COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Consumer Sciences is a 30-credit-hour graduate program that provides advanced study in consumer behavior, financial decision-making, and applied research methods, with coursework structured around core requirements and a chosen concentration area. The program begins with a set of core courses that build essential analytical and professional skills, including research methods and analysis (CSM 555 or CSM 560), which develops students’ ability to design and interpret research in consumer and financial contexts or complete a capstone-based applied learning experience in financial planning case studies. Students also complete advanced coursework in quantitative and analytical methods, selecting from statistical methods in education (BER 540 or BER 640) or applied financial tools such as spreadsheets in financial decision-making (CSM 558), which strengthens their ability to evaluate and interpret data for consumer and financial applications. Another core requirement includes personal income tax management and planning (CSM 554), which provides practical knowledge of taxation principles relevant to individual and family financial planning. In addition to these core courses, students complete 21 credit hours in a selected concentration area, allowing them to specialize in fields such as consumer economics or family financial planning and counseling depending on their academic and professional goals. This concentration-based structure ensures that students gain both broad foundational knowledge and focused expertise. The overall program is designed to integrate theory, applied analytics, and professional practice, preparing graduates for careers in financial planning, consumer research, policy analysis, or further doctoral study. By combining research methods, statistical tools, and applied financial coursework, the degree equips students with the analytical and decision-making skills needed in consumer science-related professions and ensures a strong balance between academic rigor and real-world application across its 30-credit-hour structure.