Make a Difference Teaching Life Skills
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Family & Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) program is ideal if you're committed to living or working away from campus. Our unique distance learning program is designed for those who want to educate others about family diversity and vitality, resource management, home environments, textiles and apparel construction, leadership and relationships, and human development and nutrition.
As a family and consumer science major, you'll be part of one of the largest programs in the U.S. UW-Stout graduates are known nationally and internationally for their ability and leadership.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
Career-Defining Curriculum
Graduates from the Family and Consumer Sciences Education(FCSE) are entering a high-demand job market, both for those who want to teach and those pursuing opportunities with business, extension and social service agencies or corporate wellness programming, community education, and child, family and consumer advocacy settings. UW-Stout's online program is ideal for working professionals and those considering a career change and offers a broad array of training in critical areas.
- Family Studies
- Resource Management
- Housing & Interior Design
- Food & Nutrition
- Child Development & Care
- Textiles, Fashion & Clothing Construction
Program Overview
Earn a Professional Certificate While Fulfilling Your Degree Requirements
Enhance your knowledge and skills in a critical area related to teaching. This professional certificate will expand your career opportunities while the related courses fulfill your B.S. Family & Consumer Sciences Education’s elective requirements.
Program Highlights
- Family strength, diversity and vitality across the lifespan
- Personal, social and material resources that meet human needs
- Consumer roles and responsibilities
- Balancing personal, family and work lives
- Home and community settings and technologies that support individuals and families
- Policies that support individuals, families and communities
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the B.S. Family & Consumer Sciences Education.
Request Information
Enhanced Online Learning
Our full-time tenured faculty have created an enhanced online learning environment with curriculum design for:
- Individuals who desire to teach but have difficulty relocating to UW-Stout to earn a degree
- People who have been hired under an emergency license
- Teachers seeking additional licenses
The courses can be completed in three years. Technical courses in the major/discipline area can be taken at UW-Stout or your closest technical college. The required general education courses can be taken online through UW-Stout or another accredited college or university.
Customized Tuition & Fees
UW-Stout degree programs using the customized instruction model are designed with the adult learner in mind. If you're comparing UW-Stout's online degree customized instruction (CI) tuition to our competitors, keep in mind:
- Customized instruction tuition rate includes the textbook rental fee.
- There are no additional or hidden university-based semester or technology fees.
- Students in customized instruction programs pay the same rate of tuition regardless of where you live--Wisconsin, California, Texas, or in a foreign country.
More Value for Your Money
Customized Instruction also provides:
- Program Director/Coordinator: Faculty with academic and industry expertise.
- Student Services Advisor: One point of contact, providing dedicated support throughout your degree program.
- Course Sequences & Matrices: Plan ahead with clear program outlines so you know what courses are offered when.
- Stackable Courses & Programs: Many of our courses and certificates can be applied to our degree programs.
- Flexibility: Courses are designed to offer the flexibility and convenience working professionals need to get ahead in their careers without sacrificing their current income and responsibilities.
Other universities will present costs and value differently, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples.
Application
To apply for the on-campus and online Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, you need to apply to UW-Stout.
Financial Aid
Students who are attending another institution, but are planning to receive their degree from UW-Stout, may be eligible to receive aid from UW‐Stout. In these cases, UW‐Stout is considered the Home Institution and the other campus is considered the Visiting Institution.
Transfer Students
Note: When filling out the application form, be sure to make a note in the student comment section that you intend to apply to the "online program."
Note: This program is designed to meet the requirements for licensure in the State of Wisconsin. If you reside outside of Wisconsin, please note that UW-Stout cannot confirm whether this program (or course) meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. Students from other states will need to contact their state regarding licensure requirements. See the following website for additional information.
New First-Year Students
- There are no additional requirements for new first-year students.
Transfer Students
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher from the last institution attended.
Students who meet this requirement will be admitted to the university in their chosen Education major. Subsequent acceptance into a teacher education major and enrollment in professional education coursework will require successful completion of Benchmark I requirements. Additional information can be found at the School of Education website.
Students whose cumulative GPA is lower than the 2.75 will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis for admission consideration.
Upon completion of the bachelor's degree program, you'll be able to be certified to teach Family and Consumer Education in grades K-12. Most graduates teach at the middle and high school levels, since the demand for teachers in this field currently exceeds the supply. Other choices include writing Family and Consumer Education textbooks, working in county or state extension positions, or serving as specialized consultants to state departments of education.
Family and consumer science teachers at the middle and high school level instruct students about:
- Nutrition and food preparation
- Interpersonal relationships
- Human development
- Child care and parenting
- Family relationships
- Textiles and apparel construction
- Home environments
- Financial management
- Consumer purchasing
- Resource management
Typical job titles of graduates:
- Teachers in Middle and Junior High Schools
- School-to-Work Coordinator
- Food Service Teacher
- Parent Educator
- Family Life Educator
- Financial Consultant
- Family Living Extension Agent
- 4-H Youth Extension Agent
- Textbook Writer
- Software Developer
- Nutrition Education Consultant
- Family Resource Center Educator
- Product Promotion Specialist
- Interior Designer
- Family Advocate
- Entrepreneur
Advisory Committee Members
| Katelyn | Hahn | Teacher, Family & Consumer Science | Chippewa Falls Middle School |
| Sue | Halama | Adjunct Instructor | UW-Stout |
| Mary | Hopkins-Best | Former Dean for College | UW-Stout |
| Kayla | Jellison | Student | UW-Stout |
| De'Andre | Jones | Alumni | Student Affairs |
| Diane | Klemme | Program Director | UW-Stout |
| Cindy | Quilling | University Supervisor | UW-Stout |
| Diane | Ryberg | FCCLA State Supervisor | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |
| David | Seim | Professor, Social Sciences | UW-Stout |
| Bethanne | Shriner | Professor, Human Development & Family Studies | UW-Stout |
| Sarah | Sorenson | Teacher, Family & Consumer Science | Eau Claire School District |
| Deb | Wesolek | University Supervisor (Ret.) | UW-Stout |
| Samatha | Hoyt | Dir. HR (former admin) | Menomonie School District |
| Bird | Michael | Director, Health Minor | UW-Stout |
| Kennedy | Halling | FCSE Teacher | Eau Claire School District |
