EAT, WEAR, GROW :)

Welcome to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences!

This page is intended to acquaint you with our graduate education programs in Family and Consumer Sciences. Here is where we can help you commit to your decision to apply to our graduate program. The guidelines here explain current policies and specific requirements and provide a suggested timeline to help keep you on track. Please read this page carefully as you plan your application.

The M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences degree program offers emphases in 3 areas:

The Design, Merchandising and Textiles (DMT) graduate program emphasizes the study of historic clothing and textiles, merchandising of textile and apparel products, and various aspects of apparel design, including both artistic and functional design options.

The Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) graduate program emphasis is designed for professionals currently working in human services fields who would like further education.

The Human Nutrition and Food Science (HNFS) graduate program emphasis allows students to pursue studies in areas such as human nutrition and metabolism, food product development, community nutrition, food microbiology, sports nutrition, and disease prevention.

Family and Consumer Sciences also partners with the Department of Animal Science to offer a joint Master of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences does not offer a Doctoral program, but shares two interdisciplinary programs at the University of Wyoming: in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience.

Treva Sprout Arenholtz teaching some of our Family and Consumer Sciences fully-funded Graduate Assistants in the Masters program

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Application packets for Fall entry are due no later than March 1.

NOTE: We DO NOT pre-screen applicants--you MUST fill out an application.

Requirements for all applicants:

A bachelor’s degree based on a four-year curriculum from an institution accredited by one of the regional associations of the Commission on Institution of Higher Education or equivalent.
A grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in the previous degree.

International students, in addition to the requirements above, must also meet the following requirements:

A minimum Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 540 on the written exam or 76 on the internet-based exam. UW will also accept a minimum score of 6.5 on the IETLS exam or certification of level 112 ELS completion in lieu of the TOEFL requirements. Applicants from an English speaking country or those who have attended a U.S. institution within one year preceding application to UW may request a waiver through the Office of Admissions: https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/international/english-alternatives.html
If you are accepted to our program, the Office of Admissions will request evidence of adequate financial resources to fill out your I-20 in preparation for your visa.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

To apply, please complete the Online Application and upload the following:

Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended are required for consideration to our program; official transcripts will be required by the Office of Admissions if you are recommended to admissions with a Departmental Approval.
Names and contact information for at least 3 people who will provide letters of recommendation about your preparedness and/or qualifications for the desired graduate degree program
A statement of intent that includes:
- Why you are seeking this degree
- Your specific research interests
- How your educational, research, work, and/or other experiences have shaped your educational and research interests
- The faculty member(s) you are interested in working with and how your research interests and experiences fit with that mentor
A brief resume or curriculum vitae

Please note that we cannot grant Application Fee waivers.

International applicants must also upload:

GRE scores
- unofficial GRE scores are acceptable for consideration by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Official GRE scores will be required after acceptance by the Office of Admissions
- Our department does not have a GRE minimum, however, it is important to note that our program is highly competitive and that applicants with higher GRE scores are prioritized during consideration.
- We do not grant GRE waivers.
TOEFL or IELTS scores
- unofficial TOEFL/IELTS scores are acceptable for consideration by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Official TOEFL/IELTS scores will be required after acceptance by the Office of Admissions
- (More information is available here: https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/international/english-alternatives.html)

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

All applicants to the program are considered for a graduate assistantship; there is not a separate application procedure, and as such, the deadline is the same as your application to the program, March 1st. You are NOT REQUIRED to reach out to particular faculty members during the application process, but priority consideration is given to applicants who have researched the department's objectives and possess research interests that engage with the faculty.

Graduate Assistantships are special opportunities for qualified, exemplary candidates. Selection for department-funded assistantships is highly competitive; these are highly sought after work positions that make the University's learning experience affordable and superlative. There are three types of GAships available: Teaching, Research, and Administrative. Each comes with financial benefits that offset the costs of attending the University for your educational life. An extended overview of the benefits and duties of Graduate Assistantships can be found on the website for the Office of Graduate Education: https://www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/enrolled-students/financial-assistance/assistantship-funding.html

APPLICATION TIMELINE

Applications for Fall are due March 1st; you can edit your application at any time before March 1st. The consideration period begins after the deadline. Decisions are made around April 1st, and you will be notified soon after. Once you are notified, you will have 2 weeks to respond whether you will accept or deny your offer.

We do not pre-screen applications; all applications are evaluated together.

It is also important to note that the consideration pool is always very large and that we do not have enough spots to accommodate every applicant; competition for a spot in the program is very high, but we always encourage those who are not selected to refine their application and to apply again.

Coursework

The majority of accepted students’ coursework will be in their designated discipline and related areas. All master’s degree options require a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework. Each student’s appointed committee will assist in formulating a plan of study within these program requirements. The objective of our graduate programs is to prepare students to:

Be competent in the content studied
Be competent in oral and written communications
Be an independent and reflective learner
Integrate theory, research, and practice

statue of benfranklin addressing family and consumer sciences masters graduate students