Family and Consumer Studies  

May 2006

 

 

College of Social and Behavioral Science

Department Office: 228 Alfred C. Emery Building, 581-6521

Mailing Address: 225 S. 1400 E., Rm. 228, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0080

Web Address: www.fcs.utah.edu.

Department Chair, Cheryl Wright, Ph.D.


Faculty

Professors. B. Brown, R. Mayer, K. Smith, C. Zick.

Associate Professors. M. Diener, J.X. Fan, D. Herrin, R. Isabella, L. Kowaleski-Jones, K. Rathunde, S. Salari, A. Solórzano, N. Wolfinger, C. Wright.

Assistant Professors. C. Cahill, P. Smith, Z. Yu.

Adjunct Professors. G. Levy, D. Lund, C. Werner.

Adjunct Associate Professors. B. Davis, L Gaynard, S. Wright.

Associate Professors (Lecturer) C. Christopherson, D. Tufts.

Adjunct Assistant Professors. K. Bartholomew. 

Adjunct Instructors. M. Keck, A. Smith.

Instructor (Lecturer) H. Baker.

Advisors. Department Chair, Cheryl Wright, 228 Alfred Emery Building, 581-6521; Department Advisor, Sarah Homer, 232 Emery Building, 581-4431

The Department of Family and Consumer Studies (FCS) emphasizes an interdisciplinary focus on the social, economic, and physical environments of families and individuals. The department offers a graduate program in family ecology and undergraduate study in the areas of life span, human development and family relations, consumer studies, family economics, and community development.

Undergraduate students major in one of two areas: consumer & community studies or human development and family studies. Graduate students take an interdisciplinary course of study in family ecology. Both graduate and undergraduate training emphasize principles fundamental to theory, empirical investigation, and policy application. Students are encouraged to see the department advisor early for help in planning their programs.

Teaching and research capabilities of the department are enhanced by a unique research and educational facility. The Child and Family Development Centers preschool laboratories facilitate research involving aspects of child development and child-parent relationships.


Demography Certificate Program
The College of Social and Behavioral Science offers a graduate Certificate program that will provide students with specialized coursework and training in Demography. Demography is the study of human populations and factors that affect their size, density, distribution, and growth. Demographers study fertility, migration, mortality, families and households, employment and health. Demographers are widely employed by government agencies, private companies, and universities where they analyze populations for research and planning purposes. The Certificate in Demography program will provide students with a new opportunity to study demographic principles and techniques and to work with faculty conducting research on population issues. Demography certificate students would, as part of the certificate requirements, work with faculty mentors on specific demographic research projects to gain experience in applying their skills to real-world problems. To complete the Certificate program, students will take four courses (two demographic methodology courses, a course on database management, and a course on a specialty area within demography) as well as a research practicum or internship. Students earning this certificate will have acquired marketable skills necessary to conduct applied demographic analyses in a variety of employment settings. Students need not be matriculated to obtain the certificate.


Undergraduate Program

Degrees. B.A., B.S.

Special Requirements. A grade of C- or better is required in all courses counted toward major requirements. The student must meet with the academic advisor, AEB 232, 581-4431, in order to declare a major. Students may also drop by the office to pick up an FCS Undergraduate Information.

CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

The Consumer and Community Studies (CCS) major focuses on the well-being of households as they are influenced by the marketplace institutions and communities in which households are embedded. Students in the CCS major gain an interdisciplinary understanding of marketplace and community issues at the local, national, and international level and do so by examining the perspectives of consumers, business, community organizations, and government. Students also acquire the practical skills necessary to improve the well-being of households, with courses providing students with opportunities to acquire mediation skills and learn through community service and internships. Internships are available for majors who would like to gain practical experience working within the local community. Juniors and seniors who have completed 10 credit hours within the major and who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to participate.

Consumer and Community Studies

Major Requirements

Minimum Major Hours: 35

Department Core (8 credit hours)

FCS 3200 Research Methods-FCS (4)

FCS 3210 Statistics-FCS (4) [QI]

CCS Major Core (12 credit hours)

FCS 3450 Family Economic Issues (3) [QI]

FCS 3600 Consumer & Community Policy (3)

Plus 2 of the following 4 courses:

FCS 5400 Families and Economic Policy (3)

FCS 5410 Consumer Protection (3)

FCS 5450 Consumer and Community Finance (3)

FCS 5730 Community and Environmental Change (3) [CW]

Community Application of Learning (3 credit hours)

FCS 5700 Research for Consumer & Community Needs (3)

Or FCS 5920 Field Training/Internship (3)

Major Electives (choose 9 credit hours minimum)

FCS 1450 Consumer and Family Finance (3)

FCS 3180 Home, School, & community Relations (3)

FCS 3420 Housing Policy and Issues (3)

