Family and Consumer Sciences

College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

Department Description

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers four distinct programs and one concentration. The focus of these programs is to enhance the skills and knowledge that will promote the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Our programs and profession focus on individuals and families in order to achieve an optimum balance between people and their environments. The mission of Family and Consumer Sciences is to empower individuals and families to function interdependently in a global society.

Family and Consumer Science Education (Pre-Credential Single Subject Matter Program)

The major meets the California Career Technical Education (CTE) Curriculum Standards and Home Economics Teacher Preparation Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Subject Matter Programs.

Graduates are prepared to enter a Single Subject Teaching Credential Program required to teach Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics in middle and high schools. Coursework includes Nutrition and Food, Fashion Merchandising & Management, and Family Studies & Human Development combined with an internship in a middle or high school in the Sacramento area.

Family Studies and Human Development

The major prepares students for careers in various human service fields. The program emphasizes an asset-based approach to understanding lifespan human development, family systems and family diversity. The major is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for academic programs in Family Life Education.

Certificate in Family Life Education

The goal of the certificate is to prepare students to provide family life education in a variety of settings such as schools, churches, youth programs, health care, and family service agencies. The certificate program is designed to cover the ten, family life education content areas delineated by the National Council on Family Relations NCFR. The certificate is not a teaching credential. In conjunction with a Bachelor or Master degree or a state teaching credential, it may be helpful in obtaining employment as a Family Life Educator.

Fashion Merchandising and Management

The major prepares students for careers in the global fashion industry, including management, marketing, buying, advertisement, promotion, manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, retailing, and many more. The program also emphasizes the contemporary and historical ways of meeting the economic, physiological, aesthetic, psychological, sociological, and cultural needs of consumers relative to fashion products.

The program offers a vast array of courses that cover different areas of the fashion industry. Students learn the basics of fashion by taking foundation courses. Upper division marketing classes allow students to become more familiar with the business side of fashion. Courses focusing on the basic design skills introduce students to the creative side of the industry. This program provides a well-rounded education that prepares students for jobs in any area of the fashion industry.

The Minor in Fashion Merchandising and Management provides students an understanding of the role fashion plays in social/cultural environment, business/economic environment, and natural environment.  The minor is complementary to students pursuing careers in communication studies, psychology, journalism, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, business, art, and design.

Nutrition and Food

The major prepares students for careers in the field of nutrition, food management, community nutrition, and food sustainability.   The program emphasizes the roles of nutrition and food in individual and family health, cultural and behavioral influences on food selection, and the management of commercial and noncommercial food systems.

The optional Concentration in Dietetics (Didactic Program in Dietetics) prepares students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), as well as to prepare students for graduate school and a variety of careers in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, private practice, food service administration, and food science. 

The graduate program includes specialized coursework in nutrition science, advanced community nutrition, behavioral nutrition, and food and nutrition policy plus a wide array of interdisciplinary electives. Designed for career advancement in food access and nutrition education agencies and to complement Sacramento State’s Dietetic Internship for those on the path to becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. 

The Dietetic Internship administered by the Department is a post-baccalaureate, 42-week internship accepting 10 interns annually. This program provides full-time supervised practice at a variety of health care and community facilities.

The minor provides students an understanding of the role food and nutrition play in health and disease prevention.  The minor could be a relevant addition to many majors.

Degree Programs

BS in Family and Consumer Science Education (Pre-Credential, Single Subject Matter Program)

BS in Family Studies and Human Development

BS in Fashion Merchandising and Management

BS in Nutrition and Food

BS in Nutrition and Food (Dietetics)

Minor in Family and Consumer Sciences

Minor in Fashion Merchandising and Management

Minor in Nutrition and Food

MS in Nutrition and Food

Certificate in Family Life Education

Certificate in Grocery Management

Accreditation

In addition to California State University, Sacramento's full accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Dietetics Concentration is also individually accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The department also administers a Dietetics Internship (DI) program accredited by ACEND.

