Human Development and Family Science
| Program and Application Information | |
|---|---|
| Department Head: | Dr. Joel Hektner |
| Family Financial Planning Coordinator: | Dr. Jim Deal |
| Email: | jim.deal@ndsu.edu |
| Gerontology Coordinator: | Dr. Greg Sanders |
| Email: | greg.sanders@ndsu.edu |
| Youth Development Coordinator: | Dr. Joel Hektner |
| Email: | joel.hektner@ndsu.edu |
| Department Location: | Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall |
| Department Phone: | (701) 231-8268 |
| Department Web Site: | www.ndsu.edu/hdfs/graduate_studies/hdfs_graduate_programs/ |
| Application Deadline: | One month prior to the beginning of each term. Applications accepted for fall, spring, and summer. |
| Degrees Offered: | M.S., Certificate - ALL PROGRAMS ONLINE ONLY |
| English Proficiency Requirements: | TOEFL ibT 100 (subscores of at least 24 for speaking and 21 for writing); IELTS 7 |
Program Description
Programs of study leading to a Graduate Certificate or the Master of Science degree are offered in three options: Family Financial Planning, Youth Development, and Gerontology. All of these options are available via a collaborative, inter-institutional program offered through online distance education. Each program requires a capstone practicum experience to complete the M.S. degree. Students can complete the M.S. programs in two to three years and the certificate programs in one calendar year.
The Family Financial Planning (FFP) M.S. option is a 36-credit program with a specific curriculum approved by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards. Graduate certificates (18 credits) are available in Financial Planning and in Financial and Housing Counseling.
The Gerontology M.S. option requires 36 credits, and the Graduate Certificate requires 15 credits. An advanced degree in the field of Gerontology can benefit the professional in social work, nursing, counseling, recreation, public policy, long-term care administration, medicine, architecture, interior design, psychology, adult education, and rehabilitation therapy.
The Youth Development M.S. option requires 36 credits. Graduate Certificates (13 credits) are available in Youth Development and in Youth Program Management and Evaluation. Youth development is an emerging professional field. It has a positive orientation, meaning its focus is on promoting the positive development of youth, and it is an applied field, with professionals who put developmental research and theory into practice in structuring and implementing programs and services for adolescents.
Accelerated Undergraduate to Graduate Program Options
HDFS Accelerated Master's Option in Family Financial Planning Undergraduate students in the Family Science option can earn a Master’s degree in HDFS in the Family Financial Planning option by completing just one additional year of classes. 15 credits of the undergraduate curriculum are replaced by 15 graduate credits. More Information About the Family Financial Planning Master's Option.
HDFS Accelerated Master's Option in Gerontology Undergraduate students in the Adult Development and Aging option can earn a Master’s degree in HDFS in the Gerontology option by completing just one additional year of classes. 15 credits of the undergraduate curriculum are replaced by 15 graduate credits. More Information About the Gerontology Master's Option
HDFS Accelerated Master's Option in Youth Development Undergraduate students in the Child and Adolescent Development option can earn a Master’s degree in HDFS in the Youth Development option by completing just one additional year of classes. 15 credits of the undergraduate curriculum are replaced by 15 graduate credits. More Information About the Youth Development Master's Option .
Admission Requirements
In addition to the Graduate School’s required application requirements, submit the statement of purpose indicating reasons for pursuing graduate study, specifying your special interests within your chosen discipline and including your background preparation in that area. Mention any relevant skills or experience you have acquired. In addition, be sure to address the following, in 500 words or less:
- How your interest in this field developed.
- Why you chose our program at NDSU.
- The experiences you have had (e.g. informal, academic, employment, volunteer) that you see as related to this graduate program or your professional goals.
- What your professional goals are and how this graduate program will help you accomplish your professional goals.
