Family and consumer sciences programs teach people how individuals develop and behave in different settings. Students learn ways that people respond and relate to their family, work, or community. They may learn to use this knowledge to protect and support consumers, or to sell them goods and services.

Are people starting to get jobs at a much younger age than in times past? Why is this so, and how does this affect human development?

How do trends such as junk mail and e-mail spam affect consumer rights? What can be done to protect consumers?

What lies at the root of the rising rates of divorce, child abuse, and spousal abuse? How can we determine these causes and then help to lower the incidents?

These are the kinds of questions you might examine as a student in family and consumer sciences. You can see that this program of study is quite broad and prepares you for just as broad a range of careers. If you feel a strong sense of compassion for people, believe in consumer rights, and want to apply these convictions to your career, then family and consumer sciences might be the program for you.

In order to approach the questions and issues such as the ones listed above, you study a broad range of subjects in this program. You take courses in psychology, studying how humans develop - from childhood to adulthood. You learn about the different issues that affect families and consumers today and how different kinds of social services and government organizations are involved.

Because the field is broad, it allows you the opportunity to focus your studies. If you like teaching, for instance, you could take many courses on educating children and adults in family- and consumer-related issues. If you want to work in advocacy organizations, you could take courses in legislative policies and management.

Many schools offer accredited programs in family and consumer sciences. You can earn an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. An associate degree typically takes two years of full-time study after high school, and a bachelor's degree usually takes four. A master's degree generally takes six years, and a doctoral degree takes about ten.

In some cases, you can earn a postbaccalaureate certificate, which usually takes one year of full-time study after getting your bachelor's degree.