Careers in FCS

The job titles which follow are those which EIU Home Economics/Family and Consumer Sciences graduates are holding, have held, or may be eligible to hold because of their education and experience. Some are entry-level positions which a new graduate could hold depending on types of experiences. Others require several years of experience and/or advanced degrees.

Apparel & Textile Design

Apparel & Textiles Design Option

Coursework required for the Apparel & Textiles, Consumer Studies, Hospitality and Merchandising Option includes the option requirements, semester hours for the selected concentration and the completion of the related minor. This option prepares students for focused professional careers in management of businesses and services.

Students must select from one of four concentrations: Apparel & Textiles Design, Consumer Studies, Hospitality Management and Merchandising.

Career Titles

Accessories Product Technician
Assistant Frabric Specialist
CAD Designer, Men's Woven Shirts
Catalog Layout Assistant Designer
Color specialist team
Colorist
Embroidery Work Order Coordinator
Exhibit Booth Account Representative
Fabric Planning Assistant
Footwear Designer
Jewelry Merchandise Planner
Pattern Maker
Pre-production Coordinator
Print Designer
Print Technologist
Product Development Team
Product Development Technical Support

Production Inventory Planner
Productions & Operations Manager
Regulatory Assurance Manager
Researcher
Sample Maker
Sourcing Specialist-Accessories
Sourcing Specialist-Trim
Technical Development Team
Technical Sales Representative
Technical Specifications
Textile Laboratory Assistant
Textile Print Designer
Textile Quality Manager
Trim Sourcer
Visual and Store Design
Wall Coverings Designer
Web Site Design Team

Consumer Studies

Consumer Studies Concentration

Prepares students to meet the need for consumer studies professionals to represent, advocate, educate and empower consumers’ decisions, information, rights and responsibilities through career opportunities such as the following:

Career Titles

Accounts Supervisor
Advertising Specialist
Bank Manager
Benefits Coordinator
Better Business Bureau
Collections Coordinator
University Financial Aid Officer
Comparison Shopper
Consultant
Consumer Affairs Agency
Consumer Communications Specialists
Consumer Educator
Consumer Law
Credit Counselor
Director of Consumer Affairs
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Energy Use Advisor
Environmental Specialist

Extension Consumer Specialist
Family Financial Educator
Financial Aid Counselor
Health Claims Processor
Insurance Claims Representative
Investigator
Legal Support Employee
Legislative Assistant
Loan Counselor
Loss Prevention Manager
Medical Sales Representative
News Editor
Public Policy Advocate
Technical Sales Representative
Trade and Consumer Services Manager
Trade Associate Advocate
University Financial Aid Officer
Utilities Liaison

Dietetics

Dietetics Option

The undergraduate program in dietetics provides the knowledge and skills needed for participation in a dietetics internship and is the first step toward becoming a Registered Dietitian.

Career Titles

Clinical Dietitian
Community Nutritionist
Consultant Dietitian
Corporate Wellness Program Director
Director of Nutrition Services
Director of Patient & Community Education
Education Materials Writer
Food Consultant Specialist 
Food Reporter/Editor
Food Service Director
Health Care Specialists
Hospital Menu Planner

Menu Planner
Nutrition Support Dietitian
Product Developer
Product Marketing Specialist
Product Specialists
Product Test
Research Dietitian
Research Scientist
School Lunch Program Director
Sports Nutrition Specialist
Teaching Dietitian
Wellness Coordinator

Hospitality Management

Hospitality Management Option

The undergraduate program prepares students for management careers in hotels, restaurants, resorts, clubs, convention facilities, and the meeting planning industry.

Career Titles

Banquet Operations
Caterer
Catering Sales Representative
Club Manager
Commercial Caterer
Convention Planner
Convention Service Manager Assistant
Corporate Travel Manager
Dining Room Manager
Director of Group Sales
Event Planner
Executive Housekeeper
Facilities Manager
Food & Beverage Manager
Food Production Manager
Food Products Representative
Food Equipment Representative 
Food Service Administrator
Front Desk Clerk
Front Office Manager

Group Sales Consultant
Hotel Morning/Night Manager
Hotel General Manager
Hotel Security Manger
Kitchen Designer
Kitchen Manager
Meeting Planner
Purchasing Agent/Buyer
Resort Manager
Restaurant Manager
Resort Manager
Revenues Manager
Rooms Division Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Representative
Test Kitchen Administrator 
Theme Park Manager
Tour Operations
Travel Agency Manager

Family Services

Family Services Option

Prepares students for professions that focus on individuals, children, parents and families throughout the life span and life cycle.

Career Titles

Activities Director in Care Centers & Hospitals
Adult Education Instructor
Agency Director of Human Services Program
Behavioral Specialists
Child Care Resource & Referral
Child Care Teacher/ Director t
Child Protection Investigator
Civilians employed by U.S. Military in Child Family Settings
Coordinator of Development Disabilities
Court Mediator - Child Custody
Court Mediator - Divorce
Crisis Center Counselor
Crisis/Rape Counselor
Day Care Center Director
Divorce Recovery Counselor
Elder Day Care Program Director
Executive Director Social Service Agencies
Family Violence Counselor
Head Start Teacher/Director


Home Health Care Services
Human/Family Services Program Coordinator
International Child Welfare Organizations
Intervention Specialist
Juvenile Probation Officer
Juvenile Programs Officer
Licensing Representative
Living Coordinator of Disabled Adults
Mental Health Coordinator
Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations and Agencies
Parent Educator
Planned Parenthood Counselor
Program Coordinator
School Social Worker
Sexual Assault Counselor
Senior Residential Community Consultant
Social Services Agencies Case Worker
Work Adjustment Coordinator
YMCA/YWCA Professional
Youth Services Worker - Adoption Centers
Youth Services Worker - Juvenile Program

*Some options may require additional education beyond the bachelor's degree.

Merchandising

Merchandising Concentration

Prepares students for careers in retail store management, purchase and allocate inventories, direct visual merchandising teams, and represent branded products.

Career Titles

Account representative 
Apparel Import/Export Specialists
Apparel Manufacturer’s Representative
Assistant Buyer
Brand Inventory Planner
Buyer 
Customer Relations
Comparison Shopper/ratings
Product Review
District Sales Manager
Distribution Director
Regional Sales Manager
Facilities Manager
Fashion Copywriter
Furniture & Floor Sales 
Interior Design Sales
Inventory Allocation

Home Shopping Network Team
Jewelry Merchandise Planner
Licensing Director
Commercial Lighting Sales
Loss Prevention Operations
Mall Manager
Market Analysis
Merchandiser
Museum Curator - Costume Collection
Career Wear Consultant
Property Manager
Purchasing Agent
Retail Store Manager
Retail Sales Associate-Accessories
Retail Sales Associate-Apparel/Footwear
Textile Laboratory Assistant
Web Site Sales

Teacher Certification

Family & Consumer Sciences teacher certification emphasis in the Career & Technical Education major prepares you to teach high school level students in Family & Consumer Sciences and related areas. The advisor is Donna Dawson, djdawson@eiu.edu Klehm Hall Rm 1021.