Consumer Studies & Family Economics
Note: Effective Fall 2002, the Consumer Studies & Family Economics and Environment & Behavior majors have merged to form a new major called Consumer and Community Studies. Only students who have already declared CSFE or E&B as their major can follow these requirements. Any new students should look at the requirements for the Consumer and Community Studies major.
The aim of the Consumer Studies and Family Economics major is to provide students with the tools necessary to understand the determinants of consumer well being. The CSFE major is organized with a general background in both consumer studies and family economics. Consumer studies emphasizes skills in analyzing marketplace issues from the perspectives of consumers, business, and government. Family economics emphasizes skills in analysis the interaction of families with government and businesses. Toward these general goals, majors in the program acquire the following skills:
- Mastery of key economic principles as they apply to consumer decision making and the analysis of markets; including the role of government policy.
- In-depth knowledge of consumer decision making, business behavior, and government policy in particular markets; housing, household technology, health care, credit.
- Broad understanding of consumer law, consumer rights, and the functions of governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Understanding of the political and social processes by which policies affecting consumers are formed.
- Ability to evaluate the economic impact of consumer policies, both prospectively and retrospectively.
- Ability to place the U.S. consumer movement and consumer policies of the United States in an historical and international context.
With these skills in hand, graduates are prepared to work with consumers in a variety of private and public organizations. Examples include the following professions:
- Public Relations
- Consumer Journalism
- Business Regulation
- Sales and Marketing
- Financial Counseling
- Government Regulation
CSFE majors may choose
to organize course work to obtain a general background in both consumer studies
and family economics, or may organize course work so as to specialize in one
of these two subject areas. Students who want to build an emphasis in consumer
studies should take courses in consumer behavior and consumer policy. These
classes help a student acquire skills that will enable him/her to analyze marketplace
issues from the perspectives of consumers, businesses, and government. As a
result, a graduate who has emphasized this area in his/her program is well prepared
for jobs that involve customer contact. Students who want to build an emphasis
in family economics should take courses in household and family policy. These
classes help a student acquire skills that will enable her/him to analyze the
interactions of families with government and businesses. As a result, a graduate
who has emphasized in family economics is prepared for employment that involves
human service delivery, public policy analysis and public relations.
CSFE Major Requirements
CSFE Minor Requirements