PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The M.S. in Consumer Sciences is a 30-credit degree program that offers advanced study in two complementary concentration areas: Consumer Economics and Family Financial Planning and Counseling.  The masters degree is offered on main campus and online via Distance. ​

Consumer Economics

​​The Consumer Economics concentration offers an applied microeconomics approach to understanding consumers in home and market environments.  This concentration prepares students to continue in a doctoral program or employment in a research-oriented setting investigating consumer decision making, personal finance, and related family and consumer policy. More information can be found on the Graduate Required Courses page.​

Family Financial Planning and Counseling

The Family Financial Planning and Counseling concentration focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in financial planning and related careers. The curriculum fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the CFP® certification exam that leads to the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Students who successfully complete the concentration may sit for the CFP® certification exam that leads to the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.  The concentration also fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the Accredited Financial Counselor® exam offered by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education®. Successful completion of a capstone project, practicum, or portfolio is required.More information can be found on the Graduate Required Courses page.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

This 15-credit hour in non-degree certificate program teaches ways to manage consumer, workplace, and personal conflict through the use of effective communication, emotional intelligence skills, and cooperative problem solving. From a foundation in conflict theory, students learn strategies to prevent, reduce, and resolve conflict with the goal of preserving, and in many cases improving, relationships.  Students admitted to the Conflict Resolution certificate, non-degree program enroll in up to 15 credits. All 15 of these credits may be used toward the Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences degree. 
​
More information can be found on the Graduate Required Courses page.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

Consumer Sciences faculty also coordinate with the College of Human Environmental Science to offer a Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with courses in the following areas:

• Conflict Resolution 
• Consumer Quality Management