Family & Consumer Science Department

Graduation Requirements

There are no required classes in the Family & Consumer Science Department, yet there is a wide range of opportunities for students looking to continue their education in any of these related areas, seek employment in the various associated fields, or merely to explore personal interests. All of these courses fulfill the school’s requirement for .5 credit of vocational education.

Special Note

The Family and Consumer Science Department is divided into five separate areas—each independent of the others. All five areas offer classes appropriate for male and female students. The classes in each area are as follows:

• Clothing and Fashion: Clothing I & II, Fashion Merchandising
• Foods: Foods and Nutrition, Senior Foods, Intro to Baking, International & Regional Foods and Catering and Hospitality
• Child Development: Child Growth and Development, Early Learning Lab
• Housing and Design: Housing and Interior Design
• Independent Living: Adult Living, Parenting, Senior Foods

Each of the five areas ends with the opportunity for an Independent Study and Professional Internship.

As this guide presents the offerings available at each year, the courses will be divided along those five areas.

Articulated Credit with College of DuPage

Students who will attend College of DuPage after graduation may earn college credit when the following courses are completed with a grade of “B” or higher in high school. Students must be taking at least one course at College of DuPage and apply for the credit within two years of graduation from high school to receive the articulated credit.
 

The course descriptions that follow serve as a guide to assist students in picking the classes that best suit their needs. We encourage parents to read all the descriptions carefully and to remain an active partner in their child’s education throughout his or her high school education. If you have any questions prior to registering, please call the Family and Consumer Science Department Chair of the high school.

Family & Consumer Science Graduation Check List

Graduation Requirements: There are no required classes in the Family & Consumer Science Department, yet there is a wide range of opportunities for students looking to continue their education in any of these related areas, seek employment in the various associated fields, or merely to explore personal interests. All of these courses fulfill the school’s requirement for .5 credit of vocational education.
 

Required Family and Consumer Science Courses

Freshman

There are no required Family and Consumer Science courses that freshmen must take. All electives are designed for both male and female students and all electives fulfill the .5 credit of vocational education required for graduation.

Sophomore

There are no required Family and Consumer Science courses that sophomores must take, but all eligible electives fulfill the .5 credit of vocational education required for graduation.

Junior

There are no required Family and Consumer Science courses that juniors must take, but all eligible electives fulfill the .5 credit of vocational education required for graduation.

Senior

There are no required Family and Consumer Science courses that seniors must take, but all eligible electives fulfill the .5 credit of vocational education required for graduation.

Electives

How do I know which course to take?

Child Development

Child Growth and Development (Grades 10,11,12)
Students will be introduced to the intellectual, physical, emotional and social development of a child from the prenatal stage through preschool. It is a course beneficial to the future parent or those interested in child-related occupations. Successful completion of this course is required in order for students to take the Early Learning Lab in the junior or senior year. (.5 credit)

Early Learning Lab (Grades 11,12)
Students who successfully completed Child Growth and Development are encouraged to take this semester lab course. This class is aimed at those students who might be interested in careers involving young children, especially a career in teaching. Students are responsible for planning, preparing, and teaching three- and four-year old children in an on-site preschool lab in the high school. Students who do well in the course may register for a second semester, making this a full credit course. This lab experience is for the dedicated student only. (.5 or One credit)

Clothing and Fashion

Clothing I (Grades 9,10,11,12)
Whether for personal use or a career in clothing and fashion, this course provides the opportunity to develop basic skills in clothing construction. Students will learn techniques used to construct clothing, as well as a study of natural fabrics and how fabrics are made. Materials and supplies for projects are to be furnished by the student. (One credit)

Clothing II (Grades 10,11,12)
Students who have successfully completed Clothing I will be ready for the advanced pattern and fabric study in this course. Topics include principles and elements of design, textiles, and career opportunities. Materials and supplies for the projects are to be furnished by the student. (One credit)

Fashion Merchandising (Grades 10,11,12)
If a student has always been interested in the world of fashion, this will be a fascinating course! The students will explore the various facets of today's fashion industry. The course is interesting in and of itself, but is also wonderful preparation for a career in fashion-related occupations. (.5 credit)

Foods

Catering and Hospitality (Grades 11,12)
This course is for students who are considering careers in the hospitality industry or who excelled in International and Regional Foods. Students will have the opportunity to improve their food preparation skills, develop an understanding of quantity food production, and restaurant management. A lab fee is required. (.5 credit)

