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HDFS Child Development Option & Elementary Education Dual Degree Program

HDFS & Elementary Education 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: 126

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 School3
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
EDUC 491Seminar (Senior Portfolio)1
College Requirement
HD&E 320Professional Issues1
Total Credits126-127

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.
  • Though not required, many majors pursue a Reading or STEM credential or an endorsement in Kindergarten, Middle School, English Language Learners (ELL), or as a Special Education Strategist.
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Fall Credits Spring Credits  
HD&E 189 1 ENGL 120 3  
ENGL 110 3 MATH 104 3  
Science/Tech Gen Ed 3 CSCI 114 or 116 3-4  
ENGL 100 1 HIST 103 or 104 3  
PSYC 111 3 PSYC 250 3  
COMM 110 3    
HDFS 110 1    
HDFS 135 3    
  17   15-16
Sophomore
Fall Credits Spring Credits  
Science/Tech Gen Ed 3 HDFS 250 3  
Matching Science Gen Ed Lab 1 HDFS 330 3  
Humanities/Fine Arts Gen Ed 3 HDFS 300-400 level elective 3  
HDFS 242 3 EDUC 250 Intro to Ed 3  
HDFS electiveany level 3 EDUC 283 Understanding Cultural Diversity 3  
HDFS 300-400 level elective 3    
  16   15
Junior
Fall Credits Spring Credits Summer Credits
HDFS 475 3 HD&E 320 1 EDUC 210 Creative Activities 2
Science/Tech Gen Ed 3 Directed Elective 2-3 Directed Electives 0-3
EDUC 300 Ed. Tech 2 EDUC 315 Math Methods 3  
EDUC 240 Exeptional Students 2 EDUC 320 Social Studies Methods 3  
Math 277 Math for Elem I 3 EDUC 321 Foundation of Reading 3  
EDUC 352 Culturally Diverse Practicum 1 EDUC 330 Children's Literature 3  
Geography 2 EDUC 450 Assessment and Ed Issues 2  
  Math 278 Math for Elem II 2  
  16   19-20   2-5
Senior
Fall Credits Spring Credits  
ENGL 325 or 358 or 459 3 EDUC 400 Ed Psych 2  
EDUC 322 Language Arts Methods 3 EDUC 490 Student Teaching 10  
EDUC 323 Reading Methods 2 HDFS 496 (automatic enrollment)The registrar will automatically enroll students during student teaching semester 1  
EDUC 350 Elem. Practicum 2 EDUC 491 (Senior portfolio may be taken in fall or spring of senior year) 1  
EDUC 355 Science Methods 3    
Directed Electives 3-6    
  16-19   14
Total Credits: 130-138