Overall Knowledge and Beliefs of Family and Consumer Sciences Focusing on the idea of integrating an approach to reciprocal relationship among individuals, families and communities; this is the Discipline of the profession of Family and Consumer Science. Throughout the history of this subject there have been major accomplishments for not only one type of people, but all people. Ellen Swallow Richards was the founder of the discipline, she was the first woman to graduate from MIT, and she was the first president of Adult Higher Education Alliance. These were huge steps for Home Economics and for women in general. This was only one instance, and since the beginning, Family and Consumer Sciences has been in many different types of movements for all races and genders. I believe that the reason Family and Consumer Science is the most popular field is because of our structure; the body of knowledge, the heart, and the soul of Family and Consumer Sciences. Family consumer science is set apart from other disciplines due to the concept of integrations. The concept of integration presents the idea that we have multiple subsets to our fields, we do not focus on things in the same manner as math does, in ways that math solely focuses on math, and science simply centers in on only science. We have many pieces to our puzzle. The Body of Knowledge for the discipline and profession of Family and Consumer Sciences was identified more than twenty years ago to facilitate several evolving developments. Evolutions within the profession continue, and also include resumption of the certification examination and the standards for Accreditation of FCS programs. The body of knowledge concentrates on focusing on complex issues such as an individuals well being, creating strong, resilient families, and helping communities become healthy and enhance them in a global society. Family and Consumer Science has become the largest
References: Anderson, C, PhD (2001). The Essence of Our Being. Journal of Family and Consumer Science, V. 93, No. 5, 2001, Nickols, Sharon, PhD