Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Recommended Courses
UT Extension offers Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) county agent
positions in four specific areas. Applicants must have a bachelor's
degree in a human ecology, home economics, human environmental science,
or family consumer sciences department or college. Applicants are
required to demonstrate coursework that will show competencies in
several areas. Courses are listed from the University of Tennessee
Knoxville that will assist in development of these competencies. Courses
listed show the department, department number, the number and name of
the course, followed by the credit hours for the course.
Courses suggested under each competency are at the University of
Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Human Ecology (UTK). Students enrolled
at other colleges and universities should consult a UTK Catalog to
compare equivalent course content. Consideration should be given to
prerequisite courses. These courses should assist a future Extension
county agent in attaining the competency needed. University advisors
should assist students in selecting appropriate courses so students can
gain these competencies. Courses shown in bold are considered a high
priority for attainment of the competency.
Expected Agent Competencies FCS Positions:
Plan, implement, and evaluate county based educational programs
that are in alignment with state Named programs. Conduct ongoing needs
assessments of local targeted learners in priority program areas. Create
learning environments utilizing learner input and in collaboration with
local leaders and educators. Report named program progress of
individual and team efforts in terms of program accomplishments. Include
the impact of programming as a benefit to the learner and the value of
the program to the public in terms of cost benefit.
Recommended Courses for All FCS Agents
FCS Family Area
Agents in this position primarily work with
and educate individuals and families who have completed school, as well
as with young children from birth to age nine. FCS agents assigned to
families are expected to create and be involved in community efforts
where family issues are the mission. This implies a close working
relationship and partnership with agents assigned to 4-H youth,
agriculture, and community development.
Agents need to be able to plan a multi-dimensional program that involves series teaching to a targeted audience as well as social marketing that involves appropriate use of the media or other technology.
Recommended Courses for Agents Assigned to Families
FCS Youth Area
Agents
in this position primarily work with and educate youth. The major
assignment is the 4-H Youth development program (ages 9 to 18). This
position is not limited to youth electing membership in 4-H. This
position requires agents to educate and work with all youth, especially
the hard to reach youth. FCS agents assigned to youth are expected to
create and be involved in community efforts where youth issues are the
mission. This implies a close working relationship and partnership with
agents assigned to families, agriculture, and community development.
Recommended Courses for Agents Assigned to Youth
FCS Expanded Food and Nutrition Area (EFNEP)
An
agent assigned to Expanded Food and Nutrition works with and educates
limited resources individuals, families, and youth in nutrition
education.
The
primary focus of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program is to work
with and to educate limited resource families with children including
the children in those families about nutrition, food preparation, food
budgeting, and other diet related matters.
Recommended Courses for Agents Assigned to EFNEP Area
FCS Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP)
Agents assigned to the
Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program work with and educate
food stamp eligible individuals, families, and youth in nutrition
education.
The primary focus of the
Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program is to work with and
educate food stamp eligible families and individuals of all ages across
the life cycle in the areas of nutrition, food preparation, food
budgeting and management, and other diet related issues. Youth being
educated in this program are in schools where 51% of the children in
that school qualify for free and reduced lunch. Adults are parents of
school aged youth, primary caregivers of children, or may be individuals
or family members without children. This program works through an
empowered community nutrition coalition. This position requires
community development, family development, and nutrition teaching skills
for both youth and adult learners.
Recommended Courses for Agents Assigned to TNCEP Area
Additional Resources
College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Website
UT Course Catalog