Consumer Sciences, BS

The Department of Consumer Sciences prepares students for leadership roles in business, government, and non-profit settings.  Students in this major have interests in personal finance, consumer behavior, marketing, public policy, consumer engagement, conflict resolution, and related fields that require the expertise of professionals who understand the role consumers play in today’s markets. In addition to core courses that provide the foundation for understanding consumers in their economic, political, and home environments, the Consumer Sciences curriculum offers three concentrations. The Consumer Sciences major with no concentration provides a flexible curriculum and may be particularly appealing for double-majors or students preparing for professional degrees (e.g., graduate or law school).

Consumer Affairs Concentration

The Consumer Affairs concentration offers an applied approach to understanding consumers in home and market environments.  With coursework in consumer economics, consumer policy, consumer communications, and family resource management, the Consumer Affairs concentration prepares students for careers as consumer specialists in government, business, research, and non-profit settings.  This concentration builds students’ capacity to analyze markets and matters of personal finance from the perspective of consumers, and to communicate these issues to stakeholders. Graduates enjoy careers as analysts, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, customer care and engagement specialists, financial professionals, and similar in private, public, and non-profit sectors. The skills learned in this concentration also prepare students for law school and graduate school.

Digital Consumer Engagement Concentration

The Digital Consumer Engagement concentration offers students an in‑depth understanding of how businesses interact with customers through digital channels such as websites, social media, email, and mobile apps, emphasizing personalized communication, proactive support, multi‑channel engagement, and data‑driven insights to enhance customer experience and loyalty. Building on core coursework in the Consumer Sciences major, this concentration equips students with the technical skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital environment. The curriculum prepares students to navigate and manage complex digital interactions—from overseeing multiple social media platforms to engaging empowered consumers and adapting to emerging technologies across today’s marketplace.

Family Financial Planning and Counseling Concentration

The Family Financial Planning and Counseling concentration offers students the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in financial planning and related careers. Financial planners guide clients in many aspects of their financial lives: financial goals, cash flow, taxes, retirement, college, business planning, estate planning, and insurance needs, among others. Financial counselors also counsel clients, with a focus on developing financial capability and sound personal finance principles such as reducing debt, building an emergency fund, negotiating payments, developing a budget, and similar.

The Family Financial Planning and Counseling Concentration coursework fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the CFP® certification exam that leads to the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP (with flame logo) ®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. The University of Alabama does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP (with flame logo) ® certification marks. Only the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., grants CFP certification to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board Registered Program, have met ethics, experience, and examination requirements.

The Family Financial Planning and Counseling Concentration coursework also fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the Accredited Financial Counselor® exam offered by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education®.