Degree Requirements
Family Financial Planning Degree Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 677 | Financial Counseling | 3 |
| HDFS 740 | Theories & Research in Family Financial Planning I | 3 |
| HDFS 762 | Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits and the Family | 3 |
| HDFS 763 | Personal Income Taxation | 3 |
| HDFS 765 | Insurance Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 766 | Estate Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 769 | Financial Planning Case Studies | 3 |
| HDFS 770 | Fundamentals of Financial Planning | 3 |
| HDFS 771 | Investing for the Family's Future | 3 |
| HDFS 794 | Practicum/Internship | 6 |
| Choose one | 3 | |
| Professional Practices in Family Financial Planning | ||
| Housing/Real Estate | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Planning Option | ||
| HDFS 762 | Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits and the Family | 3 |
| HDFS 763 | Personal Income Taxation | 3 |
| HDFS 765 | Insurance Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 766 | Estate Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 769 | Financial Planning Case Studies | 3 |
| HDFS 771 | Investing for the Family's Future | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and Housing Counseling Option | ||
| HDFS 677 | Financial Counseling | 3 |
| HDFS 740 | Theories & Research in Family Financial Planning I | 3 |
| HDFS 768 | Housing/Real Estate | 3 |
| HDFS 770 | Fundamentals of Financial Planning | 3 |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits and the Family | ||
| Personal Income Taxation | ||
| Insurance Planning for Families | ||
| Estate Planning for Families | ||
| Investing for the Family's Future | ||
| Military Personal Financial Readiness | ||
| Practicum/Internship | ||
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ADHM 705 | Environment and Aging | 3 |
| HNES 652 | Nutrition, Health and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 682 | Family Dynamics of Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 721 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 722 | Methods and Theories in Gerontology | 3 |
| HDFS 723 | Perspectives in Gerontology | 3 |
| HDFS 729 | Professional Seminar in Gerontology | 3 |
| HDFS 760 | Aging Policy | 3 |
| HDFS 794 | Practicum/Internship | 6 |
| 6 additional credits to be approved by the adviser and committee | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HDFS 721 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 723 | Perspectives in Gerontology | 3 |
| Elective Courses- Select 3 | 9 | |
| Environment and Aging | ||
| Nutrition, Health and Aging | ||
| Family Dynamics of Aging | ||
| Aging Policy | ||
| Graduate Seminar (*) | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| * | May be taken more than once as long as the topic areas are different each time. |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 1 |
| HDFS 711 | Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 712 | Community Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 713 | Adolescents and Their Families | 3 |
| HDFS 714 | Contemporary Youth Issues (*) | 3 |
| HDFS 715 | Youth in Cultural Contexts | 3 |
| HDFS 716 | Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research | 3 |
| HDFS 717 | Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation | 3 |
| HDFS 718 | Administration and Program Management | 3 |
| HDFS 719 | Youth Policy | 3 |
| HDFS 794 | Practicum/Internship | 5 |
| 3 additional credits to be approved by adviser and committee | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| * | The course may be taken more than once, as long as the topic areas are different each time. |
Youth Development Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 1 |
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Youth Development | ||
| Community Youth Development | ||
| Adolescents and Their Families | ||
| Contemporary Youth Issues | ||
| Youth in Cultural Contexts | ||
| Youth Policy | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Youth Program Management and Evaluation Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 1 |
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Contemporary Youth Issues | ||
| Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research | ||
| Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation | ||
| Administration and Program Management | ||
| Youth Policy | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Kristen Benson, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2008
Research Interests: Gender Identity and Family/Partner Relationships, Diversity Issues in Family Therapy, Collaborative Approaches to Family Therapy Education and Training, and Qualitative Methodology
Elizabeth Blodgett Salafia, Ph.D.
University of Notre Dame, 2008
Research Interests: Family and Peer Influences on Adolescents' Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors
Sean Brotherson, Ph.D.
Oregon State University, 2000
Research Interests: Parenting and Fatherhood; Healthy Marriages; Family Stress; Rural Families; Grief and Bereavement; Family Life Education; Family Policy
Thomas Carlson, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2000
Research Interests: Narrative Pedagogy; Relational Accountability Approach to Couples Therapy, LGBT Affirmative Therapy Competence among Therapists, And Influence of Spirituality on Clinical Practice and Training
James E. Deal, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 1987
Research Interests: Personality Development in Children; Relationship between individual development and family relationships
Margaret Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1997
Research Interests: Financial Counseling and Planning; Husbands and Wives Who Own and Operate Family Businesses Together; Family Business and Economically Vulnerable/Viable Communities; Gender and Management Issues in Family Business
Heather Fuller, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, 2009
Research Interests: Social Relationships across the Lifespan (E.G. Intergenerational Relationships); Psychological Well-Being in Old Age; Culture and Aging; Migration, Transnationalism and Acculturation; Biculturalism
Joel Hektner, Ph.D.
University of Chicago, 1996
Research Interests: Prevention Programs For Children with Adjustment Problems; Peer Affiliation Patterns And Peer Influences On Children's Behaviors; Family And School Conditions That Facilitate Optimal Experiences (Flow) And Optimal Development; The Experience Sampling Method
Carrie Johnson, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2012
Research Interests: Understanding How Changing Trends in Society Influence Youth; Afterschool Training; Positive Youth Development; Professional Development Methods to Better Meet the Needs of 4-H Staff
Christie McGeorge, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2005
Research Interests: Influence of Heterosexism and Homophobia on Clinical Practice and Training, Gender Equity in Therapy, Gender Equity in Higher Education, Feminist Theories, and Societal Perceptions of Single Parents.
Melissa Lunsman O'Connor, Ph.D.
University of South Florida, 2010
Research Interests: Cognitive and Functional Aging in Healthy and Clinical Populations; Older Drivers; Research Methods; Attitudes Toward Dementia; Interventions For Improving Cognition, Health, And Everyday Functioning
Brandy A. Randall, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2002
Research Interests: Relational and Contextual Influences on Adolescents' and Young Adults' Positive and Problem Behaviors
Gregory F. Sanders, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 1983
Research Interests: Later Life Families; Family Strengths
Meagan Scott, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University, 2016
Research Interests: Personal Finance for Low-Income and Underserved Populations; Financial Education Impact; Student Loan Debt; Program Delivery Methods and Evaluation; Behavioral Finance across the Lifespan
Rebecca Woods, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University, 2006
Research Interests: Perception and Cognition in Infancy; Object Processing; Multimodal Processing, Adults' Influence on Infant Learning
