extension to Families programs, the director of Iowa State University Extension
to Youth and 4-H programs, or the Extension Human Resources Office.
Honors Program
High achieving students, with a grade point average of above 3.35, are invited to
apply to the Honors Program. Honors students are encouraged to develop a creative program
of study expanding their interests while meeting individual educational objectives.
Students in the Honors Program also participate in University Honors Seminars and complete
an honors project. For further information, contact the College Honors Committee or
academic adviser.
Dietetics Internship (DI)
This postbaccalaureate program, administered by the Department of Food Science and
Human Nutrition, has initial accreditation from the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
The purpose of the program is to enable those who meet the academic requirements of the
ADA to obtain at least 900 hours of practice supervised by registered dietitians in
medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice management to meet ADA
performance requirements for entry level dietitians.
Students who satisfactorily complete the DI will
be eligible to take the national registration examination administered by the Commission
on Dietetic Registration.
Open Option Status
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences offers an open option for entering
students who have not selected a specific area of study. Family and Consumer Sciences
Orientation (FCEdS 110) helps students explore the opportunities available. Program
planning information can be obtained from general college advisers.
Secondary School Preparation
Preparation required for admission is: 4 years English/language arts; 3 years
mathematics; 3 years science; 2 years social studies.
Advising System
Each student in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences works closely with an
academic adviser. Freshmen are advised by general college advisers. After the freshman
year, each student is assigned an adviser in the department of the chosen curriculum.
Freshmen students in Food Science and Human Nutrition are advised by a departmental
adviser. The adviser assists the student in making adjustments to the university and
provides information and guidance on course work, opportunities for professional and
personal development and career choices.
Planned Transfer Programs
By careful planning with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences Academic Programs
Office, students may begin their education at another college, then transfer their courses
to a curriculum within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with maximum efficiency
in meeting the degree requirements. The College has developed program-to-program transfer
plans with community colleges in Iowa and surrounding states. In addition, personalized
plans may be developed for students attending other colleges. For more information, call
1-800-522-0683 or contact the associate dean for undergraduate programs, College of Family
and Consumer Sciences, 124 MacKay, Iowa State University.
Preparation for Graduate Study
Students considering graduate studies should gain background knowledge in basic
subjects related to their area of interest. Undergraduate mathematics, statistics, and
research methods courses are useful as preparation for advanced study in graduate school.
Upon completion of graduate programs, students are qualified for leadership positions in
public and private institutions and for teaching, research, and extension positions in
colleges and universities.
Professional Career and Employment
Opportunities in Family and Consumer Sciences
Employment of Family and Consumer Sciences graduates remains at a high level. The
flexibility of College of Family and Consumer Sciences programs allows for a wide range of
career opportunities in diverse areas such as government, industry, education, health and
human services, business, extension, and community agencies, locally, nationally, and
internationally. A few examples of the positions in these various fields are: dietitian;
housing specialist; vocational family and consumer sciences teacher; infant, preschool, or
special education teacher; hotel, club, or restaurant manager; financial counselor;
apparel merchandiser, designer, or production specialist; food or textile researcher;
sales representative; early childhood educator; consumer product specialist; and
supervisor for a human service agency. Some students prepare for professional programs
such as medicine, law, or health administration while pursuing a B.S. degree. The strength
of the College programs lies in its capacity to enhance the graduate’s ability to
develop and deliver products, programs, or services to families and consumers, as well as
to strengthen the communication and leadership skills needed in representing the interests
of families and consumers.
In a required career opportunity course students
learn to identify their strengths, interests, and values related to professional goals and
to match them to career opportunities. Students learn to write resumes and letters,
network with professionals, and develop interviewing skills. Technologically up-to-date
services such as Web Walk-up facilitate contacts with potential employers using resume
referrals, and a “Positions Available List”. Career related materials and
employer information are available in the College and in departments.
General Education
Each department within the college requires students to select and/or elect courses to
fulfill a specific number of credits in prescribed areas.
Minimum Group Requirements in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Cr.
9.5 I. Communications and Library
9 II. Natural sciences and mathematical disciplines
9 III. Social sciences
9 IV. Humanities
8 V. Family and Consumer Sciences*
Independent Study
Students may pursue independent work by enrolling in 490 courses in individual
departments. No more than a total of nine semester credits of independent study may be
applied to a degree in family and consumer sciences.
*Assumes additional credits will be necessary for meeting the objectives of the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences, including the areas of management, aesthetics, educational
principles, public policy, and requirements in specific degrees.
College of Family and
Consumer Sciences Curriculum
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