Overview


What started as the Department of Domestic Science within the School of Education in 1910 soon became Home Economics, serving as the framework for the merchandising, hospitality, and tourism management and digital retailing courses we offer today.

Beginnings


When the Domestic Science Department—dedicated to the study of household skills—was first established in 1910, the world as we know it was a drastically different place. 

UNT was known as the “Normal School,” and was geared toward producing teachers for the workforce. The Department was small in scale—1 teacher for 24 students. This teacher, Mrs. Lena Bumpas, taught a class simply titled “cooking.”

North Texas Students cooking in a Home economic class, courtesy of UNT Digital Libraries
In 1914, the Home Economics Department was established in Domestic Science’s place. 5 years later, the first college degrees were offered (1919). The first B.S. in Home Economics was administered in 1921, the same year the Department opted to add a vocational certificate in Home Economics, while also implementing a child development course. It wasn’t until 1937, however, that the first Master’s degree in Home Economics was awarded.

Dr. Florence Scoular, Home Economics' first Dean

A Change of Pace


In 1938, Dr. Florence Scoular was named Department Head of Home Economics. By 1941, she had become the department’s first ever director, and oversaw the transition of the Department to the School of Home Economics in 1946, becoming its Dean that same year.

In Dr. Scoular’s time as Dean of the School of Home Economics, she was revered. She helped to expand the School to include Foods and Nutrition, Home and Family Life, and General Home Economics. These programs were a sign of what was to come, and marked the first transition to Hospitality and Merchandising.

In 1961, Dr. Scoular saw Home Economics move to the Education-Home Economics building in 1961 (now Matthews Hall). Here, cooking labs were opened for students. Dr. Scoular retired in 1968 and died in 1972, but her legacy still lives on at UNT.

A Permanent Shift


The 80s were a whirlwind for UNT—then North Texas State University (NTSU). Its name change in 1988 to the University of North Texas stemmed from the need to change with the times—a trend started by CMHT.

And it all began with a task.

In 1984, the School of Home Economics’ dean, Dr. Suzanne LaBrecque, was tasked with tracking down industry support to build connections with local hotels and restaurants. Never having taken a business course, LaBrecque, with the help of Chancellor Hurley, successfully established connections that are still in place today.



College administration announcing and officializing the change in name from North Texas State University to the University of North Texas, courtesy of UNT Digital Libraries; 1988