Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Family and Consumer Sciences Professor
What family and consumer sciences professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a family and consumer sciences professor?
Teach child development. From there, the day usually includes teach FCS courses, prepare future FCS teachers, and conduct family research. Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a family and consumer sciences professor working full time.
- Teach child development.
- Observe students at the lab preschool.
- Meet an extension educator.
- Teach family finance.
- Analyze survey data.
- Advise future FCS teachers.
- Grade projects.
Where family and consumer sciences professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, lab schools, kitchens and offices.
Hours and schedule
Teaching and research with flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach FCS courses
- Prepare future FCS teachers
- Conduct family research
- Supervise child lab schools
- Mentor students
- Work with extension programs
- Develop courses
Tools you’ll use every day
- Learning management systems
- Survey software
- Observation tools
- Food labs
- Budget simulations
- Presentation tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Practical, life-changing subjects
- Community outreach
- Lab schools
- Flexible schedule
What’s hard
- Small field
- Programs face cuts
- Lower pay for academia
- Few openings
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I care about families
- I like practical subjects
- I want to train teachers
- I enjoy outreach
- I like research
- I’m willing to earn a doctorate
Not sure? Take the free Family and Consumer Sciences Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow child care licensing rules in lab schools
- Follow food safety in labs
- Protect family privacy in research
- Follow campus safety