Consumer Sciences (CONS)

Jane E. Hegland, Head
Department of Consumer Sciences
SWG 229
605-688-5196
e-mail: Jane.Hegland@sdstate.edu

Faculty

Professor Hegland, Head; Professors Boulware, Isham; Professors Emeriti Enevoldsen, Kamstra, Nussbaumer, Semeniuk, Stoflet; Associate Professors Gorham, Lyons, Peterson, Phillips, Strickler; Associate Professor Emerita Yost; Assistant Professors Bell, Boersma, Cho, Christensen, Dickinson, Morrison, Saboe-Wounded Head, Yoon; Adjunct Assistant Professor McKillip; Assistant Professor Emerita Swedlund; Instructors Patel, Trautman.

Programs

The Department of Consumer Sciences (CS) is one of four departments in the College of Education & Human Sciences (EHS): Consumer Sciences; Counseling & Human Development; Health & Nutritional Sciences; and Teaching, Learning & Leadership.

The Department of Consumer Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with undergraduate majors and minors in Apparel Merchandising (AM), Aviation (AVIA), Consumer Affairs (CA), Hospitality Management (HMGT), and Interior Design (ID) and minors in Leadership (LEAD) and Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations (LMNO). We also offer two graduate programs where students earn an Master of Science in Family Financial Planning or in Merchandising.

While the department is home to a diverse collection of disciplines, all of our programs are professionally based. All academic and extension programs have integrated elements of leadership, management, customer service, design, and technology. In addition, a strong general education curriculum is part of all majors, which aids students in learning to assimilate all of their educational components. We have occasionally referred to this department as “Main Street USA” because we are educating students in professions that exist in cities and towns around the country. We are developing business professionals and community leaders.

Consumer Sciences faculty are committed to SDSU’s tripartite mission of teaching, scholarship, and outreach, where the focus is on integrating students into the learning environment under close supervision of qualified faculty. As well as teaching and mentoring students, faculty are researchers and scholars who produce new knowledge and serve related professional organizations in leadership capacities.

Practical learning experiences complement traditional academic settings. Internship and practicum courses prepare students for the real world and provide the industry with well-trained employees. In most programs, students begin preparation for their internship or practicum with a professional development course. This course helps students to become aware of current trends and expectations in the industry as well as providing a professional foundation.

Because of the world economy and the importance of developing an international perspective, we offer travel study opportunities regionally, nationally, and internationally to such places as Kansas City, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Rome, London and Paris. For longer-term study opportunities, students may choose to attend classes in New York City, London, England, or Sydney, Australia (for example) for a summer, a semester, or for a year. In addition, numerous other study abroad programs around the world are available to our students via the Office of International Affairs. Students work with an advisor to ensure that the transfer of credits occurs prior to taking advantage of one of these opportunities.

There are active student organizations in each of our major areas of study. Students plan educational programs and tours, attend regional and national professional meetings, undertake service projects for the SDSU campus and community, and often plan field trips to manufacturers, professional businesses, museums, trade shows, and the like.

All of these opportunities provide students with experiences that highlight the uses of their university education as well as broaden their thinking about the world around them.

Graduates of our programs have found exciting professional opportunities in their fields, after graduating from one of our programs. Salaries are competitive, and the latest reports show salary ranges between $27,000 and $43,000 for 2008 graduates. Career placement in our majors in 2008 was 88% and 100%, dependent on major.

To indicate your interest in one of our programs, contact our department. We would be happy to visit with you personally about your interests and career goals. We can arrange a campus and department tour, visit a class, or visit with one of our current students or faculty members.

The Department of Consumer Sciences is brand new as of July 1, 2010 and is the result of ongoing restructuring efforts at South Dakota State University to align programs with similar missions together into academic units.

The Department of Consumer Sciences enhances the quality of life for consumers, with particular emphasis on the sustainable management of resources in a global context. Consumer Sciences will be known for high quality dynamic, and innovative teaching, scholarship, and outreach in its quest to develop successful professionals in the areas of apparel merchandising, aviation, consumer affairs, hospitality management, interior design, and leadership.

