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HDFS & Elementary Education (Child Development Option) Dual Degree Program

HDFS & Elementary Education (Child Development Option) Dual Degree Program

The Human Development and Family Science (Child Development option)/Elementary Education program is a collaborative effort between NDSU and Valley City State University (VCSU). Through this curriculum, offered on the NDSU campus, students are concurrently enrolled in both universities, culminating in a bachelor’s degree from NDSU in Human Development and Family Science (Child Development option) as well as a bachelor’s degree from VCSU in Elementary Education. Students are certified to teach Elementary Education in public schools and may, with additional course work and an additional student teaching experience, be certified to teach kindergarten as well. The HDFS degree complements and strengthens the Elementary Education curriculum and helps future teachers understand development and its diversity, making them more effective teachers and helping them work with children from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Major Requirements

Dual Degree Program
Major at NDSU: Human Development & Family Science
Major at VCSU: Elementary Education

Degree Type at: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 130

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
HD&E 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take HD&E 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
Select one of the following:3
Writing in the Health Professions
Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
MATH 104Finite Mathematics3
Science & Technology (S):
BIOL3
CHEM or PHYS3
GEOL 105Physical Geology3
or GEOL 106 The Earth Through Time
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list1
Humanities & Fine Arts (A):
HIST 103U.S. to 18773
or HIST 104 U.S. Since 1877
Select from current general education list3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 250Developmental Psychology3
Wellness (W):
HDFS 242Couples, Marriages and Families3
Cultural Diversity (D):
HDFS 475Children and Families Across Cultures3
Global Perspectives (G):
GEOL 105Physical Geology3
or GEOL 106 The Earth Through Time
Total Credits41

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
HDFS & Elementary Education Requirements
HDFS 110Introduction to Human Development and Family Science1
HDFS 135Family Science3
HDFS 250Introduction to Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences3
HDFS 330Child Development3
HDFS 475Children and Families Across Cultures3
EDUC 210Creative Activities2
EDUC 240Educating Exceptional Students2
EDUC 250Introduction to Education3
EDUC 283Understanding Cultural Diversity3
EDUC 300Educational Technology2
EDUC 315Math in the Elementary School2
EDUC 320Social Studies in the Elementary School3
EDUC 321Foundations of Reading Instruction3
EDUC 322Methods of Language Arts Instruction3
EDUC 323Reading in Elementary School2
EDUC 330Children's Literature3
EDUC 350Elementary School Practicum and Classroom Management (2 cr.)3
& HDFS 496
Field Experience (1 cr.)
EDUC 352Culturally Diverse Practicum1
EDUC 355Science Methods/Elementary Teachers3
EDUC 400Educational Psychology2
EDUC 450Trends in Assessment & Education Issues2
EDUC 490Student Teaching (Elementary - 10 cr.)11
& HDFS 496
Field Experience (1 cr.)
HDFS Electives: (Cannot take HDFS 230 or HDFS 496)
HDFSElective3
HDFS300-400 level6
Other Elementary Education Requirements
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages3-4
or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers
GEOG 111Survey of Geography2
MATH 277Math for Elementary Teachers I3
MATH 278Math for Elementary Teachers II2
Directed Electives: Select 6 credits from the following:6
EDUC 305
EDUC 310
EDUC 313
EDUC 375
EDUC 390
EDUC 430
EDUC 431
EDUC 435
EDUC 470
TECH 306
College Requirement
HD&E 320Professional Issues1
Total Credits130-131

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all HDFS courses for graduation.
  • A 2.50 cumulative GPA is required in major courses for graduation.
  • Course taken Pass/Fail will not be used to satisfy any requirements other than total credits.