Department of Family & Consumer Sciences

Mission

To prepare Christian professionals to assume leadership roles that supports optimal quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Vision

Christian professionals dedicated to empowering individuals, families and communities in making informed decisions about their well-being, relationships and resources to achieve optimal quality of life.

Goals

1. Prepare new professionals for careers in diverse practice settings in family and consumer sciences.
2. Provide a solid foundation for graduates who pursue advanced study.
3. Prepare graduates who have a lifelong commitment to learning and professional development.
4. Prepare graduates who exemplify integrity and ethical behavior.
5. Provide opportunities for students to develop their God-given talents for service to individuals, families, communities and the church.
6. Enhance students’ growth in the fruit of the Spirit through daily interaction and classroom strategies.
7. Contribute to the preparation of professionals in other disciplines.

Honor Society

The Nu Delta Chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging excellence in scholarship, research, and leadership in family and consumer sciences. The chapter was chartered at Harding University on October 27, 1995. Membership is by invitation based on the completion of 45 semester hours in family and consumer sciences or one of its specializations with a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and a ranking of the top 25 percent of the class in the unit.

Program information

The department offers the Bachelor of Science degree with majors in apparel merchandising , child development , child life , family and consumer sciences (licensure) , family and consumer sciences , family life education major , and nutrition and dietetics . A minor in family and consumer sciences  is also offered.

The family life education major is an approved program by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The child life major meets the academic foundations of the Child Life Council (CLC).

All departmental majors take the FCS Program Core of 6 hours:

Mission of the Didactic Program Dietetics

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at Harding University is to provide an academically challenging program, consistent with Christian ideals, to prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). This program prepares graduates for success in supervised practice, advanced study, and careers in nutrition and dietetics.

Goals of the Didactic Program Dietetics

The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics will produce graduates that:

1. Have the knowledge for entry into ACEND (Accreditation for Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) accredited post-baccalaureate supervised practice programs leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam.
2. Have a solid foundation for advanced studies.
3. Find employment.

In order to become a registered dietitian, the student will take the next step in the process. This step involves completion of a supervised practice program in order to be eligible to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Accreditation for the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Harding University Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois  60606-6995, (800)877-1600, ext. 5400.

Faculty

Chair: Denise Fisher, Ph.D., CPFFE, CFCS, CFLE

Professors:

Lisa Ritchie, Ed.D., RD, LD
      Director of Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

Associate Professor:

Denise Fisher, Ph.D., CPFFE

Assistant Professors:

Rebecca Boaz, M.S.E., CFCS

Instructors:

Brittany Blake, M.S.
Sara Oropeza, M.Ph.

Lecturer:

Shanna Jones, M.Ed.

Programs

• Apparel Merchandising Major (AMER), BS
• Child Development Major (CHDV), BS
• Child Life Major (CHLF), BS
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education Major (FCSE), BS
• Family and Consumer Sciences Major (FCS), BS
• Family Life Education Major (FLED), BS
• Nutrition and Dietetics Major (NTDT), BS

• Family and Consumer Sciences Minor