Consumer Affairs (B.S.)

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Students in the Consumer Affairs program will develop skills in management, planning, organization and problem solving to assist individuals and families to improve their economic well-being. The curriculum focuses on the interaction between consumers and the marketplace, the family financial planning process, the management of resources, public policy affecting individuals and families and consumer behavior.

The Consumer Affairs curriculum prepares students to qualify for employment in high demand occupations in South Dakota, including marketing managers, sales managers and retail supervisors. Program graduates have secured employment as retail managers, event planning managers, financial counselors, financial planners, insurance agents and retail banking lenders. Career opportunities also exist in non-profit organizations and government agencies. Graduate study opportunities abound in family financial counseling and planning, consumer economics, leadership and management.

An 8-week (320 hour) full time summer internship compatible with career goals is a program requirement.

Elliot Ward

Graduate: May 2019
Majors: French Studies and Consumer Affairs with a specialization in Consumer Services Management.
Hometown: London, England

"I chose Consumer Affairs because of the different aspects and the diversity of the program. You get to learn about different aspects of business and economics which is something I believe is really important. The course in general is really interesting and I strongly believe that it is a great stepping stone for any student.
The course has taught me to work in groups on specific problems, team work but also given me confidence to speak in front of an audience which is what will happen in the world of work after college. Any student that is interested in both business and economics but want to learn about different components of a business and how businesses run would love this course. In addition, anyone who wants a major which can lead to many different career paths Consumer Affairs is for you!"

Matt White

Graduation: December 2019.
Major: Consumer Affairs, specializations in both Family Financial Management and Consumer Services Management
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

"I had just transferred to SDSU and...was instantly interested in the [Consumer Affairs] program. The idea of being able to analyze how people use resources and how to help businesses and individuals grow by helping plan for the future really intrigued me. I had also always been interested in financial advising.
I have taken what I have learned and applied it to my personal life, my work life and my other coursework. It has allowed me to see the importance of resource management and consumer decision making and has helped me grow in a positive way. I would also say try to get outside of your comfort zone. I would have never imagined having consumer decision making and financial planning courses in my plan when I started college, but this program has pushed [me] outside of my comfort zone and I am so glad that I have pursed this major."

Hunter Jamison

"As a young professional starting in the finance industry, I am happy to say that I am a SDSU Jackrabbit alum. Throughout my short time of experience in my career. I have used knowledge and skills that I gained on my path through the Consumer Affairs-Consumer Services Management program to my benefit consistently. I have a much better understanding of marketing efforts, consumer wants/needs, financial stability, and data analysis through courses that I took that have had a memorable impact on my career. While you are in classes, remember that you aren’t going to be able to learn forever, soak everything up like a sponge. You never know what you may do in the future. Some things that you may feel are not important now can be beneficial to know in the future. I feel I use things I learned daily. I am proud to be a graduate of our program here at SDSU."

Program Specializations

Students in the program graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Consumer Affairs and may choose between two specializations:

The Family Financial Management (FFM) Specialization is for students interested in the financial services industry and focuses on principles and practice related to family financial planning including insurance planning, investment strategies, income tax planning, retirement preparation, estate planning and case studies to assist individuals and families with individualized family financial planning goals.

The Consumer Services Management (CSM) Specialization focuses on the application of resource management concepts for families of varying structures and conditions and implementation strategies for working with diverse adult audiences.

Check out course descriptions and program requirements for the Consumer Services Management Specialization and the Family Financial Management Specialization.

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