FCS 3430 Introduction to Family Policy (3)

FCS 3470 International Consumer Policy (3)

FCS 3620 Environment and Behavior (3)

FCS 5430 Families, Consumers, and Health (3)

FCS 5440 Consumers, Markets, and Government (4) [QI]

FCS 5600 Physical Environment & Behavior (3)

FCS 5940 The American Family (1)

FCS 5964 Special Topics in CSFE (1-5)

Any course not selected to fulfill the major core elective requirement (3)

Department Breadth Requirement (3 credit hours)

FCS 1500 Human Development Across the Lifespan (3)

OR FCS 2400 Family Relations Across the Life Course (3)

Allied Hours (12 credit hours required)

Students may choose allied hours from courses in the College of Social and Behavioral Science, College of Business, or Department of Communication. Students are encouraged to consider courses required for a Business minor as well as courses in Urban Planning, Political Science, Economics, and Environmental Studies.

All CCS courses must be taken for a letter grade, with a minimum grade of C-. At least 20 semester hours in the CCS major must be completed at the University of Utah.

Consumer and Community Studies Minor

Minimum Minor Hours: 15

Consumer and Community Studies Core (9 credit hours)

FCS 3450 Family Economic Issues (BI/QI) (3)

FCS 3600 Consumer & Community Policy (BF) (3)

Select one of the following 3 courses:

FCS 5410 Consumer Protection (3)

OR

FCS 5450 Consumer and Community Finance (3)

OR

FCS 5730 Community and Environmental Change (3)

Consumer and Community Studies Electives (6 credit hours)

FCS 1450 Consumer and Family Finance (3)

FCS 3180 Home, School, & Community Relations (3)

FCS 3420 Housing Policy and Issues (3)

FCS 3430 Introduction to Family Policy (3)

FCS 3470 International Consumer Policy (3)

FCS 3620 Environment and Behavior (3)

FCS 5430 Families, Consumers, and Health (3)

FCS 5440 Consumers, Markets, and Government (4) [QI]

FCS 5600 Physical Environment & Behavior (3)

FCS 5940 The American Family (1)

FCS 5964 Special Topics in CSFE (1-5)

Any course not selected to fulfill the major core requirement (3)

All courses must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum grade of C- is required for courses taken in the CCS minor. At least 6 semester hours in the CCS minor must be completed at the University of Utah.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES

Advisor. Sarah Homer, 232 Alfred Emery Building, (801) 581-4431

The human development and family studies major provides students with integrated knowledge and an interdisciplinary understanding of family relationships and individual development over the life span. The major is organized into two conceptual domains: human development and family studies. Students may choose from several courses that expand their knowledge of a particular life stage, family process, or family-institution interface.

Research and Internship Opportunities. See the department, the Undergraduate Research Office, or Career Services. Internships are available for majors who would like to gain practical experience working within the local community. Juniors and seniors who have completed 10 credit hours within the major and who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to participate.

Special Programs and Certificates

Teaching Certificate. The Early Childhood Education Licensure Program is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Family & Consumer Studies and Teaching & Learning. Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation for K-3 certification. Students pursuing Early Childhood Education declare their major in Human Development & Family Studies and complete specific courses in Human Development & Family Studies (32 hours) and supporting professional courses (27 hours). Once these courses are complete, students who have been admitted will enroll in the one year licensure program. The application deadline to the early childhood licensure program is February 1, each year. Students may apply either during their junior or senior year. Enrollment in the early childhood teacher licensure program is limited and admission is competitive. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for admittance into the licensure program. 

Child Life Program. Child life specialists are members of health care teams who focus on the developmental, emotional, recreational, and educational needs of pediatric patients and families. Students must complete Child Life Series courses and prerequisite courses which fall under Human Development and Family Studies major electives, plus two consecutive semesters of practicum in an approved hospital setting.

Family Life Educator Certificate. The FCS Department offers the Certified Family Life Educator Program from the National Council on Family Relations. Family life education provides skills and knowledge to enrich individual and family life. It includes knowledge of how families work, the effects of policy and legislation on families, ethical considerations in professional conduct, the interrelationship of families and society, human growth and development, and information on how to develop curriculum for what are often sensitive and personal issues.

