Family and consumer sciences education empowers individuals and families throughout their life to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society. The challenges individuals face throughout their life include: balancing personal, home, family and work lives, acquiring marketable skills to be successful in life management, employment, and career development, promoting optimal nutrition and wellness, and managing resources to meet the material needs of individuals and families. In todays society there are more two-career families than ever before and the number of personal bankruptcies has risen 400 percent in the past 25 years. Family and consumer sciences can give individuals the practical knowledge, critical and creative thinking skills to address problems in diverse family, community, and work environments. Careers accessed in family and consumer sciences include:
- Buying and Merchandising: Clothing Buyer, Fashion Designer
- Early Childhood Development & Services: Child Care Assistant/Worker, Child Care Director
- Family and Community Services: Social Worker, Social and Human Services Assistant, Family Therapist
- Finance: Family Financial Consultant
- Food Services: Chef, Dietician/Nutritionist, Food Stylist, Restaurant Manger
- Teaching: Elementary School Teacher
- Visual Arts: Interior Designer