Students enrolled in the MS in Family and consumer Sciences, will graduate with an in-depth knowledge of the content area of interest.

Students graduating from the MS in FCS program will demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills necessary for upper-level employment positions in their selected fields including teacher education in family and consumer sciences, interior design, fashion merchandising, and nutrition.

Comprehensive exams for Family and Consumer Sciences covers all major and minor course areas undertaken by each student; scores are assigned on a High Pass, Pass, or Fail basis. These exams are scored holistically, and must cover content of specific course work taken for the degree. The answers are written into "blue books" and are scored by the faculty under whom the work was complete. Any student who does not score a High Pass in every area is required to take an oral exam over every area where a score of High Pass was not awarded.

At least 80% of the students who complete the master's program in FCS will score a Pass or higher on each area of the comprehensive exam AND/OR will pass a follow-up oral exam.

During the 2012-2013 cycle, only one student graduated from the MS in FCS program.  That student did pass the comprehensive exam with a follow-up oral exam, so this criterion was met.

The cycle 2012-2013 marked the first cycle that the MS in FCS was offered in a 100% on-line format.  Because the department also offers the MS in Dietetics which is not offered in an on-line format, and because courses that are offered can be taken (with some limitations) by students in both programs, it is becoming necessary to change the testing format for comprehensive exams for the MS in FCS as a 100% on-line program.  The "inauguration" session for this change occurred this past month (June 2013) as we had our first candidate to be nearing completion in the 100% on-line format.  The comprehensive exams were administered in an on-line format, with limited time but open book and open notes permitted.  The process was successful, with use of additional on-line questions as a follow-up to the comprehensive exam rather than the use of oral exams.  We will continue to use this testing format, soliciting questions from faculty who taught the student and monitoring/facilitating the process by the department's graduate director.  We will continue to evaluate and modify the process as needed.  

The MS program in Family Consumer Science will increase enrollment with the goal of producing graduates during the coming academic year (2011-2012).

Increase numbers of students enrolled in the Master of Science in Family Consumer Sciences Program at Sam Houston State University

An increase in the number of declared majors and graduates in Master of Science in Family Consumer Sciences Program.

An increase in the number of declared majors was necessary for the MS in FCS program to retain its viability.  An increase in number of graduates also is necessary, and will almost certainly follow.  This time last year there were seven graduate students enrolled in the MS in FCS program as it transitioned to an on-line program.  One of them graduated in December of 2012, and a second is scheduled to graduate in August of 2013.  Two other students are no longer with the program -- one was admitted to the MS in Dietetics and the other one did not have grades that were adequate for continuing in the program.  However, during the course of the year, six additional students were admitted, and we expected 2-3 more to be admitted before the Fall 2013 semester begins, based on inquiries and materials submitted as part of the admission process.  Three more students were admitted for Fall 2013, giving us 12 students, an increase of 71% over this time last year. Program growth is real and, we believe, sustainable.       

A couple of factors have contributed to this program growth, and we cannot afford to let up on the efforts that have been made if we hope to sustain it long-term.  First of all, Dr. Paula Tripp has followed up on every inquiry and it is her efforts that have largely contributed to this growth.  Another factor is the fact that several other master's-level programs housed in Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences departments within the state have become more focused and less general, and that, coupled with the on-line format, has meant that more students were attracted to our program with its general focus.  The on-line format is popular with the students who can then retain a full-time position and don't have to drive, expending funds for gasoline and automobile maintenance, or relocate during the summer months (for those who are secondary teachers in family and consumer sciences programs in the high schools).  We will continue recruitment efforts, working with the Office of Enrollment Management's Graduate Division to take advantage of the information we receive through the Hobson's system.