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Human Sciences Communication

Types of Degrees Human Sciences Communication Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Human Sciences Communication may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	1

What Human Sciences Communication Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Human Sciences Communication build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Human Sciences Communication graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Human Sciences Communication emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Human Sciences Communication program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Human Sciences Communication careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Human Sciences Communication graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.8 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Human Sciences Communication professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Desire2Learn LMS software	Computer based training software	—
Sakai CLE	Computer based training software	—
DOC Cop	Information retrieval or search software	—
Blackboard Learn	Computer based training software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Human Sciences Communication graduates include:

• Family and Consumer Sciences Professor (FCS Professor)
• Adjunct Professor
• Nutrition Instructor
• College Faculty Member
• Lecturer
• Home Economics Professor
• Food and Nutrition Instructor
• Family Resource Management Professor
• Food and Nutrition Teacher
• Family Consumer Science Teacher (FCS Teacher)
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Nutrition Program Instructor
• Instructor
• Food and Nutrition Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Human Sciences Communication graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	27.0%
Bachelor’s degree	25.2%
Master’s degree	23.1%
Some college courses	7.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.1%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	4.8%
Postsecondary certificate	2.2%
Less than a high school diploma	1.0%
First professional degree	0.8%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Post-doctoral training	0.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Human Sciences Communication?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 100% of Human Sciences Communication degrees.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Human Sciences Communication graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1	100.0%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Human Sciences Communication Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Human Sciences Communication graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$42,391
4 years	$54,186
5 years	$63,925

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $63,925 — roughly 51% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Human Sciences Communication Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Human Sciences Communication graduates earn a median of $54,186 four years after completion — roughly 43% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services	19.02
Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences	19.0201
Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management	19.0203
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other	19.0299
Adult Development and Aging	19.0702
Apparel and Textile Manufacture	19.0902
Apparel and Textiles, General	19.0901

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.