Human Development and Family Science
Human Development and Family Science Major
At the undergraduate level, the department offers a curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree through five options: adult development and aging; child and adolescent development; family science; child development/elementary education; and family science/social work. Human Development and Family Science majors are prepared to work in a variety of areas related to children, aging adults, and families. Employment opportunities include parent and family life educators, extension agents, child protection service professionals, financial counselors, nursing home activity directors, credit specialists, and directors of child care licensing.
Coursework provides students with an ecological approach to the study of human development and families with emphasis on the interactions of individuals, families, and the broader environmental context. Allowing students to select electives within the department to specialize in careers of interest provides flexibility.
Note: All credits in Human Development and Family Science must have grades of 'C' or better.
Adult Development and Aging Option
The Adult Development & Aging option prepares students for careers involving direct and support services for adults of various ages as well as graduate studies. A minor outside the department is required.
Child and Adolescent Development Option
This option prepares students for careers involving direct and support services for children and adolescents as well as graduate studies. A minor outside the department is required.
Family Science Option
This option allows students to take a concentration of courses in family science or family economics in preparation for careers in direct and support services for families as well as graduate studies. A minor outside the department is required.
Human Development and Family Science Minor
The Human Development and Family Science minor is especially appropriate for students majoring in the social or behavioral sciences and other students planning careers that involve work with people. The minor requires 18 credits, including HDFS 135 (Family Science), HDFS 230 (Lifespan Development), and 12 credits of HDFS electives. Of the 12 credits of electives, at least nine credits must be upper division (i.e., 300 or 400 level) and no more than three credits may be in field experience (HDFS 496).
Major Requirements
Major: Human Development & Family Science
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
- General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F) | 1 | |
| Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM) | ||
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
Major Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all HDFS prefix courses for graduation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Human Development & Family Science Core Requirements | ||
| CSCI 114 | Microcomputer Packages (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| or CSCI 116 | Business Use of Computers | |
| Select one of the following: (May satisfy general education category C) | 3 | |
| Writing in the Health Professions | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | ||
| HDFS 110 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Science | 1 |
| HDFS 135 | Family Science (May satisfy general education category B) | 3 |
| HDFS 230 | Life Span Development (May satisfy general education category B) | 3 |
| HDFS 250 | Introduction to Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences | 3 |
| HDFS 353 | Children, Families and Public Policy | 3 |
| HDFS 475 | Children and Families Across Cultures (May satisfy general education category B and D) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
| Field Experience * | ||
| Field Experience and Seminar (and Senior Thesis) * | ||
| HD&E 320 | Professional Issues | 1 |
| PSYC 111 | Introduction to Psychology (May satisfy general education category B) | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology (May satisfy general education category B) | 3 |
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R) | 3 |
| Option Selection: Select one of the three options listed below. | 18 | |
| Minor Plan of Study | ||
A minor plan of study is required outside of the HDFS department for all options. | ||
| Total Credits | 55 | |
Adult Development and Aging Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 360 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 480 | Community Resources of Later Life | 3 |
| HDFS 482 | Family Dynamics of Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 300-400 Level | Major Electives (cannot include HDFS 496) | 9 |
Child and Adolescent Development Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 320 | Prenatal, Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
| HDFS 330 | Child Development | 3 |
| HDFS 340 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| HDFS 300-400 Level | Major Electives (cannot include HDFS 496) | 9 |
Family Science Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 242 | Couples, Marriages and Families | 3 |
| HDFS 357 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| HDFS 462 | Methods of Family Life Education | 3 |
| HDFS 300-400 Level | Major Electives (cannot include HDFS 496) | 9 |
| * | In the semester prior to taking field experience credits, students are required to attend an informational meeting during advising week. Students should NOT take all field experience credits in one semester. |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A 2.50 cumulative GPA is required in major courses for graduation.
- Courses taken Pass/Fail will not be used to satisfy any requirement other than total credits.
Minor Requirements
Human Development & Family Science Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 18
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HDFS 135 | Family Science | 3 |
| HDFS 230 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| Elective Courses * | ||
| HDFS | Elective | 3 |
| HDFS 300-400 | Level Electives | 9 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| * | No more than 3 credits may be a field experience, practicum, or student teaching. |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
Human Development and Family Science
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 110 | 1 | HDFS 230 | 3 |
| HDFS 135 | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 | ENGL 120 | 3 |
| HD&E 189 | 1 | Wellness Gen Ed | 2 |
| PSYC 111 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
| Elective (Math 103) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSCI 114 or 116 | 3-4 | HDFS 250 | 3 |
| SOC 110 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
| Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab | 4 | Science & Tech Gen Ed | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | STAT 330 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 16-17 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS Option Course | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 |
| HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 | HDFS Option Course | 3 |
| HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 | HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 |
| ENGL 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 |
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 475 | 3 | HDFS Option Course | 3 |
| HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 496 | 2 |
| HDFS 496 | 3 | Elective toward Minor | 3 |
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective toward Minor | 3 |
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Electives | 4 |
| Elective | 2 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 122-123 | |||
