Built on the Christian liberal arts core, the Family and Consumer Sciences programs at Carson-Newman equip each generation to empower the next. With more than 100 years of history, the department has developed a prestigious reputation for our comprehensive range of FCS programs. Housed in Blye-Poteat Hall and the adjacent Child Development Laboratory, we feature state-of-the-art technology, equipment and facilities, preparing you to compete for the best jobs in the growing career fields of family and consumer sciences.
Accreditation
Carson-Newman is the only religiously affiliated school to be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of AAFCS and the first private southeastern school to earn this accreditation.
FCS students enjoy a multi-faceted living classroom in Duncan Hall, the 1920s Colonial Revival home donated to the university by Mrs. C.C. James. A showcase of textiles and other interior furnishings, the house also serves as a collaborative space where students develop professional competencies, teamwork and leadership skills.
The three-year pass rate on first attempt for Didactic Program in Dietetics graduates sitting for the RDN examination (2018-2020) is 50%. For testers within one year of the first attempt, the pass rate is 100% for the same period.
During the academic year 2020-2021, 20 of the 95 individual undergraduate presenters in RCPD were majors in FCS representing 21% of the combined University undergraduate participants.
Majors in the FCS Department constitute the following percentages of membership in C-N honoraries for 2020-2021:
1. Alpha Chi Scholastic Honorary 1 of 46 members (2.2%)
2. Honors Program 4 of 56 students (7.1%)
For the 2015 freshmen cohort, our freshman to sophomore retention rate was 82% compared to the University’s return rate of 70%. The 150% graduation rate for the 2015 freshman cohort stands at 67% as all students in the 2015 cohort completed their degrees within the four-year time period. The University’s 150% graduation rate is 53%. Of the 2015 cohort, 33% of graduates in FCS programs graduated with honors while the overall University had 41% graduating with honors.
The five-year pass rate on the first attempt for 30 graduates sitting for the Praxis examinations (2015-2021) is 91%. For testers within one year of the first attempt, the pass rate is 85% for the same period.
