Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Miller Hall, Room 110
2515 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Email: fcs@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 956-8105
FCS: cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/fcs/FCS
HDFS: cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/Majors/HDFS
FDM: cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/fcs/Undergraduate/FDM

Faculty

Fashion Design and Merchandising Professors

O. Adeleke, PhD—wearable technology & electronic textiles, manufacturing, framework development, and standardization
Y. Bahng, PhD—retailing, international merchandising, and entrepreneurship
J. Kang, PhD—consumer behavior in digital commerce; apparel product development and retail store design using 2D/3D CAD
S. Lin, PhD—textile/costume conservation, product lifecycle management, smart clothing and body scanning
A. H. Reilly, PhD—social psychology of appearance, Hawaiʻi Fashion Industry

Fashion Design and Merchandising Instructors

M. A. Cristi-Kim, PhD—retail buying and merchandising; consumer behavior in fashion
M. K. McCarthy, PhD—fashion design, fashion illustration, pattern drafting, draping, and apparel construction

Human Development and Family Science Faculty

M. Cheang, DrPH—family resource management, family caregiving
S. Eng, PhD—family relationship dynamics, social capital, domestic violence, home gardening, program evaluation, Cambodian families
R. H. Kuwahara, MEd—early childhood education, guidance and discipline, and child development
T. N. Le, PhD, MPH (Chair)—risk and resilience of Asian and Indigenous youth; mindfulness-based interventions; farmers and first responders mental health
K. O’Dell, PhD—multicultural and international early childhood education, family and community engagement, strengthening families in diverse contexts
J. Souza, Jr. LMFT, DMFT—marriage and family therapy, supervision, clinical training, licensure trends, and workforce development in mental health
L. A. Yancura, PhD—stress and aging, research methodology, grandparents raising grandchildren, family caregivers
B. W. K. Yee, PhD—Asia and Pacific Islander adult development and aging, women’s health, Southeast Asians, minority career paths

* Graduate Faculty

The Academic Program

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences has been an integral part of the land-grant system and of UH since 1907. The department offers two bachelor of science degree programs: Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) and Human Development and Family Science (HDFS).

The FDM program integrates theoretical and applied knowledge regarding fashion design, product development, consumer textiles, historic costume, apparel production, fashion marketing and merchandising theory and practice, both domestic and international, retail management, and entrepreneurship in fashion/retail. The program fosters the development of professionals prepared for management-level positions in business and industry, such as fashion designers, retail buyers, merchandise planners, sales representatives, costume designers, museum curators, apparel manufacturers, and small business owners. An internship providing work experience related to a student’s career interests is required.

HDFS is a Bachelor of Science degree program that provides students with a comprehensive, ecological systems-based program of study in life span development and family resource management. The HDFS curriculum emphasizes the study of child, adolescent, adult development; family development (such as marriage and parenting); family resource management (such as consumer and family economics and family management); community needs; and leadership in human services occupations.

The program requires an internship providing work experience related to a student’s career interests. Students are prepared for bachelor-level careers in human and family services, and for graduate training in marriage and family therapy (MFT), child and family studies, early childhood education, lifespan development, family life education, and family and consumer sciences.

With supplementary course work, students may pursue graduate studies in other social science disciplines such as social work, educational counseling, public health, urban and regional planning (e.g., community development), sociology, psychology, women’s studies, political science, nursing, financial planning, medicine, and law.

In addition to courses offered in the department, there are professional and honor society organizations, such as the National Council on Family Relations and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Phi Upsilon Omicron is a national honor society in family and consumer sciences with membership by invitation. Friends of the Family (FOF) provides service and professional experiences for HDFS majors. Majors from any discipline are welcome to join FOF and FAB.

Undergraduate Study

Students are encouraged to come for initial advising before registering for the first year at UH Mānoa or prior to their application for admission as a transfer student.

Academic Advising

For academic advising, see the contact information in the front section. Academic advisors are available by appointment only, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (except holidays). Gilmore Hall, first floor, email: ctahradv@hawaii.edu. Advising website: cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ugstudies.

Career Advising

Contact faculty within your program area. You may also contact the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences directly at 808-956-8105 or at fcs@hawaii.edu with general questions.

