University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Human and Community Development

The Department of Home Economics began in 1872 as the School of Domestic Science and Art. 1 The School was established on a practical basis in 1874 under Louisa C. Allen. 2 Its purpose was "to provide a full course of instruction in the arts of the household, and the sciences relating thereto." 3 The major objective of the curriculum was "to give to earnest and capable young women an education, not lacking in refinement, but which shall fit them for their great duties and trusts, making them the equals of their educated husbands and associates, and enabling them to bring the aids of science and culture to the all-important labors and vocations of womanhood." 4 In 1887 the School of Domestic Science became part of the College of Natural Science. 5 In 1881, the School was dissolved due to the resignation of the School's professor in 1880 and an apparent lack of interest among students. 6 In 1899, the Department of Household Economics was established as an interdisciplinary program with the aim of offering "a group of courses selected from various departments to form a complete scientific basis for planning, decorating, and managing a home." 7

In 1901, the name of the Department was changed to the Department of Home Economics. 8 In 1974, the Department was reorganized as the School of Human Resources and Family Studies. 9 Approval was gained in 1978 for restructuring the School into four departments: Family and Consumer Economics, Food and Nutrition, Human Development and Family Ecology, Textiles and Interior Design. 10 The School included the four original departments (later referred to as "divisions"), plus the Home Economics Education Unit. 11 Both undergraduate and graduate programs were offered, including a more diversified graduate degree in "general human resources and family studies." 12 The Human Development and Family Ecology Division operated a Child Development Laboratory. 13 The Food and Nutrition Division operates a Foods Research Laboratory and a Sensory Evaluation Laboratory. 14 In 1991 the Textiles and Interior Design program, referred to as simply Interior Design, was eliminated by the Board of Trustees. 15

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