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).
We also offer a combined master's degree and Dietetic Internship program 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.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's 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 within one academic year
- present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program 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.
- 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
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — July 1
- Fall (August) Term — May 1 for International students
- Spring (January) Term — December 1
- Spring (January) Term — October 1 for International students
- Summer (May/June) Term — April 1
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from continuous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.