Title

Undergraduate Consumer Affairs Program Needs: Employers' Perspectives

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2012

Abstract

Forty-six Consumer Affairs (CA) internship supervisors were surveyed to identify critical knowledge and skills demonstrated by interns and to examine the importance of knowledge and skills needed in the workplace from the supervisors' perspectives. The knowledge and skills measured were identified through program goals. Results revealed that CA graduates demonstrated technology skills, service, and respect for workplace diversity at a higher level than they did for the other 14 program goals. Employers felt problem solving, oral communication, and ethics were the most important skills to succeed in the workplace. The findings of this study may inform faculties in consumer sciences considering development of new and existing curriculum to meet the professional needs of today's students.

Publication Title

Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences

Volume

104

Issue

1

First Page

29

Last Page

33

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