Foods and Nutrition (Grades 9,10,11)
If a student is interested in food preparation as a career or for personal development, this course is essential. This lab-based class emphasizes the principles of cooking, food preparation techniques, and nutrition principles. Students will explore different methods of food preparation, including microwave cooking. This course is strongly recommended for students interested in career areas of the food service industry and nutrition. A lab fee is required. Many students who take this course enroll in Introduction to Baking for the second semester. (.5 credit)

International and Regional Foods (Grades 10,11,12)
If a student did well in Introduction to Baking, then he or she is encouraged to register for this course to broaden his or her culinary horizons. Students are exposed to unique food preparation techniques in various regions across the U.S. as well as internationally. Students will learn about the geography and culture of the areas studied—an added bonus to this class. Due to the scope and content of this class, students may enroll for a second semester, making this a full credit course. A lab fee is required. (.5 or One credit)

Introduction to Baking (Grades 9,10,11,12)
Students who have successfully completed Foods and Nutrition or Senior Foods can take those skills to the next level in this lab-based class. Students will build upon their food preparation techniques and combine them with baking principles to prepare breads, cakes (including icing techniques), pies and pastries, and cookies. A lab fee is required. (.5 credit)

Senior Foods (Grade 12)
This course is only open to students who have never taken another foods course and are preparing for college or independent living. The course is an overview on how to make wise choices when it comes to eating on one’s own. This is an extremely practical class for those about to enter the “real world.” A lab fee is required. (.5 credit)

Housing and Design

Housing and Interior Design (Grades 10,11,12)
This course introduces students to the choices that they may have to make regarding personal housing as well as the opportunities in design as a career. Students learn about architectural styles, alternative housing styles, basic blueprint reading and the principles of design. Hands-on projects allow students to make connections with essential concepts of designing and decorating a home.
(.5 credit)

Independent Living

Adult Living (Grades 11,12)
This course is designed to help young people prepare for their own adult living situation. This is perfect for the student who will soon be on his or her own and desires to be well equipped for his or her future by utilizing good decision-making skills. The instructor will lead the course through important topics such as self-awareness, communication, sex roles, mate selection, and marriage and the family, using statistically sound research as a basis for discussions. (.5 credit)

Introduction to Family and Consumer Science (Grades 9,10,11,12)
This is a program for students with special challenges. Students with unique needs may be recommended to take this course. Enrollment is by placement only. A lab fee will be charged.
(One credit)

Parenting (Grades 11,12)
This course is designed for anyone who will one day be a father or mother. This course will give future parents the knowledge necessary to promote the successful development of their child on a social, emotional, physical and intellectual level. Theories of child development are studied with application to the realities of parenting. This is a wonderful course to find out what it takes to be a good parent. (.5 credit)

Special Opportunities in Family and Consumer Science

Independent Study (Grades 11,12)
In the junior or senior year, students who have had success following the sequence of courses in a particular division may propose an independent course of study for .5 credit. The course will be jointly developed, specifying goals and objectives between the student and the supervising teacher. It will be contract based and is intended solely for the highly motivated student dedicated to Family and Consumer Sciences. Interested students must approach a sponsoring teacher to make this possibility happen. (.5 credit)

Professional and Technical Internship (Grades 11,12)
This program serves as the capstone course in Family and Consumer Science. In it, students study in a classroom and then work in the field with a local business. To take this course, students should have completed the following sequence: two previous semesters of foods class, Clothing II or Early Learning Lab. (Other course sequences may qualify. See the instructor for approval of any different sequence.) The student receives one credit for the classroom aspect of the course and one credit for on-the-job training. The internship instructor may assist the student in finding job placement. Early dismissal is NOT a requirement for this program. (Two credits)

Family & Consumer Science and Clubs at WVHS and NVHS

A special word must be added about the two clubs in this department as they relate to the curriculum itself. These clubs strongly reinforce the skills of the classes and many students find them an extremely rewarding complement to the classroom. If a student is interested in the many offerings within Family & Consumer Science, then he or she most definitely will want to investigate the two clubs that form an integral part of the entire experience.

• FCCLA: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a club that relates to virtually all of the classes in Family & Consumer Science
• FEA: Future Educators of America is a club that ties in closely with the goals of Child Growth and Development and the Early Learning Lab.

Be sure to check out these options with a Family & Consumer Science teacher or with the department chair.