Family and Consumer Sciences Curriculum, History of

The curriculum of family and consumer sciences (home economics) symbolized the field's unifying focus and in higher educational institutions reflected the changing conception of home economics and family and consumer sciences throughout the 20th century. The concepts taught in traditional home economics and family and consumer sciences curricula embodied the prevailing notion of essential knowledge in the field. These ideas developed into courses in the following subject areas: family relations and child development, textiles and clothing, housing and interior design, home management and consumer economics, foods and nutrition, and home economics foundations and professional development. These subject areas formed the organizational center of home economics and developed into the curriculum. However, the integrated curriculum has given way to a more specialized curriculum as home economics ...