Family and Community Science
Family and Community Science is an area that focuses on scientific knowledge in the lifestyle of families and communities. The course includes Food Science and Microbiology; Human Development and Family Relations; Food Science and Nutrition; Family Resource Management; Textiles and Clothing & Extension and Mass Communication.
Students are taught how to handle family and individual well-being according to their financial, psychological, biological, cultural and social health. Programs teach students to help family relationships develop within the community, taking advantage of needed resources.
The education process underscores the importance of the individual’s dynamic relationship with his/her family, community and society as a whole, as well as with the resources in the environment. Higher education provides students the opportunity to sharpen their capacities with a sense of social responsibility.
It promotes capacity building of individuals and communities for social and economic empowerment. They train community women and youth from various strata of society for entrepreneurship. They gain and provide employment in research organizations, food and textile industries, dietetic practice, education and child development domains, accreditation of green buildings, strategic planning and communication technologies.
Family and Community Science comprises of five branches and are as follows:
- Child Development/Human Development and Family Studies.
- Clothing and textiles
- Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics
- Home Management/ Family Resource Management
- Home Science Extension Education
Courses
There are multiple levels of courses available in the field of family and Community Science. Some important graduate, post-graduate programs offered are given below:
BSc in Family and Community Science: BSc in Family and Community Science is an undergraduate course which is of 3 year duration.
The course includes Food Science and Microbiology; Human Development and Family Relations; Food Science and Nutrition; Family Resource Management; Textiles and Clothing & Extension and Mass Communication.
Options of higher education: During the course of the UG programme, the students would get ample time and opportunities to decide on their course of study for post graduation. Following are multiple options for higher education.
Masters Degree: M.Sc/ PG course is a 2 year post graduation program which will be completed in 4 semesters. The Following are some of the specializations:
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Extension Education
- Family Resource Management
- Food Science & Nutrition
- Food Service Management & Dietetics
- Food Technology
- Guidance & Counselling
- Hospital Administration(MHA)
- Human Development/Child Development
- Human Resource Management(MHRM)
- Journalism & Mass Communication
- Social work(MSW)
- Textiles & Clothing
- Women’s Studies
PG Diploma: It is a post graduation program and the duration will be one or two years according to the specialization and institution. The Following are some of the specialisations:
- Clinical Child Development
- Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
- Computer Aided Textile Designing
- Consumer Guidance & Protection
- Early Childhood Care & Education
- Fashion Designing
- Interior /Landscape Designing
- Youth Development
Mphil: MPhil or Master of Philosophy in Family and Community Science is a postgraduate academic research programme that is of two years duration.
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy in Family and Community Science is a 3 year doctorate course.
The scope of Family and Community Science (Home Science) is not limited to the activities within the home but has a wider perspective that forms the basis of challenging professions in various fields.
Required Skills
The skills and aptitudes required for a career in the Family and Community field include the following.
- Analytical thinking.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Helping mentality for the well-being of the needy people
- Human nature and soft temperament
- Interest to contribute to the welfare of society
Eligibility Criteria
BSc in Family and Community Science: The basic eligibility requirement for this programme is:
- Candidates must have passed Class 10+2 exam from a recognised board
- They must also have secured a minimum aggregate mark of 60% in the above subjects combined.
The eligibility criteria may vary from institute to institute.
Masters Degree/ PG Diploma: Candidates who have passed a B.Sc degree in Family and Community Science/ Home Science or equivalent subjects are eligible for admission.
M.Phil: Candidates seeking admission to the M.Phil. programme shall have a Master’s degree in Family and Community Science or equivalent, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade ‘B’ in the UGC 7-point scale.
PhD: Admissions to Ph.D are done through entrance exams and interviews conducted by individual universities. Candidates who have qualified their postgraduate program in Family and Community Science or equivalent or qualified an M.Phil. degree or any equivalent examination with minimum aggregate marks of 50% and above are eligible for admission to the program.
