School of Human Ecology
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AcademicsGraduate Programs

Consumer Behavior & Family Economics, PhD

This is a multidisciplinary degree that develops scholars who can apply social science theories to the study of household and consumer interactions within the marketplace and the public sector.

The PhD program in Human Ecology: Consumer Behavior and Family Economics (CBFE) develops scholars able to apply social science theories to understanding household and consumer interactions within the marketplace and the public sector. Students undertake research on consumer decision-making affecting the social and economic well-being of individuals and families. This is a multi-disciplinary degree program. The goal of this program is to prepare students for the following types of job placements:

  1. Tenure-track academic faculty positions, primarily in other schools of human ecology, consumer science or related units
  2. Research administration positions in government, non-tenure academic units, nonprofit organizations, think tanks and related entities
  3. Applied consumer research in the public and private sector, including market research, policy research and consulting.

Visit the Graduate Program website

Department affiliation

Consumer Behavior & Family Economics Faculty

  • A white woman smiling, with long brown hair, wearing a green dress, a cardigan, and gold earrings.

    Lydia AshtonAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

  • White woman in pink shirt smiling in front of 100 Women Wall.

    Judi BartfeldProfessor of Consumer Science | Division of Extension Faculty Liaison

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    Megan Doherty BeaLorna Jorgenson Wendt Professor | Associate Professor of Consumer Science

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    Melissa BublitzLiz Kramer Professor of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Department Chair and Professor of Consumer Science | Professor of Civil Society & Community Studies

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    J. Michael CollinsFetzer Family Chair in Consumer and Personal Finance | Professor of Consumer Science

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    Katie FitzpatrickAssociate Professor of Consumer Science

  • A Black woman sitting legs crossed, wearing a navy blue sweater and skirt and an ivory shirt.

    Melody HarveyAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

  • A white woman smiling, with brown straight hair, wearing a black sweater.

    Gisella KagyAssistant Professor of Consumer Science | Global Human Ecology & 4W Faculty Fellow

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    David J. Pate Jr.Associate Professor of Consumer Science, Human Development & Family Studies | Dean’s Fathers and Fathering Faculty Fellow

  • An Asian woman smiling, with shoulder-length dark, straight hair, wearing glasses and a red jacket.

    Nancy WongKohl's Chair in Retail Innovation | Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Program | Professor of Consumer Science

  • Portrait of Yiwei Zhang, an Asian woman smiling, with straight shoulder-length black hair, wearing a maroon dress.

    Yiwei ZhangAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

CBFE Graduate Students

Consumer Behavior & Family Economics News and Research