Concepts and Scope of Home Science

Concepts and Scope of Home Science

INTRODUCTION

Home Science or the science of managing a home, includes a study of all aspects related to our home. It is a study that focuses on family members and the achievement of satisfaction of each and every member through thoughtful effective and constructive use of resources.

Home Science is both an “art and science”. This is because it teaches the art of using resources so that a harmonious whole is achieved and an overall pleasant effect is created. At the same time, it provides the scientific basis of techniques involved in making a home a happy healthy and beauti-ful place to live in. For example, the subject Home Science imparts knowledge about the different food groups, the nutrients present in them, the causes of nutrient deficiency and the dietary management of various diseases. This is the ‘science’. However, the ability to prepare various recipes with required nutrients for a particular age group and serve it in a very attractive manner in a pleasant environment so as to motivate consumption of healthy foods and feeling of wellbeing is an ‘art’.

Interdisciplinary Nature of Home Science

Home Science draws a major portion of its content from pure science disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and biology. It also draws its content equally from economics, sociol-ogy, anthropology, psychology, community development, communication, media and technology. Hence, it is an interdisciplinary field with much scope as it encompasses the salient features and components of both sci-ence and arts courses.