Fashion Design and Merchandising Program

Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) is a comprehensive undergraduate program whose mission is to prepare students with appropriate knowledge and skills for career positions in apparel and fashion-related industries. Classroom work is enhanced by one of the largest costume collections at a university in the U.S., giving students and faculty a rich source of items to draw upon for their classes and projects. In addition, students have the opportunity to use web-based technologies to supplement classroom activities. Opportunities to study at other universities and to participate in study tours to fashion centers of the world are another plus. A strong foundation for graduate study in apparel and related areas is provided.

Entrance Requirements

New students may be admitted directly into the program when they apply to UH Mānoa. Students transferring from other colleges/schools within the UH System or from other universities must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be considered for admission to FDM.

Goals

1. Industry Processes. Graduates will:

understand how textile and apparel industry operations and theories of consumer behavior are used to plan and develop product lines;
understand textile and apparel product quality in terms of industry standards, regulatory agency criteria;
conduct research and use quantitative methods to analyze and develop manufacturing and merchandising plans;
be abreast of current theories, practices, and policies related to markets, trade, and economic development; and understand current data on production, consumption, and sustainable practices.

2. Global Interdependence, Ethics, and Social Responsibility. Graduates will:

understand social, political, and economic conditions as these affect industry operations and practices, labor conditions, and consumer needs;
be knowledgeable regarding issues of social responsibility, environmental impact, and sustainability as these relate to industry activities and processes;
understand and respect the criteria for professional behavior and ethics in industry activities.

3. Appearance and Human Behavior. Graduates will understand and apply knowledge of the interrelationships among historical, socio-cultural, and psychological factors and their impact on dress and appearance behaviors. They will understand the role of dress in reflecting and shaping human interactions.

4. Aesthetics and Design Process. Graduates will apply knowledge of aesthetics and the design process to develop and evaluate textile and apparel-related products and market environments.

5. Critical and Creative Thinking. Graduates will demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills and prepare creative products using industry-appropriate technology.

6. Professional Development. Graduates will effectively communicate ideas in written, oral, and visual forms, using appropriate technology.

Outcomes for Core Courses

The student can comprehend theories of fashion change, the operations of the apparel industry, current issues in the fashion industry, and careers in the apparel and related industries.
The student can apply basic construction techniques appropriate to particular fabric characteristics and garment type.
The student can comprehend fibers, fabric structure, and finishes related to selection and care, as well as the interrelationship between textile characteristics, properties, and end uses.
The student can apply principles and practices in fashion trend forecasting, including environment analysis, consumer research, competitive analysis, color and textile forecasting, style directions, and digital marketing trends.
The student can comprehend CAD applications from design through pattern-making and 3D simulation, utilizing diverse industry-standard digital design software and AI applications.
The student can comprehend procedures in selecting, buying, and selling apparel and textiles, types of merchandising organizations, analysis of consumer demand, and brick-and-click opportunities and challenges.
The students can comprehend theories, problems, and procedures of financial and assortment planning and control of merchandise inventories.
The students can examine issues and opportunities associated with careers in fashion and related businesses and industries. Topics include interpersonal skills development, job search and interview strategies, and ethical issues in the workplace.

Outcomes for Product Development Courses

The student can identify the basic principles of block pattern & pattern drafting and demonstrate the appropriate manipulation of the block as applied in the apparel industry.
The students can comprehend the principles of pattern-making through draping muslin models on standard garment forms.
The students can practice advanced techniques in garment construction, with an emphasis on new, difficult-to-handle fabrics. They can examine and practice advanced study in specialty market design, pattern-making, and construction for various specialty designs.
The students can apply principles of apparel production management, including methods engineering (detail construction for ordering), storyboards and color tables, production measurements, and costing.
The student can demonstrate ability in both conceptual and technical aspects of apparel design by developing a creative mini-collection that explores aesthetics, function, and emerging technologies.
The student can apply introductory wearable technology techniques, such as integrating conductive materials, sensors, or LEDs into garment prototypes while maintaining design considerations.

