MENU

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

The Family and Consumer Sciences Department is housed in Blye-Poteat Hall and the adjacent Child Development Laboratory, both featuring state-of-the-art technology allowing our graduates to compete for the best jobs in the careers of their choice!

OVERVIEW + PROGRAMS


Built on the Christian liberal arts core, the Family and Consumer Sciences programs at Carson-Newman equip each generation to empower the next. With more than 100 years of history, the department has developed a prestigious reputation for our comprehensive range of FCS programs. Housed in Blye-Poteat Hall and the nearby Child Development Laboratory, we feature state-of-the-art technology, equipment and facilities, preparing you to compete for the best jobs in the growing career fields of family and consumer sciences. 

Accreditation

Carson-Newman is the only religiously affiliated school to be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of AAFCS and the first private southeastern school to earn this accreditation.

DID YOU KNOW?

FCS students enjoy a multi-faceted living classroom in Duncan Hall, the 1920s Colonial Revival home donated to the university by Mrs. C.C. James. A showcase of textiles and other interior furnishings, the house also serves as a collaborative space where students develop professional competencies, teamwork and leadership skills.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES

Explore

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Explore

FASHION MERCHANDISING AND DESIGN

Explore

FOODS AND NUTRITION

Explore

INTERIOR DESIGN

Explore

TEACHER LICENSURE: FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION

Explore

ACCREDITATION DETAILS

As an AAFCS accredited unit, the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is required to routinely report – to the public – accurate information about student performance and achievement. Data regarding the number of FCS graduates, retention rates, graduation rates, and performance on national examinations for the last three years (2021-2024) can be found in Form D: Public Reporting of Student Achievement & Performance. Job placement rates in the field, graduate school placement, and post-baccalaureate internship placements for this three-year period are also included for all FCS program areas and emphases.

For the 2018 freshmen cohort, the FCS 150% graduation rate was 70% compared to the University’s 150% graduation rate of 53%. The 2023-2024 Fall-to-Fall retention rate for the Department of FCS was 76% while the University’s retention rate was 73%.

The three-year pass rate on the first attempt for ten Child and Family Studies: Early Childhood Education majors attempting the Ed-TPA (2021-2024) is 90%. For four Family and Consumer Sciences: Family and Consumer Sciences Education majors, the three-year pass rate on the first attempt is 75%. For these majors within one year of the first attempt, the pass rate is 100% for the same period.

The three-year pass rate on the first attempt for Didactic Program in Dietetics graduates sitting for the RDN examination (2022-2024) is 80%. For testers within one year of the first attempt, the pass rate is 86% for the same period.

Majors in the FCS Department constitute the following percentages of membership in C-N honoraries for 2023-2024:

1. Alpha Chi Scholastic Honorary 5 of 58 members (8.6%)

2. Honors Program 2 of 42 students (4.8%)

During the academic year 2023-2024, 17 of the 60 individual undergraduate presenters in RCP Day were majors in FCS, representing 28% of the combined University undergraduate participants.

Child Development Lab
Family and Cosumer Science Department Staff
Family and Consumer Sciences Handbook