Home economics as a field of study usually to a common man bring to the mind
about sewing aprons, cooking, and baking cake. But however, home
economics as a field of study has illuminated the mind so much in the 20th
century to know that home economics covers a wide range of studies, including food and
nutrition, clothing and textiles, child development, sociology, and
consumer protection.
When home economics was first introduced in the late 1800s, the study was
somehow in addition to other functions to helped students prepare for life on
the farm and helping their families.
In the 20th Century, the study acted as a bridge for
students to enter into institutions of higher learning and later into
professions. Students who graduated from these advanced programs went on to
teaching positions to pass on this knowledge and some are led into positions in
hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and even government. Along these lines, as
universities and other tertiary institutions conducted research, home economics
study has taught advanced classes in nutrition and hygiene as well as economics.
WHAT HOME ECONOMICS IS AS A COURSE
Home economics is cooking and other aspects of household management. Home
economics or domestic science, or home science is a field
of study that deals with the relationship between individuals, families,
communities, and the environment in which they live. Home economics
courses are offered internationally and across multiple educational levels. Home economics
courses have been important throughout history because it gave women the
opportunity to pursue higher education and vocational training in a world where
only men were able to learn in such environments. In modern times, home
economics teaches people of all genders important life skills, such as cooking,
sewing, and finances. With the stigma the term “home economics” has earned over
the years, the course is now often referred to by different terms, such as
“family and consumer science.
WHY DO WE STUDY HOME ECONOMICS?
We study home economics to promote a well- being of individuals. The study
helps the society to develop human progress individually and it comprises major
ideas on food, clothing, home, and family. Human progress is necessary for
society to grow and it is so important since well-being is the machinery that
vibrant all aspects of human experience.
BRANCHES OF HOME ECONOMICS:
Here, we've outlined just some of the careers that involve knowledge of home
economics. For some of them, you'll need a qualification in a subject other
than home economics to go further, although home economics will still give you
a useful background for the career.
1.
Food
Scientist/Technologist
2.
Food Technician
3.
Dietitian
4.
Nutritionist
5.
Catering/Restaurant
Manager
6.
Hotel Manager
7.
Domestic
Services Manager
8.
Chef
9.
Consumer
protection (Trading Standards Officer)
10.
Environmental
Health Practitioner
11.
Textiles and
clothing
12. Tailor
13.
Fashion Designer
14.
Education
(Teaching and lecturing)
15.
Home Care Organiser
Food Scientist/Technologist
Food Scientists are experts on the biological, chemical, and physical
make-up of food, and how food can be processed, stored and preserved. Food
Technologists apply this knowledge to make new food products and ensure that
they are safe and of good quality.
Although Food Scientists are more likely to go into research and Food
Technologists into production, the division between them are not clear-cut. Both
may work in research and development, production, and quality assurance
management.
Food Technician
Food Technicians help Scientists/Technologists to develop food products.
Technicians test the safety and quality of and finished products, as well as
testing packaging, processing, and storage techniques.raw materials
They look after the day-to-day running of the laboratory, and might also
help in the research and development of new products.
Dietitian
Dietitians give people information and advice about the right diet to
maintain their health or to help them cope with or overcome an illness.
Dietitians may be based in hospitals or the community. Hospital work mainly
involves diet therapy for individual patients, for example, people with food
allergies or. They also train and advise other health professionals in diabetes in the hospital.
In the community, a dietitian might be involved in clinical work or health
promotion, or a mixture of both. For example, they might work with health
professionals such as practice nurses and health visitors. Health GPs promotion
could include giving talks in schools or groups such as slimming clubs and
pregnant women.
Dietitians work in lots of other areas, including sports nutrition, food,
and industries, education, pharmaceutical research, and journalism.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists help us to understand how affects our health. They work in
lots of areas, including the NHS, nutrition sports nutrition, the food
industry, and animal nutrition.
NHS Nutritionists often work in the community, helping people to prevent
problems such as cancer, stroke, and diabetes. They might run healthy eating
sessions, teach cooking skills, and produce information about a healthy diet.
In the food industry, Nutritionists research and develop new food products.
They advise on food products' nutritional content, such as how much fat and
salt they have in them.
The right diet can help sports professionals to train and perform at their
best. Nutritionists work with Athletes and Players, and also give people advice
in the fitness industry.
Animal Nutritionists look at ways to improve the quality and quantity of
things such as eggs, meat, and milk. They also try to improve pets' diets.
Catering/Restaurant Manager
Catering/Restaurant Managers work in a wide variety of places, from top
hotels to fast-food chains, hospitals, cruise ships, and prisons.
Their main responsibility is for staff management, recruitment, training,
and day-to-day organization. Other areas include quality control, hygiene, and
health and safety.
Managers might be responsible for setting and controlling. They might also
plan menus, order supplies; budgets greet customers, and deal with any
complaints. They need to be good at dealing with people and should be able to
work under pressure.
