Program Overview

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Home Economics

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Home Economics is a three-year full-time program that offers professional training for career paths aimed at improving the quality of life and wellbeing for individuals, families, and society. The program focuses on responsible resource management and behavior change strategies, with an emphasis on food, nutrition, health, family functioning, housing, interiors, textiles, fashion, personal finance, and consumer affairs.

Program Overview

The program is designed to provide students with a holistic background in management and review of resources, communication, product development, and project planning and implementation. Graduates of this program can be employed in various sectors, including family care, consumer information, agriculture, environment, sustainability, and retail.

Admission Criteria

• General Entry Requirements: Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications.
• Notes and other requirements: Applicants considered as "Adult Learners" must possess qualifications and/or experience that satisfy the Faculty Admissions Committee.
• Applicants with other qualifications may be exempted from special course requirements by the University Admissions Board.

Program Structure

The program consists of three years of study, with compulsory and optional study units. Students are required to register for a total of 180 ECTS credits, with 60 ECTS credits per year.

Year 1

• Compulsory units:
  • HPN1003: Family Diversity, Well-Being and Social Care
  • HPN1008: Dress, Society and Culture
  • HPN1012: Communicative Aspects of Home Economics
  • HPN1020: Community and Entrapreneurial Placement 1
  • HPN1004: Introductory Science for Home Economics
  • HPN1009: Principles and Applications of Textile Science
  • HPN1010: Principles and Applications of Construction Techniques used in Textiles (1)
  • HPN1018: Towards Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
  • HPN1019: Introduction to Home Economics as a Discipline and as a Profession
  • IOT1008: An Introduction to Creativity
• Optional units: Students are required to register for one or more optional study-units for a total of 4 ECTS credits.

Year 2

• Compulsory units:
  • HPN2019: Community and Entrapreneurial Placement 2
  • HPN2002: Home Planning for Independent Living and Living with Others
  • HPN2004: Ethical Fashion and Textiles Recycling
  • HPN2018: Research Skills and Public Speaking
  • MRK2051: Consumer Behaviour
• Specialisation areas:
  • Specialisation Area A: Health and Consumer Studies
  • Specialisation Area B: Textiles, Fashion and Interiors Studies
• Optional units: Students are required to register for one or more optional study-units for a total of 4 ECTS credits.

Year 3

• Compulsory units:
  • HPN3021: Research Study Long Essay
  • HPN3003: Scientific Principles and Applications for Contemporary Family Living
  • HPN3004: Nutrition and Dietary Planning for Individual Needs (1)
  • HPN3013: Costume History
  • HPN3019: Home Economists as Caring Professionals
• Specialisation areas:
  • Specialisation Area A: Health and Consumer Studies
  • Specialisation Area B: Textiles, Fashion and Interiors Studies
• Optional units: Students are required to register for one or more optional study-units for a total of 4 ECTS credits.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify the various wellbeing needs of different families and family members at different stages of the lifecycle.
• Acknowledge the elements of an entrepreneurial spirit and become familiar with requirements for commercial and social entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Speak with confidence regarding the basic science pertaining to food, nutrition, health, textiles, home management, design, and communication.
• Critically analyse research articles, reports, and other reviews for accuracy, currency, and understandability by the general public.
• Apply design and organisational principles to develop, create a prototype or pilot, and evaluate a simple product or service to help promote healthier, sustainable lifestyle and consumption behaviours.

Tuition Fees

• Non-EU applicants: Eur 8,500 per academic year.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program can be employed in various sectors, including:

• National or international Government entities or Non-Governmental Organisations focusing on family wellbeing, consumer skills, caring services, healthy eating, food security, and sustainable production and consumption.
• Mass media or retail sector as advisors or marketers related to food choices and meal planning, planning of interiors, and choice of appliances, as well as creativity and planning in textiles and fashion.
• Entrepreneurial routes, venturing into private business or social innovation in areas such as food, catering, textiles, crafts, fashion, and interiors.

Further Studies

Graduates can pursue further studies in areas related to individual or family wellbeing, community development, sustainability, creativity, and innovation, or entrepreneurship, as well as training to become a teacher in the areas of Home Economics, Textiles Studies, or related Vocational subjects.