History of Human Sciences at SFA

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History of Human Sciences at SFA

The tradition of Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University is both long and impressive. Human Sciences was part of the curriculum when the University opened in 1923. By the Spring of 1924, student enrollment was large enough to require an additional faculty member to assist with the program.

Administrative support of the Human Sciences has been readily evident through the years of the University. During the first year, before the University had its own facilities, the local high school provided laboratories for use by college students at noon and at the end of the high school day. In May of 1924, the program was moved into the new Stephen F. Austin building; it occupied that space until the Fall semester of 1970. The department presently utilizes a complex of buildings with up-to-date instructional laboratories and equipment housing the multiple diversified programs provided through the University.

The first faculty member in the department and, therefore, the first leader, was Miss Edna St. John. Miss St. John, later Mrs. C.A. Hodges, taught the basic curriculum which was foods and clothing, commonly referred to as "cooking and sewing." Through effective leadership, Miss St. John established the long tradition of excellence in Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Miss Edna Wilkin, later Mrs. Earl Teagarden, joined the faculty in January, 1924, as the second faculty member. "Miss Wilkin" served as department head from 1925 to 1959. Her area of specialization was clothing and textiles. In the history of the department, written in 1940 by Miss Wilkin, she recalled:

“We were grateful for the depression-especially the year the Board of Regents decided that teachers should be paid only three-fourths of their summer salaries. For President Birdwell used that money (the one-fourth he could not pay to the faculty) to build our Home Management House and Nursery School. The house was finished and ready for use the summer session of 1936. . .”

Program highlights of this era included the addition of child development and home management courses, student teaching in the public schools, and vocational certification approval by the Texas Education Agency.

Rapid growth in student enrollment, program expansion, and the construction of the Human Sciences North Building were highlights of the 1959 to 1971 years. Specialization areas of study within the discipline were developed, approved and implemented. The areas included foods and nutrition, clothing and textiles, and child development/family as concentrations within the General major. Initial approval of the undergraduate curriculum in foods and nutrition by the American Dietetic Association was received in 1970. Former students will recall this era as one of rapid growth and cultural and societal change. Dr. Blanche Phillips, teacher educator and former high school teacher, served as head of the department during this twelve-year period.

Department trends and curricula have kept pace with the complex society of the past 30-year period. Through the combined efforts of the next department chair, Dr. Gloria Durr and Human Sciences faculty, staff, and students, the following were accomplished: Phi Upsilon Omicron, National Human Sciences honor society, was chartered; the graduate program in Human Sciences was initiated; programs in Interior Design, Teachers of Young Children, Food Systems Management, Hospitality Administration and the Dietetic Internship were approved; facilities were expanded to include the Early Childhood Laboratory and the Human Sciences South Building (the Home Management House and the Human Sciences Annex were removed to allow space for the South Building); the Center for Economic Education was initiated; undergraduate programs were accredited by the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and NASAD. The Food, Nutrition and Dietetics programs were granted Developmental Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.

The department was named the School of Human Sciences under the current Director, Dr. Lynda Martin. Faculty continue to keep abreast of educational and societal change, with current initiatives being international experiences for students, development of the Human Sciences Ambassadors to help host guests on campus, opening of the Design Center, introduction of a new program area – Interior Merchandising and a totally on line Masters Degree in Human Sciences.

Human Sciences students are successful and a strong testament to program effectiveness.

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