Three major themes underpin the Consumer Sciences vision and mission:

• Commerce: Consumer Sciences students learn about design and production processes and consumption patterns and behavior in the global marketplace;
• Creativity: Consumer Sciences students engage in problem-solving activities that produce experiential work within project constraints that is a result of creative collaboration; and
• Resource Management: Consumer Sciences students understand the need for prioritization of resources to help consumers and businesses make optimal decisions.

In all our work, faculty and students commit themselves to fostering scholarship and outreach efforts that reflect local, regional, national, and/or global contexts; promoting careers in an ever-changing global marketplace; inspiring critical thinking and theory building; encouraging activities with socially responsible impacts on individuals, households, communities, and environments; and celebrating diversity.

Apparel Merchandising (AM)

Apparel Merchandising is the perfect major for students who would like to spend their career in one of many roles in the dynamic, ever-changing fashion industry. Careers such as store or department manager, buyer, or visual merchandiser are typical. Students in apparel merchandising acquire a broad knowledge of people and their behavior, an understanding of the world at large and technical knowledge and skills to select fabrics and plan and produce fashion goods. A special feature of the Apparel Merchandising program at SDSU is our cooperative arrangement with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) located in New York City. Students may spend one year studying fashion in New York while applying those classes directly to their bachelor’s degree at SDSU. At the same time, they earn an associate degree from FIT.

A 7-week (280 hour) fulltime summer practicum compatible with career goals is a program requirement.

Minors in Apparel Merchandising
Apparel Merchandising has two areas of study, apparel (the product) and merchandising (the business), and also offers two minors that focus on these areas: Apparel Studies and Merchandising. Both minors require 18 credit hours. Plan your minor with an academic advisor early in your program.
 

Aviation (AVIA)

The South Dakota State University Aviation Program is a top-grade 4-year program that produces quality graduates who are well prepared for careers in the aviation industry. The SDSU Aviation Program offers students high quality aviation training at competitive rates. Students in the program graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation and may choose between three avenues to specialize in to further hone their education experience.

The Aviation Education specialization is for students who wish to become Certified Flight Instructors and later be professional pilots in industry. Many of our graduates are in the airlines, military, government, and corporate workplaces. Top performing students of this option are often brought on as flight instructors in the SDSU program during their junior and senior years. It is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to instruct and improve the very program they are a part of.

The Aviation Management specialization is focused on students who wish to someday operate their own aviation business or be the head of a flight department. The Certified Flight Instructor certificate is not required for graduation, but there is a strong emphasis on mathematics, finance, and business courses.

The Aviation Maintenance Management specialization is focused on students who someday wish to repair and maintain aircraft. SDSU has partnered with approved FAA A&P programs across the United States to offer a four-year degree in aviation maintenance management. Students will go through maintenance training at an approved maintenance school and will then come to SDSU to finish up the degree requirements. Students may work for the Chief of Aviation Maintenance at SDSU prior to graduation. This is an excellent opportunity for maintenance students to gain real-world experience.

Minor in Aviation
Nineteen credit hours are required for a minor in Aviation. Plan your minor with an academic advisor early in your program.
 

Consumer Affairs (CA)

The Consumer Affairs program focuses on the development of abilities in management, planning, organization, and problem solving for students who will assist individuals and families to improve their economic wellbeing. The curriculum focuses on the interaction between consumers and the marketplace, the family financial planning process, the management of resources, public policy affecting individuals and families, and consumer behavior.

The Consumer Affairs curriculum prepares students to qualify for employment or graduate study in family financial planning, consumer behavior, consumer product marketing, consumer economics, and consumer education/policy. Career opportunities also exist in non-profit organizations and government.

An 8-week (320 hour) fulltime summer internship compatible with career goals is a program requirement.

