Help youth and families Flourish in their communities
The family and consumer sciences (FCS) program at UW-Stevens Point is one of the largest offered in the country. Our program, which is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and provides coursework that meets the standards required for graduates to obtain the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation, offers two options:
- Child Life and Family Studies: Be nationally certified to work with families in a variety of environments, agencies and programs. Child life and family studies graduates are often employed in community-based education, childcare settings, adoption agencies, family crisis centers and eldercare programs. Completion of 10 specific courses fulfills the academic requirements on the path to becoming a child life specialist.
- Certified Teacher Education: Be certified to teach family and consumer sciences in elementary and secondary schools and technical institutions or community colleges.
What to Expect?
As a family and consumer sciences major, you’ll learn about issues that influence individuals, families, and communities. Your learning experiences will cover topics related to basic human needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, and complex matters like child development, consumer economics, and family relationships, equipping you for a variety of career options, such as:
- FCS teacher in middle and high schools
- community agency director
- child life specialist
- sexual assault victims advocate
- family life and parenting coach
An undergraduate degree in family and consumer sciences also prepares you to complete a graduate-level teaching licensure program or pursue a master’s degree in fields such as:
- community and organizational leadership
- guidance and counseling
- marriage and family therapy
- social work
- student affairs
Get Involved on Campus
Recognized nationwide, our student organizations present at conferences from Wisconsin Dells to San Diego. Students network with professionals and stay up-to-date on contemporary issues in the field.
- Child Life Association of Stevens Point (CLASP)
- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
- Phi Upsilon Omicron
- Stevens Point Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SPAFCS)
- University Council on Family Relations Stevens Point (UCFR)
Navigate Your Major
Major Maps help students map their first day to the first job in their chosen field. While a four-year plan outlines classes to get a degree, Major Maps help students learn how to build career-ready skills and experiences outside the classroom. Each Major Map shows how students can get the most of their UW-Stevens Point journey from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It’s a roadmap to discovering your purpose!
Study Abroad
International Perspectives on Family and Consumer Sciences
Through excursions in the United Kingdom, readings, discussions, and the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) conference attendance, family and consumer sciences students from UW-Stevens Point will explore research, practice, and education related to the field of FCS June 12-30, 2024. The IFHE annual conference is an opportunity for students to learn about current global issues and research, best practices, and emerging trends in relation to FCS, as well as an excellent opportunity to network with other FCS professionals. The conference regularly attracts over 1,000 students and professionals from around the globe. The 2024 conference will take place in Galway, Ireland. Led by Prof. Susan Turgeson, students will share their experiences along the way.
Meet Your Faculty and Staff
Cuiting Li
- Program Director – Family and Consumer Sciences
- Professor – Family and Consumer Sciences
Susan Turgeson
- Associate Professor – Family and Consumer Sciences
- Coordinator – Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program (Undergraduate and Graduate)
Sterling Wall
- Professor – Family and Consumer Sciences
- Coordinator – Child Life Specialist Program
Abby Baker
- Retention Specialist – School of Health Sciences and Wellness
- Associate Lecturer – Child Life Specialist Certificate
DPI Accreditation
UW-Stevens Point’s teacher education programs are accredited by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.