Human Development and Family Science
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Family and Consumer Sciences Education Major in Pennsylvania
Your enthusiasm for teaching healthy relationships and essential life skills can lead to a rewarding career in a profession that is in high-demand. Study at Messiah University, a nationally ranked Christian university in Pennsylvania, and earn your Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in family and consumer sciences education.
Study Family and Consumer Sciences Education at a Christian University
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 PreK-12 teaching certification that enables you to teach courses in child development, family dynamics, foods and nutrition, and more.
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.
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, family resource management, directing a childcare center, early childhood education and family dynamics.
- Participate in student opportunities such as attending professional conferences and co-presenting papers with faculty and networking with alumni.
- Observe children and design curriculum for early childhood at local early learning centers.
- Join the Messiah Council on Family Relations (MCFR) – 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.
- Enjoy a community-focused department that engages students in and out of the classroom through bonfires, end-of-year celebrations, etc.
- Earn a Smith Scholar Internship, which allows qualified students to work in apprentice relationships with faculty members.
- Study in a program where there are frequently more job offers than graduates to fill them, and many of our students get hired before graduation.
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.
Programs related to Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Nutrition and Dietetics
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In the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Family and Consumer Sciences Education:
Family and Consumer Sciences Education (B.S.) with PK-12 Teaching Certification
Careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of this program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
95% of the Class of 2024 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
MEET ALUMNI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE
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 gain experience in urban and suburban schools, as well. 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 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 Council on Family Relations (MCFR) – a student professional organization affiliated with the National Council on Family Relations.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.