Home Economics Majors

<h3 id="section---WhatKindsOfProgramsAreAvailableInHomeEconomics">What Kinds of Programs Are Available in Home Economics?</h3> <p>Colleges offering majors specifically in home economics are rare nowadays; however, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs in family and consumer sciences are available. Traditionally, home economics programs taught valuable vocational skills deemed necessary for the successful management of a household, including how to plan meals, balance checkbooks and sew. These days, family and consumer science degree programs provide more advanced educational options by exploring various aspects of family, child development and health. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Program Options</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree programs in home economics are rare, but programs in family and consumer sciences are available</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td>Design, psychology, family housing, consumer economics</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td>Online bachelor's degree programs in the field are available, but uncommon</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td>Middle school or high school teacher</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$59,140 <i>(Career and Technical Education Teachers)</i></td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td>2% growth <i>(Career and Technical Education Teachers)</i></td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatClassesWillITake">What Classes Will I Take?</h3> <p>Bachelor's degree programs can cover a variety of topics, including nutrition, education, budgeting and interior design. Schools may require you to pick an area of focus, such as family studies, nutrition, financial counseling or retail management. A few programs blend family and consumer sciences classes with teacher training courses if you're looking to work as a home economics teacher after graduating. Your classes may consist of the following: </p> <ul><li>Family housing </li><li>Consumer economics </li><li>Fashion design </li><li>Child psychology </li></ul><p>Most home economics-related programs require hands-on field activities or projects that blend art and utilitarianism. You may get to sketch fashion designs and turn your drawings into real-life creations by sewing dresses, shirts and other garments. You may also have the chance to practice interior design by learning how to upholster furniture or remodel a room. While studying nutrition, programs may require you to devise diet plans that meet nutritional guidelines. </p> <h3 id="section---CanIEarnThisDegreeOnline">Can I Earn This Degree Online?</h3> <p>You may be able to find online bachelor's degree programs in family and consumer sciences, but these programs are uncommon. Online classes allow you to complete assignments and participate in class discussions via your home computer. Technical requirements might include access to multiple computers, a microphone, a webcam, an antivirus program and a high-speed Internet connection. You can often take your tests online, but the exams may need to be proctored at a library or school near your home. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatCareersCanIFind">What Careers Can I Find?</h3> <p>Many home economics majors find careers in teaching, although you can also enter administration or consumer science research with further graduate education. If you want to become a teacher, you'll probably want to enroll in a family and consumer sciences program that also offers teacher preparation courses. This can provide a needed step toward teacher licensure, but you'll still need to meet the rest of your state's requirements for licensure, including passing a series of examinations. </p> <p>As of May 2020, middle school vocational education teachers earned a mean annual salary of $66,950, whereas high school vocational education teachers earned an average yearly salary of $65,870, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).</p>