
Family & Consumer Sciences
Overview
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. The degree program is designed for professionals seeking advanced study in one of the specialty areas of family and consumer sciences.
The program is recommended for students whose undergraduate degree is also in Family and Consumer Sciences. It is less appropriate for students with undergraduate degrees in more specific areas (such as a B.A. in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design).
Family and Consumer Sciences also offers sequences in Child Life, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Human Development and Family Science, and Interior Design. There’s also a Master of Science in Nutrition with sequences in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship, and a Distance Dietetic Internship graduate certificate for those students seeking to become registered dietitians.
Point of Pride
Several graduate students in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences published their theses in peer-reviewed journals.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Jen Barnes
(309) 438-3558
Turner 203A
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How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
- If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
- If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
GPA
You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of your undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a Master's program.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
Application Materials
A student applying to this program must:
- Upload a statement of goals for seeking the degree.
- Submit names and email addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application.
Applicants may be considered for graduate assistantships from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. An additional application is not necessary.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Term — February 1
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