what is human ecology?

Here’s the short answer: it’s about us. Humans. What we need to be physically and emotionally healthy. How we care for our children, our older people, our families. How we design our living and working spaces. How we feed and clothe ourselves. How we gather and celebrate. How we keep our bodies healthy and strong. Basically, anything that helps people lead better lives is human ecology. --K-state College of Human Ecology

When I first came to the University of Texas at Austin at eighteen, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, or who I was for that matter. After drying my crying eyes with boxes of tissues, and swapping 'pre-med' with 'Natural Sciences- undeclared', it was clear to me that I had some growing and soul searching to do. For the next few years, that's what i did-- in true Jess style-- as a vagabond wandering through various majors from all disciplines. From Biology to Art History and Japanese to Fashion design, I tried them all. I wouldn't recommend this 'degree plan' to future college students, it was certainly confusing and stressful not having a plan mapped out; but at the same time, how can you know what you like (or don't) unless you try everything at least once? And so, that's what I did. I chose classes that interested me. Sometimes my choices were a bust, but more often I found myself captivated and interested in what I was learning about. Four years later, it turns out that all the Human Development and Family Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Textiles and Apparel courses I took fit under the Human Ecology Degree, and I couldn't be any happier (and relieved) to be graduating this upcoming May. It's human ecology, the study of people and life, and it found me.