Family and Consumer Sciences Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences provides students with the knowledge and skills to positively impact the quality of individual and family life. The course work provides students with the ability to amplify critical-thinking skills to address problems in diverse family, community, and work environments. Program graduates will enhance capacity-building skills that empower individuals and families to thrive in an ever-changing society. The certificate is available to graduate students, as well as to practicing professionals and may be taken as a stand-alone program or as a part of a graduate degree program. The Family and Consumer Sciences graduate certificate is designed to partially meet the elective concentration component of the MS in Science Translation and Outreach.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must satisfy the minimum Graduate School requirements for admission to a Graduate Certificate (which are identical to those for enrollment as post-baccalaureate graduate student) and apply separately for the Graduate Certificate.
• Students enrolled in (or applying to) a graduate degree program or post-baccalaureate graduate students may apply for the Graduate Certificate.
• Applicants for admission to the Graduate Certificate must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies, who shall notify the Graduate School in writing of the student’s admission.
• As an aid to the admission decision, applicants must provide a two-page personal statement on why the individual desires a Graduate Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences and a one-page biography which includes the student’s educational and work experience. Submit these items to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Following the Graduate School guidelines for GCs, the GRE is not required for admission to the FCS Graduate Certificate program.

The Graduate Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences requires 12 hours as follows: