Current Illinois State Students
Professional Practice / Internships
We are happy that you have chosen to continue your college career at Illinois State University in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department. We are pleased that a large number of our current students are transfer students from other institutions.
We encourage declared FCS majors to work closely with our academic advisor and become involved with our student organizations and other campus groups to enrich your time here at Illinois State University.
Students transferring from 2-year institutions are strongly encouraged to complete a baccalaureate-oriented associated degree (A.A. or A.S.) from a public community college or the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, commonly referred to as IAI.
To assist you with your academic planning we have developed sample transfer student plans of study for each of our programs. Please be aware that these are just sample plans. Individual plans of study should be developed with your academic advisor. Apparel, Merchandising and Design, Consumer Services, Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Human Development, Family Relationships, Interior and Environmental Design and Teacher Education.
Please visit the Registrar's web site for detailed information concerning the Transfer Registration Program.
You will receive instructions in the mail, from the Office of Admissions, telling you how to sign up for the Transfer Registration Program. If you were not invited to the Transfer Registration Program, you should phone the FCS Advisement Office to schedule an appointment (309) 438-5011.
Adjusting to a new set of policies and procedures can be a confusing process. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences wants to make your transition as smooth as possible. Listed below are answers to some of the common transfer-related questions students have.
Students are encouraged to read and become familiar with their Illinois State University catalog, especially the following sections: Academic Policies and Practices, Degree Requirements, and Family and Consumer Sciences. Remember that you must follow the catalog year that you were admitted under (see your advisor if you are not sure which one you are to follow). If you misplace your catalog they are available on-line.
Students should become proficient at using the online iCampus course registration system, and with the information contained in the "progress to my degree" link in their student information section.
Students should check the "my registration date" link in their iCampus portal. The date and time indicated is the first time, during the Advanced Registration period, that students will be able to access the system to register for courses for the upcoming semester. Course availability diminishes from that point on. This date and time is NOT an appointment with the Academic Advisor, it is simply the first moment the registration system will allow the student in question to register. Students can also contact the Student Service and Referral Center (SSRC) at (309) 438-2188 for immediate answers to questions regarding registration.
It is very important that you register as soon as you are eligible. This will give you the best selection of courses and times. If you have any delinquencies with the University please be sure to take care of them so that you are eligible to register when your registration date arrives.
Sign up for an advising appointment with the FCS advisor using the sign up sheets posted on the door at TUR 142 to take place before your registration day and time.
If you will not be able to see the advisor before you register, review your materials and register (on your assigned day) for courses that you think you should take. Refer to your catalog and the transfer student plans of study provided on the Web site for your program area to assist you with planning your schedule.
*It is your responsibility to inform the University of your local address EVERY time it changes. You may do this at the Registrar's web site or by phone 438-2188 or in-person at the Registration Office in Moulton Hall 107.
If the course is a Family & Consumer Sciences course then you should email FCS advisor Richard Kane requesting an override.
It is recommended that you register for all the courses that you can on your registration date and then if you need to go back into the system to add courses or make changes you may do so over the remainder of the registration period.
If the course is NOT an FCS course, you need to contact the department that offers the course. Each department has its own policies on requests for overrides. Department phone numbers and office numbers may be found online or in the campus phone book.
Although it may seem far away, students are eligible and should apply for graduation once they have completed 90 semester hours. Apply for graduation via the graduation services Web site. You will never have to pay the fee associated with graduation even if you have to push back your graduation date.
Applying for graduation also secures you in your current catalog. So, if you leave Illinois State University and then decide to return to complete your degree, you will still be allowed to be under the same catalog year and follow that catalog's curriculum requirements.
All students in FCS are required to complete a professional practice experience or a semester of student teaching for those in our teacher education program.
This experience is typically completed during a student's senior year or the summer following their senior year. At least 50% of the major requirements must be complete in order to qualify for the professional practice experience.
Students are responsible for finding their site themselves and, as long as the department approves the site, students are free to do this experience anywhere. Most students complete this experience in the summer so they are not limited to the Bloomington/Normal area. A list of sites previously used by our students is available on the FCS advising blackboard that is accessable to declared FCS majors via iCampus.
Students must attend a mandatory meeting the semester before they plan on doing this experience. The meetings are usually held about a month into each semester. Specific dates and times will be posted around Turner Hall, to the Professional Practice Web site and bulletin board at the beginning of each semester.
There is a deadline for professional practice applications. This deadline will be announced at the meeting and will also be posted on the Web site and on the bulletin board.
Students may apply for an Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship their junior and/or senior year. Independent Study Opportunities exist for qualified students and the Family and Consumer Sciences student organizations have opportunities for students to become involved at several different levels.
Students are also encouraged to get involved with activities at the University-level. The Dean of Students Office has information about all the registered student organizations on campus.
The University Honors Program offers wonderful opportunities for qualified students and you can also take required courses for Departmental Honors.
The Family and Consumer Sciences Department offers several scholarships to qualified students. Students are encouraged to visit the scholarship web page for qualifications and eligibility requirements. The deadline for all scholarships is typically March 1st and applications are available in the FCS main office, Turner 144.
We will also post information about other scholarship opportunities on our bulletin board located across the hall from the FCS Advisement Office, Turner 142B.