Hotel Manager
The duties of Hotel Managers vary according to the size of the hotel.
In a large hotel, the General Manager organizes a team of departmental
Managers, taking overall responsibility for planning, and marketing. In a
smaller hotel or guest house, the work will be more 'hands-on', with greater
budgeting day-to-day contact with guests.
Domestic Services Manager
Domestic Services Managers, often known as 'Housekeepers' in the hotel
industry and 'Domestic Bursars' in educational institutions are responsible
for the cleanliness and general maintenance of large residential establishments.
They work in places like hospitals, hotels, schools, universities, and
colleges.
They are responsible for organizing the work of domestic staff, who keep the
buildings clean and in good condition. They might have other areas of
responsibility, such as organizing laundry services or arranging repairs.
They spend part of their time checking the work of staff, but there is also
an office-based element to their work, involving administration and managing.
Budgets
Chef
The term 'Chef' tends to be used in hotels and restaurants, whereas 'Cook'
is used in work canteens, schools, and hospitals.
In the large hotel and restaurant kitchens, there are a number of specialists
Chefs running different sections (such as vegetables or pastry) under the
direction of the Head Chef. In smaller establishments, the Chef might do
everything - ordering food, cooking and clearing up.
There can be opportunities for creative cookery, and to experiment with new
and specialist dishes, particularly for experienced Chefs.
In catering services, such as for airlines, schools, and hospitals, the work
is more routine. It often involves preparing large numbers of meals in a
central kitchen, which are then distributed to different sites and re-heated.
Whatever the setting, the work of a Chef or Cook is physically demanding.
Most of the working day is spent standing up in a hot kitchen. Unsocial hours
are often part of the job.
Consumer protection (Trading Standards Officer)
Trading Standards Officers (TSOs) enforce the laws and regulations that
cover the goods and services we buy, hire, and sell.
They inspect premises, sample, test and measure products, investigate
complaints, give the consumer advice, and enforce the law. Employ TSOs.
Local authorities
TSOs make regular checks to see if things like scales and petrol pumps
measure accurately. They check toys and electrical products to make sure that
they are safe to use.
TSOs might take samples of food and drink products to make sure that
nutritional information on labels is accurate and that advertisements are not
misleading.
Environmental Health Practitioner
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) protect us from environmental
hazards at home, at work, and in public places.
EHPs make sure our food is safe to eat, and improve conditions for people
living in unfit or old housing. EHPs also monitor and control air, water, land,
and noise pollution.
EHPs visit places such as offices, houses, leisure services, shops, and
restaurants. They advise people on the best ways to protect themselves and
others from environmental hazards. EHPs must also enforce the law, for example,
closing food premises or requiring Landlords to carry out essential repairs.
Some EHPs work for private companies, making sure that they are following
the law and safeguarding their employees and customers.
Textiles and clothing (Textile Designer)
Textile Designers create designs for fabrics, carpets, wall-coverings, and
soft furnishings. Some, particularly in small companies, spend most of their
time reworking traditional designs. In large firms, there may be more
opportunities to create original designs.
It's important for Textile Designers to have knowledge of yarns, dyes, and
manufacturing processes, as these affect designs.
Fashion Designer
Fashion Designers design clothing and/or accessories. A few work in,
designing exclusive for haute couture garments individual and producing
seasonal collections. clients
Others design ready-made quality garments, often following the trends set by
haute couture. Fashion Designers working for wholesale manufacturers design the
clothes that we see in shops and in catalogs.
Tailor
Tailors produce hand-crafted garments - particularly men's suits - to order.
They also make alterations to garments.
They advise customers on the range of fabrics and styles available and take
measurements. They then make cardboard or paper patterns, cut out cloth and
stitch the garments, mainly by hand.
Textile industry
There are also many technical jobs in the textile industry, such as:
Textile Technologist Textile Technician Textile Operative Dyeing Technician
Education (Teaching and lecturing)
Most Home Economics Teachers work in secondary schools. They teach pupils
about child development, food, and nutrition, or textiles. Design and
Technology Teachers can also cover areas related to home economics, such as
food technology and textile technology.
Teaching methods include group and practical work, discussions, and using
audio-visual materials and the internet. Teaching may also involve visits to
places of educational interest. Home Economics Teachers also have to plan
lessons, mark work, write reports, go to meetings, and give feedback.
Home Care Organiser
Home Care Organisers manage the services that help people to cope with their
own homes. They recruit, train, and supervise Home Care Assistants who provide
practical, social, and emotional care too. Home Care Organisers clients assess
clients' needs and arrange services such as the delivery of free meals.
Other jobs in the caring services
Some people with training in home economics go into housing work or health
education/promotion.
Conclusion
As a student, after knowing and understanding home
economics as a field of study and its benefits to individuals and the
society at large, researchwap.com and projecttopics.site as an
online resource center has come up with a vast database for students to have
access to numerous free project
topics and uncountable research materials on home economics and it related
courses.
Below are few home economics
project
topics that you might want to take a look at