Theses and dissertations completed in family and consumer sciences: 2021

Abstract

Graduate student degree completion and research has been collected annually since 1992. This year's data collection began with an e‐mail invitation to 593 institutional contacts at 165 U.S. universities and colleges in June 2022. This e‐mail requested information on family and consumer sciences graduate degrees and research completed in 2021. A total of 150 master's theses, 122 doctoral dissertations, and 664 non‐thesis master's degrees were conferred in 2021 from family and consumer sciences programs. This report presents the submitted information on theses and dissertations categorized into 16 subject‐matter categories by degree level.

Family and consumer sciences graduate research productivity in 2022

“…In a few cases, the e‐mails were forwarded to the correct contact, with us copied. As Wilmarth and Milstead (2022a, 2022b) also experienced, many of our e‐mails were rejected as possible spam. As universities and colleges continue to address cybersecurity, there will be increased measures with e‐mail systems to prevent unwanted e‐mails.…”

“…The process we used to collect the data for this project mirrored that of Wilmarth and Milstead (2022a, 2022b), who graciously shared their directory, e‐mail template, and data collection tool. They mirrored the processes established by Kabaci (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).…”

“…Wilmarth and Milstead (2022a, 2022b) noted the data collection process became challenging over the years they led this project. We agree with that observation and have experienced similar challenges, such as identifying where FCS programs are housed at institutions, and this seems to be ever‐changing with some institutions.…”

“…The range of number of institutions reporting is 18–64 since this project began in 1991. The highest reporting year was 1992, with 64 (Kabaci, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021, 2022a, 2022b). As Wilmarth and Milstead (2022a, 2022b) indicated, some of the lower reporting in 2020, 2021, and even 2022 could be attributed to the work situations resulting from the COVID‐19 pandemic.…”

“…Some programs are still housed in family and consumer sciences colleges with names such as Family of Consumer Sciences, Human Sciences, Human Services, Human Ecology, and Human Environmental Sciences. An independent college with all or most of the family and consumer sciences fields is no longer the norm (Wilmarth & Milstead, 2022a, 2022b). Often, colleges have been merged with other colleges or programs such as health, education, or agriculture.…”