About the Program
The School of Human and Consumer Sciences offers a master of science in human and consumer sciences (M.S.H.C.S.) with concentrations in one of three areas:
Graduate courses in interior architecture are also available.
Hours Required
To be awarded the M.S.H.C.S. degree, you must earn a minimum of 45 quarter hours in programs with a thesis requirement and 50 quarter hours in programs with a project requirement. You are required to have an approved program of study in your file by the end of the first quarter of enrollment. Your graduate program is planned by you and your advisor, taking into consideration your undergraduate preparation and professional goals.
Time to Completion
The maximum time allowed between the date that you first initiate graduate study toward the M.S.H.C.S. and the date that you complete the requirements for the degree is six calendar years. You may transfer a maximum of 12 quarter hours of graduate credit from an accredited university, providing the credit to be transferred has been designated graduate credit at the instruction where taken, is letter graded B or better, was earned in the past five years, and is approved by the graduate coordinator. Credit for courses taken by correspondence cannot be accepted toward the required minimum hours.
Admission
You must meet the following requirements to be considered for unconditional admission to the graduate program in the School of Human and Consumer Sciences:
- Earned bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences or an area related to your selected area of study from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum overall undergraduate g.p.a. of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on last 90 quarter hours or last 60 semester hours.
- Satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
- A minimum of 20 quarter hours or 13 semester hours of undergraduate preparation in the specific major in which you wish to study.
If you do not meet the above standards, you may be admitted on a conditional basis and informed of the conditions you must meet before being accepted unconditionally. Courses taken under conditional status may or may not apply toward your degree. If you are admitted on a conditional basis, you are not eligible for financial assistance.
Thesis vs. Project Requirement
Graduate projects are most appropriate if you are currently employed in an occupation that is directly related to Child or Family Studies or Food and Nutrition. The focus is on real problems and the development of practical and concrete solutions to needs and challenges that may now exist or be anticipated in the near future. Solutions may take the form of specific program development, development of educational or other materials, or development of grant proposals. A thesis is more appropriate for theory-based research and study.
Program Contact
Dr. Annette Graham
grahama@ohio.edu
740.593.0700
Facilities
There are several unique facilities that are available to graduate students in the School of Human and Consumer Sciences:
Child Development Center – provides childcare services for University employees an the community while giving students in several majors an opportunity to interact with young children.
Grover Center – the School of Human and Consumer Sciences is housed in Grover Center, the College of Health and Human Services’ new academic complex, which underwent a $24.5 million renovation/expansion in 2000. Grover Center has many opportunities for experiential learning, including:
- Atrium Café – a fully-functioning commercial kitchen and café that provides breakfast, lunch, and catering services to the Grover Center community
- Computer Lab – features PC and MAC workstations and equipment for checkout
Graduate Student Office – graduate student workspace
- HCS Resource Room – a resource library open to all students for research and project purposes
- Nutrition Resource Room – a resource room for seniors and graduate students in nutrition; resources include food models, computers equipped with dietary analysis software, and nutrition journals
- Nutrition Resource Laboratory – laboratory space for nutrition or food science research
- OU Therapy Associates – program offering hearing, speech, language, and physical therapy services to the public, while providing clinical education and research opportunities for clinicians, faculty, and students.
- Well Works – An entire wellness center for Ohio University employees and community members. Services include nutrition counseling and programs, health screenings, child care, massage, group exercise classes, and personal training; state of the art equipment for body composition, including the BOD POD, are available for research purposes
- Aquatic Center – Directly accessible from Grover Center
Graduate Handbook
This handbook is the guide to graduate studies in Human and Consumer Sciences. It contains application information, program descriptions, thesis and project requirements, and forms necessary for completion of graduate requirements. Downloadable PDF version is available on right side of this page.