Family and Consumer Sciences
Program Mission: The School of Family and Consumer Sciences offers graduate programs which accommodate students with an interest in human development and family life, foods and nutrition, or dietetics.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see "Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs"). Applicants who have not completed a baccalaureate family and consumer sciences program will be expected to satisfy undergraduate deficiency course requirements in addition to their graduate course requirements. The graduate coordinator will identify any undergraduate deficits at the time the admission decision is made. Potential undergraduate deficiencies could be FCS 1800, FCS 2100 and FCS 3300.
Study Plan Approval: The study plan shall be approved by the school and filed with the school’s graduate coordinator prior to the completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit which count toward the graduate degree.Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include those outlined for the master's degree by the Graduate School (see "Requirements for the Master's Degree"). Each program is designed to meet individual student needs. Students may select an area of interest and develop a study plan in consultation with and approval of the assigned academic advisor and committee. Courses may be selected from such topics as human development and family life, merchandising, consumer affairs, and nutrition. Thirty semester hours with thesis or 32 semester hours without thesis are required.
Graduate Assistantships
Information on graduate assistantships may be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Graduate Studies or Chair, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4110 Lumpkin Hall, EIU.
Core Requirements
Total. Credits: 9
The following graduate level Family and Consumer Sciences courses are required:
or FCS 5470
or FCS 5450
Other Requirements
In addition to Family and Consumer Sciences core courses, 21-23 semester hours of electives are to be selected by the student with prior approval of the advisor. Selection of electives will depend on background, interest, and needs of the student.
Dietetics Option
Degree Requirements
Upon completion of this option, graduates will be eligible to write for the dietetic registration examination. The Dietetic Internship is granted accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. The program includes a minimum of 1050 clock hours of supervised practice, including clinical, food service/management, and community dietetics. Thirty-six semester hours with thesis or 38 semester hours without thesis are required.
Core Requirements
Total. Credits: 9
The following graduate-level Family and Consumer Sciences courses are required:
or FCS 5470
or FCS 5450
Other Requirements
Total. Credits: 24
An additional three-to-five semester hours of electives are to be selected by the student with prior approval of the advisor.
12 semester hours may be earned in the Dietetics Option to provide "supervised practice" as defined by the American Dietetic Association
Note
Students must provide verification of completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics before starting the dietetic internship component.
Nutrition Education Specialist
Master's degree graduates who meet the criteria and attain the competencies specified by the Society for Nutrition Education are entitled to use the designation Nutrition Education Specialist.
Information sourced from the 2003-2005 EIU Graduate Catalog.