Human Development and Family Studies

Major Requirements

Minimum major hours: 32

Department Core (14 credit hours)

FCS 3200 Research Methods-FCS (4) & FCS 3210 Statistics (4)

FCS 3210 Statistics (4) [QI]

FCS 3600 Home and Community Environments (3)

or FCS 3450 Family Economic Issues (3)

Human Development and Family Studies Core Courses (6 credit hours)

FCS 1500 Human Development Across the Lifespan (3) [BF]

FCS 2400 Family Studies Across the Life Course (3) [BF]

Human Development and Family Studies Major Electives (15 credit hours minimum)

FCS 2570 Middle Childhood (3) [BF]

FCS 2610 Understanding Children: Ecological Contexts (3)

FCS 2620 Child Development Practicum (3)

FCS 2621 Whole Child Telecourse (1-3)

FCS 2640 Intergrated Curriculum Methods (3)

FCS 3180 Home, School, and Community Relations (3)

FCS 3215 Development in Infancy and Childhood (3)

FCS 3240 Family Belief Systems (3) [CW]

FCS 3260 Fatherhood (3)

FCS 3270 Parent Child Relations (3)

FCS 3290 Ethnic Minority Families (4) [DV, HF]

FCS 3430 Introduction to Family Policy (3)

FCS 3630 Strengthening Homes and Families (3)

(minimum of two courses at 5000 level required for electives)

FCS 5170 Creativity and Cognition in Young Children (3)

FCS 5200 Families and Social Policy (3)

FCS 5230 Adolescent Development (3)

FCS 5240 Adult Dev and Fam Relations in Later Life (3)

FCS 5250 Theories of Human Development (3) [CW]

FCS 5280 Divorce and Remarriage (3)

FCS 5311 Childhood Health Care I (3)

FCS 5312 Childhood Health Care II (3)

FCS 5350 Family Theories (3)

FCS 5380 Family Violence (3) [CW]

FCS 5380 Family Problems (3)

FCS 5390 Gender and Minorities Across the Lifespan (3) [DV]

FCS 5430 Families, Consumers, and Health (3)

FCS 5400 Families and Economic Policy (3)

FCS 5940 The American Family (1)

FCS 5962 Special Topics-HDFS (1-5)

Independent Options

FCS 5920 Field Training-HDFS (1-4)

FCS 5950 Independent Study-HDFS (1-4)

Students must complete at least 2 courses at the 5000 level chosen from among selections above. 5920 and 5950 do not fulfill this requirement.

Allied Hours (12 credit hours)

Students may choose allied hours from the social and behavioral sciences, gerontology, education, humanities, health sciences, and/or other areas approved by the FCS Department.

The Human Development and Family Studies Minor

Minimum Total Hours: 16

HDFS Core Courses (6 credit hours)

FCS 1500 Human Development (3)

FCS 2400 Family Studies Across the Life Course (3)

HDFS Major Electives (must take 10 credit hours minimum)

FCS 2570 Middle Childhood (3)

FCS 2610 Understanding Children: Ecological Context (3)

FCS 2620 Child Development Practicum (3)

FCS 2621 Whole Child Telecourse (1-3)

FCS 3180 Home, School, and Community Relations (3)

FCS 3215 Development in Infancy and Childhood (3) [BF]

FCS 3240 Family Belief Systems (3) [CW]

FCS 3270 Parent Child Relations (3)

FCS 3290 Ethnic Minority Families (4) [DV, HF]

FCS 3430 Introduction to Family Policy (3)

FCS 3630 Strengthening Homes & Families (3)

FCS 5150 Admin and Superv of Early Childhood Programs (3)

FCS 5170 Creativity and Cognition in Children (3)

FCS 5200 Families and Social Policy (3)

FCS 5230 Adolescent Development (3)

FCS 5240 Adult Dev and Fam Relations in Later Life (3)

FCS 5250 Theories of Human Development (3)

FCS 5280 Divorce and Remarriage (3)

FCS 5311 Childhood Health Care I (3)

FCS 5312 Childhood Health Care II (3)

FCS 5350 Family Theories (3)

FCS 5380 Family Problems (3)

FCS 5390 Gender and Minorities Across the Lifespan (3) [DV]

FCS 5400 Families and Economic Policy (3)

FCS 5430 Families, Consumers, and Health (3)

FCS 5962 Special Topics-HDFS (1-5)

Independent Options

FCS 5920 Field Training (1-4)

FCS 5950 Independent Study-HDFS (1-4)

All courses must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum grade of C- is required for courses taken within the HDFS minor.

Graduate Program

Graduate study emphasizes family ecology, including research methods for the study of the family, and family policy analysis. The program investigates the family from the context of its human-constructed, economic, and social environments. Details are available from the department office.

Degree. M.S. in family ecology. For additional information, see the Graduate Information section of this catalog.

Areas of Specialization. Conceptual models in family ecology, ecological research methods, family policy, and the social, physical, and economic influences on the family.

Special Admission Requirements. Required are three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s employment history, research experience, academic performance, or other relevant experience, a personal information form, and a 250-to-400-word statement explaining the applicant’s interest in graduate training in family ecology.

All students must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores with their application. All international applicants must also submit TOEFL scores with their application. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required for acceptance into the master’s degree program.


FCS Course Descriptions




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