The history of the home economics curriculum is traced from the late nineteenth century. The importance of the ideas of Sir Francis Bacon and Count Rumford in providing the philosophical justification for the application of science to everyday living is emphasized. The establishment of land grant colleges and women's colleges in the nineteenth century aided the development of a home economics curriculum. Since they did not have the tradition and prejudice of the older colleges in the east and admitted women on the same basis as men, this gave home economics the opportunity to develop as a field in higher education. Land grant colleges in Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois are specifically noted for their contributions to the field. Ten years of annual conferences on home economics (the Lake Placid Conferences of 1899-1908) are highlighted. The conferences focused on educating women in the application of scientific principles to homemaking. Gaining acceptance at educational institutions and seeking state and federal financial assistance were also important conference topics. The influence of the industrial revolution, war, the Depression, and the growth and research in the physical and biological sciences are discussed. Changes in home economics curriculum during the last decade appear to center around the expansion or addition of majors or areas of specialization. An increase in interdisciplinary and experimental programs during the 1970's is also noted. Future challenges to the home economics curriculum include the restructuring of programs to meet new needs, increasing research efforts, and expanding outreach programs. An 80-item bibliography is included. (SF)