Outcomes for Fashion/Retail Business Courses

The student can integrate and present knowledge of visual merchandising concepts and processes, as well as merchandise presentation techniques, by creating 3D virtual retail stores.
The students can identify and present practices in brand architecture and effective branding strategies.
The students can apply principles, procedures, and techniques of organizing a small retail business in a brick-and-click world. They can evaluate business plans creatively, using both low- and high-tech resources and oral communication skills.
The student can comprehend theories, concepts, and problems of international trade of textile and apparel products. They can discuss current issues of importing and exporting apparel products globally, as well as economic and ethical factors affecting the textile and apparel trade.

Outcomes for Additional Fashion Courses

The student can integrate social construction within culture and its visual expression through appearance with the analysis of role, identity, conformity, and deviance in human appearance.
The student can identify and present how changes in fashion affect and are affected by dress across time and culture.
The student can comprehend the cultural and social contexts that create the choice of costumes and traditional dress in a particular country or culture in a given historical period.
The student can create and analyze different types of writing in the fashion industry with an emphasis on creating a professional writing style.
The student can present knowledge, skills, and techniques needed for handling textile and apparel artifacts in museums and other exhibitions.

Human Development and Family Science

The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) Program (formerly Family Resources (FAMR) Program) provides students with a comprehensive education in family development and resource management, including course work and study in the areas of human development, family relations, parenting, family economics and resource management, consumer economics, community leadership and resource development.

The curriculum prepares students to work proactively in multicultural settings with the goal of helping individuals, families, and communities to be healthy and thriving. It connects an ecological model with families and communities, providing students with an understanding of:

The changing needs and dynamics of families over time;
The management of personal, family, and community resources to meet these needs;
The growth and development of individuals over the human life cycle;
The interrelationship of individuals, families, and communities in the context of diverse socio-economic and cultural systems.

Students gain a systems perspective of how families operate by studying the theoretical and applied literature that addresses the biological, social, cultural, psychological, and economic well-being of individuals and families and the environments in which they live. Students also study the changing functions of the family, the roles of its members, and the community programs and policies that affect the decisions and wellbeing of families and consumers. HDFS courses provide students with knowledge that they can apply to their personal development and family life. Moreover, the HDFS internship is designed to provide real-time real-life experiences.

Entrance Requirements

Goals and Objectives

Students completing the HDFS degree are expected to achieve the following goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Acquire a knowledge base in human development.

Objective 1. Demonstrate criterion level knowledge of stages, processes, and ranges of typical human development

Goal 2: Acquire a knowledge base in family science and resource management.

Objective 1. Demonstrate criterion level knowledge of family diversity in the global community.

Objective 2. Demonstrate criterion level knowledge of family resource management processes.

Goal 3: Acquire a knowledge base of the community context in which family functioning and development take place.

Objective 1. Demonstrate criterion level knowledge of the effects of context (social, economic, political, historical, and cultural environment) on family functioning and development.

Goal 4: Acquire professional skills

Objective 1. Demonstrate criterion level skills in written communication.

Objective 2. Demonstrate criterion level skills in oral communication.

Objective 3. Demonstrate a basic level of computer literacy.

Objective 4. Demonstrate basic competence in “helping” skills.

Objective 5. Demonstrate basic research skills.

Goal 5: Apply knowledge and professional skills to address issues encountered in professional settings.

Objective 1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities.

Objective 2. Demonstrate commitment to professional values and ethical behavior.

Objective 3. Demonstrate a satisfactory level of preparation for the world of work and responsibility for continued professional growth.

Additional Opportunities

Provisional Certified Family Life Educator

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has approved the Human Development and Family Science undergraduate program as meeting the standards and criteria required for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Fully certified Family Life Educators work in the areas of program development, implementation, evaluation, teaching, training, and research related to individual and family well-being. Among other activities, they conduct workshops in parenting, marital relationships, and resource management, in hospitals, HMOs, clinics, and schools. HDFS graduates who complete the specified courses in ten family life substance areas can apply to NCFR for Provisional Certification. Once a graduate has completed two years of work experience in preventive, educational activities related to family well-being, the graduate can apply for full CFLE certification. HDFS internships, which include documented FLE activities may be used as part of the required work experience.

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the College of Education Departments of Curriculum Studies and Special Education offer an interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of master of education in early childhood education. MEd in early childhood education requirements are located in the College of Education Departments of Curriculum Studies and Special Education section of this Catalog.

Programs

Bachelor’s

Minor

Fashion Design and Merchandising, Minor