AAFCS & FCS FAQ

AAFCS stands for the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences and is the only professional association dedicated to family and consumer sciences students and professionals from both multiple practice settings and content areas. We are a broad-based 501 (c)(3) membership organization that connects FCS professionals to share knowledge, research, and experience.

Professional associations like AAFCS are not-for-profit organizations that further a particular profession and the interests of individuals engaged in that profession. As the professional association for family and consumer sciences, we also work towards better outcomes for the general public.

Our broad-based membership organization helps connect FCS professionals across multiple practice settings and content areas to share knowledge, research, and experience. AAFCS helps its members grow and accomplish more, both personally and professionally, by offering leadership support and opportunities for professional development and collaboration. Our organization understands today’s complex social and economic issues and helps members make an impact on the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.

Many colleges and universities offer FCS programs. Sometimes it is categorized under education, human ecology, human sciences, consumer economics, or even agriculture.

Family and consumer sciences or FCS is the comprehensive body of skills, research, and knowledge that helps people make informed decisions about their well being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. The field represents many areas, including human development, personal and family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition, and wellness, textiles and apparel, and consumer issues.

Today’s FCS professionals practice in multiple settings. They are educators at the early childhood, secondary, and college and university levels and also in community-based educational venues like the Extension Service. They are with companies that produce goods and services and in the human services sector. They are researchers and consultants. No matter what the setting, the end goal for the work of FCS professionals is to help individuals, families, and communities make informed decisions to improve their quality of life.

Family and consumer sciences studies the relationship between individuals, families, and communities and the environment in which they live. FCS educators address many topics, including human development, personal and family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition and wellness, textiles and apparel, and consumer issues. They apply math, science, and communication skills to everyday living.

Like any other applied science, family and consumer sciences has evolved with society and technology. Our emphasis is on issues relevant to today’s individuals and families and skills critical to successful living and working in the 21st century global society. FCS classes that include cooking and sewing skills are taught in the context of learning math, science, nutrition, sustainability, and economics. In FCS classes, you’ll also see teachers covering such topics as personal and family finance, responsible parenting, and peaceful conflict resolution.

There are approximately 5 million FCS secondary students in the United States. That’s 5 million students each year learning how to make informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources for a better quality of life today and tomorrow!

In 1994, the association, other organizations, and programs decided to change the name of the field to family and consumer sciences from home economics to more accurately reflect the complexity of the profession. As times have changed, so have the issues and needs of daily living. And, the family and consumer sciences profession has evolved to meet the current challenges facing individuals, families, and communities.  Home economics has transformed into FCS due to the complex social and economic issues that individuals, families, and communities face today. Like any other applied science, family and consumer sciences has evolved with society and technology. Our emphasis is on issues relevant to today’s individuals and families and skills critical to successful living and working in the 21st century global society. Our classes cover topics like personal and family finance, nutrition, responsible parenting, and peaceful conflict resolution.

FCS content areas have expanded to address the complex social and economic issues that people face today. For example, FCS professionals are designing bedrooms with special elements to make them function better for children with autism. They are providing education and tools related to current challenges, such as the obesity epidemic, identity theft, and cyber bullying.

AAFCS is a broad-based membership organization of professionals with a wide range of expertise in the field of family and consumer sciences. Our members are early childhood, elementary, secondary, university, college, and Extension educators, administrators and managers, human service professionals, researchers, community volunteers, business people, and consultants.

AAFCS is the only professional association that helps connect FCS students and professionals from both multiple practice settings and content areas to share knowledge, research, and experience. It’s this connection that helps members grow and accomplish more, both personally and professionally.

AAFCS gives you the opportunity to grow and accomplish more, both personally and professionally, by connecting you with FCS professionals from both multiple practice settings and content areas. Through AAFCS, you have ready-access to the latest knowledge, research, and experience of your colleagues. All of these set you apart from the rest for job promotion opportunities and when relocating to another geographic area. AAFCS helps you sharpen your skills, form life-changing relationships, and keep current on cutting-edge research.

Individuals become a member by paying annual membership dues.  Membership dues range in price based on whether you are a student, professional, or emeritus member.  Click here to learn more about membership dues.

AAFCS is proud to offer a number of professional development programs. Our awards, grants, scholarships, and fellowships recognize outstanding family and consumer sciences students and professionals and honor individuals or organizations for their work to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We offer assessment and certification programs for pre-professionals and professionals and an accreditation program for FCS units at colleges and universities. Professionals and students can participate in our Annual Conference & Expo, affiliate meetings, webinars, and other learning opportunities and get published in our professional journals.

Yes, we have many scholarships and fellowships for students pursuing a career in family and consumer sciences. These scholarships and fellowships are available because of generous contributions to our endowed funds by FCS professionals who want to "pay it forward."

The Public Policy Committee presents information and tools designed to empower family and consumer sciences professionals to support legislation and policies of concern to the profession.

The Public Policy Committee members work with staff to communicate current policy issues to the membership and engage members in public policy initiatives. The Committee reviews proposed resolutions and nominations for public policy awards and supports our members in developing their advocacy skills.

Yes. AAFCS visits Capitol Hill to advocate for the advancement of Family and Consumer Sciences. AAFCS regularly attends the Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill hosted by our partner Jump$tart. 

The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network. Each U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices. These offices are staffed by one or more experts who provide useful, practical, and research-based information to the general public in rural areas and communities of all sizes.