The family and consumer sciences education concentration is designed to provide a broad-based education in family and consumer sciences. Students in the concentration prepare for career opportunities such as: family and consumer sciences teacher, 4-H agent, and other jobs related to the field. Observations and community service in various locations, and student teaching, in addition to course work, provide the means for the student to gain the knowledge and skills needed in the field.
Family and consumer sciences education graduates meet the requirements for secondary licensure (grades 7-12) to teach vocational family and consumer sciences in Tennessee. The certificate is also valid in states which grant reciprocity in licensure to graduates of institutions accredited by CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) or which participate in reciprocity agreements developed by NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification). The program is offered in cooperation with the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences, which governs admission requirements to teacher education and exit requirements for the Praxis Series specialty area exams and for the recommendation for certification. Students must file an application and be admitted to the teacher education program for eligibility to enroll in professional education courses (refer to Admission to the Educator Preparation Program section for the criteria for admission). Continuation in the program and recommendations for licensure are dependent upon fulfilling the requirements stipulated. Those graduates recommended for certification apply for endorsement in vocational family and consumer sciences, and, if eligible, for additional endorsements in one or more occupational family and consumer sciences areas. To qualify for added endorsements in occupational family and consumer sciences, students are required to complete 4-15 semester hours in each subject matter area related to the endorsement.