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Family Life Education

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Arts and Sciences Family and Consumer Sciences
Degree Level
Undergraduate
College
Arts and Sciences
Format
On Ground
Credit Hours
120 hours
Average Time to Degree
4 years

Family Life Education Major

Family life education focuses on healthy family functioning within a family systems perspective and provides a primarily preventive approach. Our program is an approved program by the National Council on Family Relations. As a result, graduates of our program can have an abbreviated application process and a reduced fee to become a provisional certified family life educator.

Learn more about Family and Consumer Sciences

Why study family life education at Harding?

Connections

The department’s variety of organizations provide students with connections and growth within their majors.

The Family and Consumer Sciences Student Association

The Family and Consumer Sciences Student Association prepares new professionals by providing opportunities to serve individuals, families, communities and one another in association sponsored programs and service projects.

Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics facilitates trips to local and state professional meetings, guest speakers in the area of dietetics and nutrition, and service projects aimed to have a positive impact on the campus and community.

More Information

Harding’s Nu Delta chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu, a national honor society for family and consumer sciences, provides recognition and honor for distinguished academic achievements and professional growth through education and service.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Harding University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, Phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400, E-mail: ACEND@eatright.org, Website: www.eatrightpro.org/acend). Effective Fall 2021, the Harding University Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)) will no longer be available to new students. Learn more about the Didactic Program in Dietetics Transitional Plans in the catalog.

The Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice Program at Harding University is a candidacy program seeking accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, Phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400, E-mail: ACEND@eatright.org, Website: www.eatrightpro.org/acend).

The Child Life Major is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals through April 2024. This recognition assures that the program meets the requirements set forth in the ACLP’s Standards for Academic and Clinical Preparation Programs, confirming that the program’s structure, curriculum, resources, support system, and sustainability are of the highest quality.

Dale and Joan Coleman Endowed Scholarship Fund for Family and Consumer Sciences: Dale and Joan Coleman established this fund to provide scholarships for students majoring in family and consumer sciences at Harding University.

Lisa and Rachel Miller Scholarship: The Lisa and Rachel Miller Scholarship is for family consumer science education majors.

Mildred L. Bell Family and Consumer Sciences Scholarship: Faculty, friends and family members established this scholarship as a tribute to Dr. Mildred L. Bell, chair the Harding's Department of Home Economics from 1959-1984.

Sharen Crockett Scholarship: Preference is given to child development and child life majors.

Ellis Endowed Development Scholarship: All family consumer science majors are eligible to apply.

Cheryl Helms Endowed Scholarship: Must be a nutrition and dietetics, child development or child life major.

What can you do with a degree in family life education?

FCS teachers

As an FCS teacher, you will teach necessary life skills and walk alongside students as they make important life decisions. Your curriculum could include basic cooking and sewing skills as well as nutrition, family economics, relationship skills, health and time management. 

Child and/or family advocates

Family advocates assist parents, find foster homes for children, advise teachers in schools and serve families in a variety of other roles. As a child or family advocate, you will make a lifelong difference every day by helping strengthen family relationships and support your community. 

Child care directors

As a child care director, you will develop and facilitate programs for preschool children. These programs include planning and overseeing instructional and recreational activities as well as supervising staff and preparing budgets.

We assist individuals, families and communities in making informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life.
Brittany Cumbie

Department Chair

View the Catalog

View Catalog

Contact Information


Family and Consumer Sciences
501-279-4472
fcs@harding.edu