Student Academic Affairs Office
Room 135
1300 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608/262-2608
Fax: 608/265-3616
acadaffairs@mail.sohe.wisc.edu
www.sohe.wisc.edu
Majors
History of the School
Facilities
Consumer Science
Family, Consumer and Community Education
Family and Consumer Journalism
Human Development and Family Studies
Individual Major
Interior Design
Retailing
Textile and Apparel Design
The School of Human Ecology (SoHE), which consistently ranks among the top institutions with similar programs, has an established record of excellence based on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and outreach. Throughout its 100-year history, the school has provided leadership in interdependent areas that directly affect people of all ages within their increasingly complex social, psychological, economic, designed, and cultural environments. The mission of the school is to understand these complex relationships in order to enhance the quality of people's lives and their environments through interdisciplinary research, creative innovation, teaching, learning, and outreach.
The school provides a small-school setting in a world-class university. Faculty and staff are committed to enhancing the development of students by nurturing the complementary relationship between professional and liberal arts education. This approach prepares graduates to assume leadership positions in their personal, civic, and professional lives. In addition to providing instruction, the school's faculty engages in extensive research and creative performance. Faculty members are also active in disseminating the latest research findings throughout the state, nation, and world.
Generations of students dedicated to fulfilling this mission have found an academic home in one of the school's eight majors, which are offered through the following departments: Consumer Science; Environment, Textiles and Design; Human Development and Family Studies; and Interdisciplinary Studies. Each major is based on a background of course work in the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and the biological, physical, and natural sciences. The focus of undergraduate professional programs may be in scientific, aesthetic, and/or business areas.
In response to repeated requests of citizen groups, the school was authorized by the Wisconsin legislature in 1903. Originally under the auspices of the College of Letters and Science, the department was transferred to the College of Agriculture in 1908. In 1951 the department became the School of Home Economics.
In May 1968, a new name, School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences, was adopted with the approval of the university faculty. The school was organized into four program areas: Home Economics Education and Extension, Home Management and Family Living, Related Art, and Textiles and Clothing.
On July 1, 1973, the school became an autonomous unit at UW-Madison, administered by a dean and an assistant dean. With autonomy, internal experimental restructuring within the school evolved resulting in the formation of the departments that exist today. In July 1996, the school became the School of Human Ecology, which throughout its history, has continued to gain distinction through the achievements of its graduates and the research and professional services contributed by its faculty.
The Human Ecology Building at 1300 Linden Drive contains administrative, departmental, and faculty offices; the Gallery of Design; the Helen Louise Allen Textile and Ruth Ketterer Harris Collections; lecture rooms; and studios.
The Helen Louise Allen and Ruth Ketterer Harris Collections/Library (1300 Linden Drive, 608/262-1162) include textiles, costumes, and book collections, and also features an interactive videodisc system for collection management and research.
The Gallery of Design features design exhibitions throughout the academic year.
The Center for Retailing Excellence advances research and collaboration in retailing and consumer science between the retail industry and the School. It serves as a resource for faculty, students, and retailers and provides support for scholarships and students activities, such as the Retail Club and the Retailing Leadership Symposium.
The Linden Preschool (1440 Linden Drive) is equipped for instruction and research in child development and early childhood education.
The Human Development and Family Studies Building (1430 Linden Drive) houses faculty and graduate student offices and research facilities for the departmental area.
Steenbock Memorial Library serves the students of the School of Human Ecology and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. It houses a collection of more than 140,000 books, bound journals, and government publications, and has seating and study room for over 1,300 persons. The building is a living memorial to biochemist Harry Steenbock for his outstanding contribution to Wisconsin and to the health of humanity.
Computing services are available through DoIT, UW-Madison's central facility for computing. DoIT's main offices are located at 1210 West Dayton Street; 608/265-4774. For more information, see the section on Computer Facilities and Labs in the opening section of this catalog.