Online Family and Consumer Science Courses and Classes

Individuals may study family and consumer sciences online through bachelor's and master's degree programs that are offered by several colleges and universities. Courses prepare students to become teachers and leaders in the community so they can educate others about family life.

Overview of Online Family and Consumer Science Courses

Family and consumer sciences regard the family as the foundation of society and aim to improve family and consumer welfare through education programs, public policy and community initiatives. Such programs as Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences or Master of Science in Family Life offer classes online. Courses train current and future professionals for careers as family and early childhood educators, community program administrators and consumer advocates. While some of the courses are offered online, others require attendance on campus.

Course Requirements

Participation in online classes depends on access to an Internet-connected computer with standard operating, browsing and productivity software. Instructors require students to maintain an e-mail address, log in to the class website on a regular basis and contribute to group discussion sites. Assignments and exams are usually delivered via a class Web portal, and assignments may be returned either by e-mail or uploading files directly to the class website.

List of Family and Consumer Science Courses

Family Development Course

Interpersonal relationships that shape family development are the focus of this introductory course. Topics include family composition, gender roles and life span issues. Students learn the concepts and key behaviors utilized in successful family relationships and get an opportunity to practice the skills needed for improving family interactions.

Family Resource Management Course

Students study financial management and their application to family and personal resources. Family spending, saving and investing are discussed, along with an overview of basic economics, banking, employment and capital management. Other subjects may include time management, stress management, education and social skill building.

Family Issues Course

This course examines the contemporary issues that impact family processes and the major theories used for assisting families in transition and crisis situations. Students study the common social and economical issues affecting American families, including aging, drug use, abuse and unemployment.

Human Nutrition Course

Students learn about basic nutritional concepts and examine their application to lifespan and family development. The class discusses nutritional problems, such as obesity, malnutrition and diet-related disease management. Topics include the unique nutritional requirements at different life stages, from infancy to the later years.

Consumer Education Course

Issues of budget management, consumer consumption and consumer legislation are the focus of this course. Students explore such topics as rational spending, goods and services, the electronic economy and risk management.

Global Family Ecology Course

This course reviews the theories of social construction as they apply to family development on a global scale. Students examine such factors as economics, race, religion, education and politics to determine how they influence family dynamics in various cultures and geographic locales.