The School of Family and Consumer Studies offers graduate programs for advanced study leading to the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree. The school's graduate program emphasizes both basic research and the application of current knowledge of sciences and human behavior for the improvement of individuals, families, and society. Master's degree programs require a minimum of 32-43 graduate semester-hour credits.
Enrollment in the school's graduate programs has doubled over the past five years. Currently, 44 students are enrolled in the Family Studies and Nutritional Sciences graduate programs. This number is predicted to increase in the next five years as a result of the added professional programs in gerontology (Graduate Certificate) and dietetics (Graduate Internship). Shortages of trained individuals in both fields provided the rationale for adding these graduate specializations.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to one of the FCS graduate programs must submit the following:
- Completed graduate school application
- Official transcripts with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. In cases where graduate courses have been completed, a minimum 3.0 for graduate work is required. A bachelor's degree with a major in an appropriate undergraduate curriculum is required. For admission to the M.S. degree program, coursework in biochemistry, physiology, and advanced nutrition is required. For admission to the M.A. degree program, coursework in family studies is required.
- Graduate Record Examination. (Required for the Human Development and Family Studies, and Gerontology Programs only.)
- Three letters of reference from individuals qualified to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in graduate school.
- Letter describing the applicant's professional/research goals to be attained in pursuing graduate work and the congruency of these goals with FCS graduate programs/faculty interests.
- Students for which English is a second language are required to have a TOEFL score of 570.
Financial Assistance
Graduate assistantships (required 20 hours of work per week) within the School of Family and Consumer Studies are available on a competitive basis. The assistantships include a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Decisions on assistantships are made by the beginning of April for the following academic year.
The Dorothy M. and Mildred G. Lucke Scholarship for Nutrition and Dietetics is available for graduate students in nutrition. This scholarship is awarded yearly, based on students' scholarship, experience, and professional goals.
The Eva Medved Endowed Scholarship for Nutrition and Dietetics was established to provide nutrition students in their Master of Science degree program with assistance in their research, or for a senior student who has applied to the dietetic internship. The award is given annually, based on students' scholarship, experience, and leadership on campus and in the community.
The James and Dorothy Fruit Scholarship for Family Studies was established to provide assistance to a junior, senior, or first year graduate student in the field of family studies. The award is made annually, based on students' scholarship, experience, service in family studies, and professional goals.
Family and Consumer Studies School Facilities
The School of Family and Consumer Studies is located in Nixson Hall. Several facilities in Nixson Hall support graduate students and their research:
- Human Development Center, facility that houses research in life span development and aging
- Human Nutrition Outreach Program, providing opportunities for hands-on experience in assessing and educating students, faculty, and staff who are in need of nutrition assistance.
- Food and Nutrition Research and Catering Kitchen