Entrance Examination
There are no standard entrance exams for admission to the course. However, institutions have designed their own screening tests along with minimum percentage to qualify and other eligibility criteria.
Job Profiles
Some of the job profiles in the field of Family and Community are as follows:
:
- Food Quality Controllers
- Production Managers/Supervisors in garment/Food Industries,
- Production units of hotels
- Research Coordinators/Project Officers/Assistants of health & Nutritional Programmes,
- Technical Research & Development Scientists
- Welfare Programmes of government/NGOs, agencies of National & International repute-ICMR, ICAR, NIPCCD, CFTRI, UNICEF, WHO
Some detailed profiles under various fields are as follows:
Education & Administration Field
- Administrators
- Extension Officers
- Remedial Teachers in Rehabilitation Centres
- Special Educators
- Teacher Trainers
- Teaching faculty in Colleges & Schools
Product Design & Development Field
- Fashion Designers
- Interior /LandScape Designers
- Product Developers
- Textile Designers.
Marketing and Sales Field
- Apparel Merchandisers
- Sales Promotion Personnel of Food Products, Medical Supplements, Educational Materials and Home appliance
Guidance and Counselling Field
- Counsellors in Schools/Colleges and Child Guidance Clinics, De-addiction and Child Care Centres,
- Family Courts.
Service Jobs Field
- Consumer Awareness Campaigners
- Diet Consultants in Hotels, Industrial Canteens, Fitness Centres and geriatric Clinics, Health Resorts
- Dieticians in Hospitals
- Front Office Managers
- Housekeeping Personnel
Entrepreneurship Ventures Field
- Consultancy
- Early Childhood Care and Education
- Food Business
- Garment Manufacturing
Top Recruiters
Talented and knowledgeable Family and Community experts have opportunities in both Government & private organizations with a wider perspective and challenging professions in various fields. Followings are some of the firms or sectors where jobs for Family and Community Science are available.
- Air Lines
- Child development Centres
- Child Guidance Clinics
- Colleges & Universities
- Employment Areas
- Govt. / Pvt. Hospitals
- Industrial Fields
- Non Governmental Organizations
- Public Service
Institutions
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) and CoA (Council of Architecture) are the governing bodies of Architecture courses in India. After the successful completion of B.Arch course a candidate should register in CoA . Also the colleges in respective states are affiliated to state technological universities. IITs, NITs, CFTIs, Central Universities and Deemed Universities are different from this and work as autonomous institutes under the supervision of selected governing bodies.
Institutions offering B.Sc Family and Community Science in Kerala
| Name of the institution | City |
|---|---|
| Assumption College | Kottayam |
| B C M College | Kottayam |
| CMS College (CMS) | Kottayam |
| Korambayil Ahamed Haji Memorial Unity Women's College (KAHMUWC) | Malappuram |
| Vimala College | Thrissur |
Questions & Answers
Q) What is Family and Community Science?
A) It is the field of study that discusses the health and management of home and community. This course focuses on the scientific knowledge in the lifestyle of families and communities.
Q) What are subjects which are covered under Family and Community Science?
A) Subjects include Physiology and Microbiology, Human Development and Family Relations, Food Science and Nutrition, Family Resource Management, Textiles and Clothing, Extension and Mass Communication.
Q) How is B.Sc. Family and Community Science Course Beneficial?
A) After the course candidates can go for post-graduation & research in child Development, nutrition & dietetics, textile science & fashion designing, extension education & mass Communication, microbiology, psychology, speech therapy, rehabilitation therapy, etc.
The candidates can go for public service, as youth program directors and as employees in chemical-dependency rehabilitation clinics or support centers for military families.
The degree course is beneficial for further studies such as it gives a good base to it.
They can also go for social work programs being undertaken by various NGOs.
Q) Whats difference Home Science & Family and Community Science
A) Home Science may be defined as the study required to develop home or family life within a changing society by taking the help of scientific knowledge and methods. Family and Community Science is the profession and field of study that discuss the health and management of home and community. This course focuses on the scientific knowledge in the lifestyle of families and communities.