Notice to Students RE: Professional Licensure and Certification

California State University programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the California State University and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.

The California State University has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether, if they complete a California State University program, they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).

Special Features

  • Faculty in Family and Consumer Sciences come from diverse educational backgrounds and expertise. Faculty members promote and integrate a holistic approach to understanding individuals and families while preparing students for professional careers or graduate study.
  • All programs in the department are committed to reflecting in our study and in our practices the diverse populations with which our students will work, including diversity in ability, age, educational level, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. 
  • The Department is equipped with laboratories for textiles, food, and teacher credentialing preparation courses.
  • Support facilities include a Costume Collection gallery. Visit the virtual gallery at http://www.csus.edu/facs/.
  • The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and the Dietetics Internship (DI) programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
  • The Family Studies and Human Development program is approved by the National Council on Family Relations for academic programs in Family Life Education.
  • The Pre-Credential Single Subject Matter program in FACS Education is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
  • Service Learning courses (FASH 146, FSHD 162, NUFD 117), Academic Internships (FACS 195A, FACS 195C, FSHD 195F), Education practica and other opportunities for Community Engaged Learning are a hallmark of our degree programs. These provide an opportunity for students to work under the supervision of a professional in business, education, government, or public service settings. Internships are planned a semester in advance with an adviser.
  • The Department sponsors four student organizations for students to participate in professional development and community service related to their major programs.
  • In addition to serving majors and minors, the Department provides several general education courses for other majors including classes that meet the graduation requirements for the writing intensive, and race and ethnicity categories.

Career Possibilities

Fashion Merchandising and Management: Buyer · Merchandiser · Marketing Manager · Retail Manager · Regional Manager · District Manger · Distributor · Sales Representative · Product Analyst · Sourcing Analyst · Quality Control Analyst · Inventory Specialist · Apparel Engineer · Fashion Coordinator · Stylist · Visual Merchandiser · Fashion Designer · Fashion Editor · Fashion Forecaster · Fashion Reporter · Magazine Editor

Family Studies and Human Development: Consumer and Family Resources · Community-Based Social Services · Community Education · Family Life Educator · Family Planning · Family Support Services Provider · Health Care and Family Wellness · Marriage and Family Enrichment · Parenting Educator · Prenatal and Maternity Services ·  Sexuality Educator · Youth Adviser · Child Life Specialist

Nutrition and Food:  Nutrition and Health Educator · Community/Public Health Nutritionist · Food Service Manager/Hospitality · Foodservice Inspector · Grocery Retailing · State Nutrition Program Assistant, Consultant, or Analyst · School Nutrition Services Specialist · Entrepreneur/Consultant · Nutrition Program Representative · University/Medical Research Centers.

Additional careers in Dietetics: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) · Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) · Clinical Dietetics-Hospitals, Clinics, or other Health Care Facilities · Community and Public Health · Private Practice · Sports Nutrition · Corporate Wellness · University/Medical Centers · Research · Food and nutrition-related business and industries

Family and Consumer Sciences Education (Pre-Credential Single Subject Program): High school and middle school teacher · Extension specialist · Consultant in Home Economics Careers and Technology · Life Coach. Resources Specialist  ·  Entrepreneur  ·  Consumer Educator ·  Credit Counselor ·  California State Department of Education · FCCLA State Adviser. 

 

Contact Information

Lynn Hanna, Department Chair
Heather Rogers, Administrative Support Coordinator II
Mariposa Hall 3000
(916) 278-6393
http://www.csus.edu/facs/

Faculty

BRAUNSTEIN, NADINE

BUCHAN, WENDY

COOK, JERRY

GONZALEZ, HENRY

HANNA, LYNN

HYSON, DIANNE

KANG, MINJEONG

MOYLAN, J. ANN

MULASI, URVASHI

SHEN, DONG

SHILTS, MICAL

THOMPSON, KELLY

WIE, SEUNGHEE