College Home Economics and Kinesiology Majors

[Anonymous]

Fifty years ago, University of Maryland, College Park, had a "College of Human Ecology"? That was a euphemism for "Home Economics". They still have Family Science and Kinesiology majors in the School of Public Health. Other universities have them too.

HYP schools do not offer these majors. IMO, those majors are not appropriate in a publicly subsidized institution of higher learning. You could split hairs about overlap among humanities departments, or criticize vocational aspects of business education. But Home Ec and Kinesiology not fundamental scholarly disciplines. Why the hell do we even have them in universities?

[Anonymous]

A lot of kinesiology majors go to Physical therapy school.

Or become personal trainers.

I know one who sent to med school and is now a pediatrician.

Isn’t how the human body works a little bit important?

If you don’t like it, don’t study it.

[Anonymous]

Kinesiology is often the major for kids becoming PTs and OTs and going into fields of health and wellness. That is a booming industry.

As best I can tell, Human Ecology is no longer offered at College Park but rather at other branches, and prepares kids for careers as dietitians, home musing, fashion merchandising. These are all jobs people could spend a career in, and graduates would benefit from taking the requirements for a college degree.

I actually think they are most appropriate at a state school whose mission is educating its residents. In particular, physical therapy especially seems to be beyond a certification program. While there is certainly a place for trade programs, there is fundamental value in kids receiving a college degree too.

Perhaps I am misreading the tone of your post (but guessing no since you curse), but it feels too hot for the topic?

[Anonymous]

My mom majored in home economics. She went on to have a fruitful career in something totally different, but she always ran a tight ship at home. FWIW, I majored in regular old economics and it’s never really come in handy ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fifty years ago, University of Maryland, College Park, had a "College of Human Ecology"? That was a euphemism for "Home Economics". They still have Family Science and Kinesiology majors in the School of Public Health. Other universities have them too.

HYP schools do not offer these majors. IMO, those majors are not appropriate in a publicly subsidized institution of higher learning. You could split hairs about overlap among humanities departments, or criticize vocational aspects of business education. But Home Ec and Kinesiology not fundamental scholarly disciplines. Why the hell do we even have them in universities?

There are many majors that HYP schools don't offer because their undergrad programs are essentially liberal arts and sciences... for example you won't see marketing, business, or accounting majors at HYP, instead you if you want to go into one of those fields would you would probably major in economics (and then get relevant internships over the summers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom majored in home economics. She went on to have a fruitful career in something totally different, but she always ran a tight ship at home. FWIW, I majored in regular old economics and it’s never really come in handy ever.

I love this.

Also, there are many careers and jobs that could spin off those majors. Since others addressed ones from kinesiology, I’ll say for whatever home ec is currently called possible careers could be dietician, hospitality, public sector in nutrition education, private sector at food companies.

Public colleges are exactly where these kinds of majors should still exist. Not everyone wants to go into comp sci, or will have career doors opened bc of an ivy league credential.

[Anonymous]

Don't be silly. There's value in all kinds of research. Just because YOU don't value these things doesn't mean they aren't important areas of inquiry. I'd argue that the finance bros at Wharton, while successful in getting wealthy, aren't adding to society the way people who work in the fields under Cornell's College of Human Ecology:

DESIGN + ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Create innovative, healthy, and sustainable futures through design

FASHION DESIGN & MANAGEMENT
The creation, aesthetics, function, and business of fashion

FIBER SCIENCE
Develop and control fibrous materials to better human lives

GLOBAL & PUBLIC HEALTH
Population-level solutions to health issues

HUMAN BIOLOGY, HEALTH, & SOCIETY
Human biology in the context of life

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
A layered understanding of human growth and development

NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
The relationship between food, nutrition, and health

[Anonymous]

How would you think kinesiology is not an academic pursuit? What?? The human body is very complex.

[Anonymous]

OP got dunked hard. Ouch.

[Anonymous]

Our state universities should be training out citizens to be productive members of society, not ivory tower nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Family science is more like social work than baking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you think kinesiology is not an academic pursuit? What?? The human body is very complex.

But what do you do with that degree?

I know someone that majored in kinesiology from UofM. They had a hard time finding a job, any job. Eventually they went back to school and studied something else. Kinesiology leaves you pretty much a gym teacher, personal trainer, or in prep for getting a masters degree in something somewhat related: PA school, OT, PT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you think kinesiology is not an academic pursuit? What?? The human body is very complex.

Exactly. If OP doesn’t “support” kinesiology at college level, then tell their kid, you only go to college if major in X and not Y. For everyone else’s kids, let them decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you think kinesiology is not an academic pursuit? What?? The human body is very complex.

But what do you do with that degree?

I know someone that majored in kinesiology from UofM. They had a hard time finding a job, any job. Eventually they went back to school and studied something else. Kinesiology leaves you pretty much a gym teacher, personal trainer, or in prep for getting a masters degree in something somewhat related: PA school, OT, PT

Best person used for painful PT told me their best background for current job was their kinesiology major and for that I am beyond thankful. And why is being gym teacher or trainer being written above as bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you think kinesiology is not an academic pursuit? What?? The human body is very complex.

But what do you do with that degree?

I know someone that majored in kinesiology from UofM. They had a hard time finding a job, any job. Eventually they went back to school and studied something else. Kinesiology leaves you pretty much a gym teacher, personal trainer, or in prep for getting a masters degree in something somewhat related: PA school, OT, PT

And what is wrong with that?

Kinesiology is kind of a hot major right now. As for human ecology, I agree that those fields would be perfect at state universities. It would be great if you could still get and use a degree in teaching home ec/family and consumer science, but those jobs are on the wane due to all STEM all the time.