Department of Consumer Sciences

Kendra Kattelmann, Department Head
Department of Consumer Sciences
Wagner Hall 425
605-688-5196

Faculty

Associate Professors

Cody Christensen, Kunsoon Park

Assistant Professors

Axton Betz-Hamilton, Wookjae Heo, Xu Li

Lecturers

Kathryn Morrison, Julie Tkach

Instructors

Kimberly Gustafson, Bonnie (Anne Marie) Junker, Maria Julius, Sheri Marshall

Emeritus

Julie Bell, Bernadine Enevoldsen, Elizabeth Gorham, Madeleine Rose, Robert Rose, Harriet Swedlund

Overview

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. While the department is home to a diverse collection of disciplines, all the programs are professionally based. All academic and extension programs have integrated elements of leadership, management, customer service, and technology. Consumer Sciences strives 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, and leadership.  In addition, a strong general education curriculum is part of all majors, which aids students in learning to assimilate all of their educational components.

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. 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.

Four 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;
• Resource Management: Consumer Sciences students understand the need for prioritization of resources to help consumers and businesses make optimal decisions; and
• Leadership Development: Consumer Sciences students engage in leadership development opportunities.

Programs

Majors

• Aviation (B.S.) - Aviation Education Specialization  
• Aviation (B.S.) - Aviation Maintenance Management Specialization  
• Consumer Affairs (B.S.) - Consumer Services Management Specialization  
• Consumer Affairs (B.S.) - Family Financial Management Specialization  
• Fashion Studies and Retail Merchandising (B.S.)  
• Hospitality Management (B.S.)  
• Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations (B.S.)  

Minors

• Apparel and Fashion Studies Minor  
• Aviation Minor  
• Events and Facilities Administration Minor  
• Financial Counseling Minor  
• Leadership Minor  
• Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations Minor  
• Retail Merchandising Minor  

Graduate Programs*

• Human Sciences (M.S.) - Family Financial Planning Specialization
• Human Sciences (M.S.) - Merchandising Specialization
• Financial and Housing Counseling Certificate
• Family Financial Planning Certificate
• Merchandising Certificate

* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Student Support & Engagement Opportunities

Because of the world economy and the importance of developing an international perspective, the department offers travel study opportunities regionally, nationally, and internationally. 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 associated with each major areas of study: Apparel Merchandising Association, SDSU Flying Jacks, National Consumers League, Hospitality Management Club, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. 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 more.