Students in the program graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Consumer Affairs and may choose between two specializations:

The Family Financial Management (FFM) specialization is for students interested in the financial services industry and focuses on principles and practice related to family financial planning including insurance planning, investment strategies, income tax planning, retirement preparation, and estate planning, and case studies to assist individuals and families with individualized family financial planning goals.

The Consumer Services Management (CSM) specialization focuses on the application of resource management concepts for families of varying structures and conditions and implementation strategies for working with diverse adult audiences.

Minor in Consumer Affairs
Eighteen credit hours are required for a minor in Consumer Affairs. Plan your minor with an academic advisor early in your program.
 

Hospitality Management (HMGT)

The Hospitality Management program seeks to create visionary leaders by achieving excellence in student-centered education, skill development, research, service, and collaboration with global hospitality and tourism industries. Today’s employers are looking for people with general management skills that are useful in the hospitality industry. Business leaders have identified four factors critical for an individual’s success: communication skills, lifetime-learning skills, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and ethical leadership skills.

The curriculum is designed to expose students to many aspects of the hospitality industry and to instill in them the critical skills required in today’s workplace. Students are required to complete two professional practicum courses while pursuing their degree, and will gain important practical industry experience. Graduation requires 128 credits, including a minor in business. Some students also choose to minor in entrepreneurial studies.

Minor in Hospitality Management
Eighteen credit hours are required for a minor in Hospitality Management. Plan your minor with an academic advisor early in your program.
 

Interior Design (ID)

The Interior Design program at SDSU seeks to promote the awareness and knowledge of the contributions of interior design to the health, safety, and well being of people in the built environment and to prepare graduates of the program to succeed in the profession throughout the region, nationally and internationally.

The Interior Design program prepares graduates for practice in the interior design profession by enriching their personal and professional lives through a student centered, studio-based learning environment. SDSU’s program provides a broad-based education, opportunities for a variety of national and international travel, service learning experiences, opportunities for various minors, and collaboration among various disciplines. Small class sizes provide for extended student/faculty interactions, active learning environments, instruction, and critique by faculty and local professionals alike. The curriculum infuses sustainable practices, develops and increases creativity through a process-driven conceptual framework, and offers various learning environments that use technologies appropriate to students’ expanding skill levels and abilities.

A 7-week (280 hour) practicum compatible with career goals is a program requirement. Students are also required to buy a laptop computer and software for use in the beginning of their sophomore year.

Interior Design faculty maintain currency in their fields of knowledge, uses of technology, and understanding of current issues to inform students, regional professional, and the citizens of the state and region of the important design plays in quality of life issues.

Minor in Interior Design
Eighteen credit hours are required for a minor in Interior Design. Plan your minor with an academic adviser early in your program.
 

Leadership (LEAD) Minor

The 18-credit undergraduate leadership minor is an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional program that allows students to explore and experience multiple frameworks of leadership. The minor prepares students for real-life leadership experiences, both on-campus and in larger global communities. Leadership development will relate to student aspirations as they transition from the on-campus extracurricular services to professions, communities, and public and private organizations. By completing the minor, students will acquire skills and abilities to serve as competent leaders as they transition to life after graduation.

Students take a core of coursework specifically focused on leadership theory and practice. In addition, students choose courses from two key leadership elements, communication and ethics. Finally, students complete a leadership project in LEAD 496: Leadership in Action.
 

Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations (LMNO) Minor

The Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations minor prepares students to enhance nonprofit organizations. This minor consists of 18 credits of coursework. Students need to declare their intentions to minor in LMNO by contacting the American Humanics Campus Executive Director, Dr. Denise Peterson.

National Certification through American Humanics in nonprofit management requires an additional 300-hour internship with a nonprofit organization. American Humanics, Inc. is a national alliance of colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating, preparing, and certifying professionals to strengthen and lead nonprofit organizations. The certification, recognized by nonprofit organizations, particularly the national nonprofit partners of American Humanics, signifies that the student has met foundational and professional competencies of the organization and is well prepared for a dynamic career in the nonprofit sector. Certification requirements are met through course work, co-curricular involvement, an internship, and the American Humanics Management Institute.