Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
South Dakota State University. College of Home Economics
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences at South Dakota State University developed from one of the institution’s earliest academic initiatives aligned with its land grant mission. Instruction began in 1885 with the establishment of a four year program in Domestic Economy, making South Dakota State College one of the first land grant institutions to create a formal home economics department. The curriculum combined scientific training with liberal and practical education, preparing students, particularly women, for leadership in home and family management. Renamed Home Economics by 1915, the program expanded significantly following the Smith Lever Act and Smith Hughes Act, which strengthened extension and vocational education. By the 1920s, coursework in nutrition, clothing, design, home management, and child development supported growing enrollment and statewide influence, particularly through teacher preparation and public school service.
The division evolved steadily through the mid 20th century, adding child development in 1945, technical journalism in 1946, and graduate instruction in 1952. When South Dakota State College became a university in 1962, the unit was elevated to the College of Home Economics. Continued curricular development led to a core curriculum in 1975 and expanded specialized programs in education, extension, human services, and interior design. In 1994, the college was renamed the College of Family and Consumer Sciences to reflect national disciplinary trends and an emphasis on the relationships among individuals, families, and their environments.
Organizational restructuring in the early 21st century marked a significant transition. In 2009, the College of Family and Consumer Sciences merged with the College of Education and Counseling to form the College of Education and Human Sciences. Subsequent consolidations brought together programs in health, nutrition, consumer sciences, and recreation, culminating in the creation of the School of Health and Consumer Sciences in 2022. Further restructuring in 2024 resulted in the School of Health and Human Sciences, while the Consumer Affairs program was transferred to the Ness School of Management and Economics. Although the College of Family and Consumer Sciences no longer exists as a standalone unit, its academic legacy continues through these successor programs, maintaining a longstanding commitment to applied science, education, and service that supports families, communities, and human well being.