Major in Family and Consumer Sciences Education

The Major in Family and Consumer Sciences Education directly addresses the needs of youth, families, and consumers. This interdisciplinary educator preparation major equips future teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to teach secondary Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) classes. The major includes Educator Preparation courses, as well as FCS content area courses (including, but not limited to, culinary and food production, financial resource management, healthy decision making, human services and education, interior and fashion design, nutrition and wellness, personal/family/child development, and more).

Students apply for the Educator Preparation program in their junior year and participate in practicum experiences working closely with classroom teachers and secondary students in area schools. Throughout the phases of the licensure program, teacher candidates are placed in a middle school and in a high school, where they apply professional knowledge and refine their instructional skills. While student-teaching, they work closely with a FCS mentor teacher and a university coach.

Teacher candidates completing the major meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in FCS, a Colorado Initial Teaching License in FCS, and a FCS Career and Technical Education endorsement.

This major is accredited and approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Department of Education.  It is approved nationally by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Students who successfully complete this program will be prepared to pursue licensure in Colorado. Licensure requirements in other states and U.S. territories may differ. Students are encouraged to work with the department and the professional licensure board in the state in which they intend to pursue licensing to ensure all requirements are satisfactorily met.

The major provides a strong foundation for graduate work. Graduate degree opportunities are available in related academic units including the School of Education and the Departments of Design and Merchandising, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Human Development and Family Studies, Social Work, and Occupational Therapy.

Students take coursework in a variety of programs/departments including, but not limited to:

• School of Education
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Human Development and Family Studies
• Food Science and Human Nutrition
• Design and Merchandising
• Health and Exercise Science

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate content knowledge and understanding of theory, research, and practice relevant to optimizing the development, health and well-being of youth and families in the context of the larger social environment. 
2. Access, critically evaluate, and apply multiple forms of information related to youth and families.
3. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills appropriate for educators interfacing with administrators, colleagues, students, and parents/guardians.
4. Demonstrate professional and leadership skills, including ethical and culturally sensitive standards of conduct.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in teaching and assessing family and consumer sciences.

Potential Occupations

Family and Consumer Sciences Education and licensure prepares students to teach: 

• Personal finance
• Nutrition and wellness
• Food science and culinary arts
• Interior and fashion design
• Human sexuality
• And more!

Career options outside of the secondary classroom:

• Post secondary teaching
• Wellness programming
• Community outreach and education
• Child, family, and consumer advocacy
• Policy development
• Cooperative extension agent
• Program/Curriculum development
• Product representative
• Writer/developer of informational or educational materials
• Government, community, and non-profit agency worker
• Peace Corps volunteer

Learn more about the Family and Consumer Sciences Education major on the Human Development and Family Studies website. 

Effective Fall 2025

Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all AUCC courses and a minimum grade of a C in all AHS, AM, DM, EDCT, EDUC, FACS, FSHN, FTEC, HDFS, IDEA, INTD, OT, RRM, or advisor-approved content courses. FCS majors must achieve a 2.75 GPA to apply to the Educator Licensing Program (junior year) and earn the School of Education Educator Preparation’s recommendation for a Colorado Initial Teaching License (upon the completion of student teaching and graduation). 

Additionally, a maximum of 6 credits of required courses may also count toward department certificates (Youth Mentoring with Campus Connections, Disability & Neurodiversity, and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health), the HDFS Minor, or the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor. Students double majoring must have a minimum of 27 credits that are unique to the second major.

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Select courses with subject codes AHS, AM, DM, FACS, FSHN, FTEC, HDFS, IDEA, INTD, OT, RRM, or receive approval from advisor. 

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
Students should seek admission to the Educator Licensure program in their junior year. Visit Educator Preparation for the application process, GPA, and other requirements). Teacher licensure includes courses (EDUC and EDCT) that must be taken in each Phase I, II, and III concurrently and prior to the next phase.

Students who do not qualify for teacher licensure or who prefer another professional option should consult with their academic advisor. Students must complete a graduation contract with their academic advisor during the first two weeks of the semester in which they are graduating.