Family and consumer sciences education (FACSED) is a teaching-oriented major for students who enjoy classroom or community-based instruction. One track leads to provisional teacher certification in secondary education (grades 7-12) and vocational FACS. Another prepares students as family life educators, certified to teach in non-formal settings such as Parents Anonymous, Planned Parenthood, or child welfare departments. Teacher certification courses cover human development over the life span, consumer economics, family and interpersonal relationships, nutrition, and culinary arts, as well as classroom management and curriculum and instruction. The family life education track includes courses in human development and family/interpersonal relationships, as well as public administration, health, sociology, and classroom management. Students in the teacher certification track take some of their professional teaching courses in UA's College of Education. Both teaching and family life educator tracks require internships, either as student teachers or as educators in a non-formal setting.
FACS careers
Depending on the emphasis chosen, students may pursue teaching careers in schools, health settings, or social service agencies. Due to a teacher shortage and expanding programs, job opportunities are plentiful for family and consumer sciences teachers. Students may find positions as: middle or high school FACSED teachers, educators in government, business, or social services agencies.
Rich learning environment
A faculty active in research ensures that students are exposed to meaningful, complex questions in the classroom. Students, especially those interested in attending graduate school, have opportunities to assist in faculty research projects.
Internships provide a link to careers
One hallmark of UA's program is an emphasis on hands-on work experience. Classroom knowledge is supplemented through supervised internships working with children, families, youth at risk, or adults in a variety of settings that include social service agencies, schools, mental health organizations, hospitals, and retirement homes. Experiences such as staffing a crisis hot line, teaching parenting skills, or facilitating a divorce support group for children allow students to explore future careers, gain valuable experience, and provide vital outreach to the community.
Advising, mentoring help define career direction
Being part of a small, high-quality department means that students have personal advising and a chance to develop close relationships with faculty members. Specifically, the Student Services Center offers one-on-one advice on career direction, course selection, internships, graduate school preparation, and research opportunities with faculty members.
Careers
A versatile major, family studies and human development prepares students for a variety of careers and graduate training in fields such as human services, social policy, community and public health, counseling, social work, medicine, gerontology, child/elder advocacy, and criminal justice/law.
Coursework
Thirty (30) semester hours in Family and Consumer Sciences classes including:
Human Development
Consumer Economics
Family and Human Relationships
Nutrition and Health
Food production/culinary arts
Thirty (30) semester hours in professional preparation, including:
Classroom management
Curriculum management
Assessment and evaluation
Educational foundations
Organization and administration
Student teaching
Watch a short video on the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program.
Frequently Asked Questions about the FACSED major
Post-baccalaureate program
Prospective Students
Video
Testimonials
One for the Future
Scholarships
Advising
Careers
Certification Requirements - Arizona Department of Education
University of Arizona College of Education
Family Studies and Human Development
Retailing and Consumer Sciences
Arizona Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
Family Economics & Financial Education