DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER SCIENCES (CSM)

Professor Milla D. Boschung, Department Head Office: 212 Adams Hall

The consumer sciences curriculum allows students to select a concentration of courses in either family financial planning and counseling or consumer affairs, depending on the students' career goals. Students must work with a department adviser to plan the appropriate courses. The concentration in family financial planning and counseling has been accepted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.; therefore, students who successfully complete the concentration may sit for the CFP^® Certification Examination that leads to the professional designation Certified Financial Planner and CFP^®. CFP^® and Certified Financial Planner are federally registered marks of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board). The University of Alabama does not award the CFP^® and Certified Financial Planner designation. The right to use the marks CFP^® and Certified Financial Planner is granted by the CFP Board to those persons who have met its rigorous educational standards, passed the CFP Certification Examination, satisfied a work experience requirement, and agreed to abide by the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Only persons registered with the CFP Board are permitted to sit for the CFP Certification Examination. CFP certificates and licenses are issued only by the CFP Board.

The family financial planning and counseling concentration ideally suits students interested in careers as family financial planners or counselors in banks, insurance companies, investment companies, social services, or extension. The consumer affairs concentration prepares students for careers as consumer specialists in government, business, industry, communication, and extension. Students interested in graduate study are encouraged to study advanced consumer economic theory and to obtain an introduction to research methodology and analysis. Students interested in energy management careers with public utilities, manufacturers, or cooperative and energy extension services are encouraged to include courses in household equipment.

Major in consumer sciences. The following courses are required for the major in consumer sciences.

Required courses	Hours
CSM 201 Individual and Family Resource Management	3
CSM 204 Introduction to Personal Financial Planning	3
CSM 401 Consumer Protection (W)	3
CSM 403 Consumer Economics	3
CSM 405 Public Policy: Family and Community Resources	3
CSM 445 Microcomputers in Consumer Services (C)	3
Concentration	21-33
	--
	39-51

SAMPLE CURRICULUM FOR THE CONSUMER SCIENCES MAJOR

FRESHMAN YEAR
Courses	Hours
EN 101 and EN 102 (or EN 103) (FC)	6
Mathematics (MA)	3
History (HI) and social and behavioral sciences (SB)	9
Natural science (N)	4
HES 100	3
Computer science (C) or foreign language (FL)	3-4
	--
	31-32
SOPHOMORE YEAR
History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB)	3
Humanities (HU) and fine arts (FA)	6
CSM 201	3
CSM 204	3
Natural science (N)	4
Concentration	6
Computer science (C) or foreign language (FL)	3
Electives	3
	--
	31
JUNIOR YEAR
Humanities (HU) and fine arts (FA)	6
CSM 401 (W)	3
Concentration	9
Electives	10
	--
	28
SENIOR YEAR
HES 310	3
CSM 403	3
CSM 405	3
CSM 445 (C)	3
Writing course (W)	3
Concentration	8
Electives	4
	--
	27

Minor in consumer sciences. A minor in consumer sciences is available to students outside the Department of Consumer Sciences. Eighteen hours are required for the minor, including CSM 201, CSM 204, and 12 additional hours selected in consultation with a department adviser.