Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Education
FCS prepares individuals for employment in a wide range of industrial occupations, including preparation for apprentice trades, technical occupations, and other industrial and service occupations. FCS includes Family and Consumer Sciences, Creative Design Careers, Early Childhood Careers, and Hospitality Service Careers.
Background
Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Education prepares individuals for employment in a wide range of human services occupations, including food, child development, fashion and textiles, cosmetology, and community services. FCS and Human Services careers relate to families and human needs such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care, and consumer services, as well as the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel related services.
FCS is one of the three original Career and Technical Education (CTE) areas, created in 1917 by the Smith-Hughes legislation. FCS has evolved in the more than 100 years since its inception from home economics courses just for girls to now supporting good paying, highly skilled, and sought after careers in creative design/textiles, hospitality/culinary, early childhood, education careers, and other human and community services. The student organization for FCS, the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA, was formed in 1945 originally as the Future Homemakers of America, or FHA. As of 2024, more than 206 schools offer FCS programs in Minnesota, including 300 teachers and 50,000 students grades 5-12.
FCS comprises the Human Services career field on Minnesota’s Career Wheel. FCS includes four to six CTE licenses:
Human Services Industry in Minnesota
Minnesota is a state of mind filled with adventure, culture, and curiosity. And we’re a state of opportunity, committed to building what matters and making the world a better place for everyone. Minnesotans working in the human services industry help people meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential, with a shared belief that when Minnesotans help other Minnesotans, we create a brighter future for all of us.
- 4th Most Educated State (DEED, 2024)
- 3rd in Child Well-Being (Kids Count Report, 2022)
- 4th Best State to Live in All Rankings (US News and World Report, 2024)
- 5th in Percent of Population with a High School Degree (DEED, 2024)
- 3rd in Labor Force Participation Rate for Women (DEED, 2024)
- 2nd in Quality of Life (World Population Review, 2022)
- 1st Least Stressed State (WalletHub, 2023; 2nd in 2022; 3rd in 2021; 1st in 2020)
- 3rd Best State to Raise a Family (WalletHub, 2024; 2nd in 2023)
Minnesota FCS Companies
Three Components of Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Education
FCS Courses and Labs
Academic, Rigorous Instruction
Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) prepares students for high wage, high skill, and in demand jobs and careers in culinary, hospitality, fashion and textiles, early childhood, and education careers. FCS integrates science and math, ideally while meeting high school graduation requirements and earning college credit and industry certifications. FCS is contextual, combining classroom and laboratory, often making heavy use of project-based learning.
Essential elements include: career awareness, exploration, and preparation; programs of study based on industry; and a balance of classroom and laboratory instruction, which uses technology.
FCS Work-Based Learning
Technical, Relevant Experience
Students learn best by doing. A work-based learning (WBL) project is an extension of the classroom, where students develop specific technical and career knowledge that prepares them for their future. Within FCS, students begin exploring careers of interest, followed by relevant experiences with business and industry, most often through internships or simulated School-Based Enterprises at the school such as a school restaurant or childcare operation.
Essential elements include: work-based learning opportunities guided by training agreements and training plans; safety instruction and policies.
Minnesota FCCLA
Affective, Relationships/Leadership
FCCLA is the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for Family and Consumer Science (FCS) and Human Services programs and is available to any student who has taken a course in FCS. Minnesota FCCLA promotes personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. State membership as of 2022 was more than 2,973 students in 54 FCCLA chapters.
Essential elements include: leadership development opportunities through student organizations or other means.
Courses in Family & Consumer Science
FCS High School and Middle Programs
FCS State Leadership and Professional Organizations
FCS Teacher Preparation and Mentoring
Lakes Country Service Cooperative
Licenses:
Introductory mentoring and induction for secondary teachers new to the profession who need support with foundations of CTE and basic pedagogy/instruction, most often Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers. CTE TIP offers free curriculum, mentoring, professional development, and resources.
Advanced mentoring and induction for those who have recently completed a teacher preparation program (Tier 3) or those who have completed CTE-TIP (Tier 2 or Tier 3) and need license-specific support to build a program, design and adopt curriculum, and enhance their teaching and pedagogy.