Child, Family and Consumer Sciences and Education Concentration (1212, 1213)

The child, family, and consumer sciences and education concentration includes two options: Child and Family Studies and Family and Consumer Sciences Education. The concentration is designed to provide a broad-based education in child development and family relationships and Family and Consumer Sciences, while allowing flexibility in course work to meet individual career goals. Students in the concentration prepare for career opportunities such as: child care provider, parent educator, child development specialist, family services director, community services worker, early intervention teacher, family and consumer sciences teacher, and 4-H agent. Observations of young children and hands-on experiences at the Margaret N. Perry Children's Center, with child and family grant programs and student teaching for those in the family and consumer sciences education option, in addition to course work, provide the means for the student to gain the knowledge and skills needed in the field.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education graduates meet the requirements for secondary licensure (grades 7-12) to teach vocational Family and Consumer Sciences in Tennessee. The certificate is also valid in states which grant reciprocity in licensure to graduates of institutions accredited by NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education) or which participate in reciprocity agreement developed by NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification). The program is offered in cooperation with the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences which governs admission requirements to teacher education and exit requirements for the Praxis Series specialty area exams and for the recommendation for certification.

Students must file an application and be admitted to the teacher education program for eligibility to enroll in professional education courses (refer to "Admission to Teacher Education" section for the criteria for admission). Continuation in the program and recommendations for licensure are dependent upon fulfilling the requirements stipulated. Those graduates recommended for certification apply for endorsement in Vocational Family and Consumer Sciences, and, if eligible, for additional endorsement in one or more occupational family and consumer sciences areas.

To qualify for added endorsements in occupational family and consumer sciences, students are required to complete 14-15 semester hours in each subject matter area related to the endorsement.

Degree Requirements

1. Family and Consumer Sciences Core Component -- 17 hours
   • (see earlier page)
2. General Education Component -- 55 hours
   • Art 221
   • Child and Family Studies 211
   • Chemistry 121-122 or Biology 110-120
   • Communications 230
   • Human Learning 311
   • Economics 201
   • English 111-112, any 200 level English literature course
   • Health 111 or 320
   • Mathematics 140
   • Microbiology 251
   • Psychology 110
   • Sociology 201
   • Zoology 201
   • History Elective (3 hours)
3. Family and Consumer Sciences Component -- 25 /28-29 hours
   • Child and Family Studies 303, 411
   • Food Science 200, 313
   • Consumer Resource Management 302
   • Consumer Resource Management 403 or Interior Design 210
   • Nutrition 322
   • Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Merchandising 303
   • Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Merchandising 103 or Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Merchandising 415. (for Family and Consumer Sciences Education option only)
4. Professional Development Component -- 31-34 hours
   • Child and Family Studies Option
   • Electives in Child and Family Studies -- 9 hours (Courses selected to meet student’s own interest in specialization for career)
   • Human Learning 325
   • Special Education 430
   • Teacher Education 485
   • Select Alternative A or B to complement electives and to develop specialization. Certain combinations of the two alternatives may be approved.
     1. Supervised Field Experience: Family and Consumer Sciences 460, 48_, 49_
     2. Approved Electives 300-400
   • Family and Consumer Sciences Education Option
   • Family and Consumer Sciences Education 330*, 340*, 404*, 405*
   • Human Learning 325
   • Special Education 300
   • Teacher Education 301, 303*, 305*, 401*

(*Admission to Teacher Education required for courses marked with an asterisk.)

Total required for a B.S. degree -- 131 hours

A minimum of 48 hours is required in upper-division courses.

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