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 three options: adult development and aging; child and adolescent development; and family science. Each of these options can be completed by itself or can be paired with another degree in one of our dual degree programs. Child development can be paired with elementary education, and family science and adult development and aging can be paired with social work. Information on these dual degree programs is on a separate bulletin page. Each of the three options can also be combined with a master’s degree program in one of our combined/accelerated master’s programs. Child and adolescent development can be combined with the master’s program in youth development; family science can be combined with the master’s program in family financial planning; and adult development and aging can be combined with the master’s program in gerontology. Information on these combined/accelerated degree programs is below and on separate tabs.
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.
Accelerated Master’s Degree Options
Students with a 3.5 cumulative GPA after 60 credits may apply to enter the Accelerated Master’s degree program associated with their undergraduate degree option. Students in this program can complete both the bachelor’s and master’s degree in HDFS in only 5 years. Students in the Adult Development and Aging option may enter the master’s option in Gerontology. Students in the Child and Adolescent Development option may enter the master’s option in Youth Development. Students in the Family Science option may enter the master’s option in Family Financial Planning. All master’s degree courses are taught online, and all are charged tuition at the higher Great Plains IDEA per-credit rate . However, under the accelerated program, students pay less tuition overall than they would if they completed each degree in separate programs.
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: 120
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A list of approved general education courses is available here .
- 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, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 39 | |
| * | 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 MIS 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 | ||
| HD&E 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 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 2 | ||
| Field Experience and Seminar (and Senior Thesis) 2 | ||
| 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 option from the three 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 |
| 1 | HD&E 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take HD&E 189. |
| 2 | 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 135 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 |
| ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 |
| PSYC 111 | 3 | Wellness Gen Ed | 2 |
| Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | 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 | 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 for Minor | 3 |
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 |
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Electives | 4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
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
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 135 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
| HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 111 | 3 | Wellness Gen Ed | 2 | ||
| Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | 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 | 15 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ENGL 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
| HDFS 360 | 3 | HDFS 480 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 353 | 3 | Elective for Minor | 6 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 6 | Elective | 6 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 475 | 3 | HDFS 721 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 496 | 2 | HDFS 682 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 723 | 3 | HDFS 7XX Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective toward Minor | 3 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||||
| 15 | 12 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| HNES 652 | 3 | HDFS 794 | 4 | HDFS 729 | 3 |
| HDFS 760 | 3 | HDFS 722 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 794 | 2 | ADHM 705 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 7XX Elective | 3 | ||||
| 11 | 10 | 3 | |||
| Total Credits: 141 | |||||
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
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 135 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 110 | 4 | HDFS 242 | 3 | ||
| HD&E 189 | 1 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 111 | 3 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
| Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | 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 | 15 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ENGL 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
| HDFS 357 | 3 | HDFS 462 | 3 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 9 | Elective for Minor | 6 | ||
| Elective | 5 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| HDFS 475 | 3 | HDFS 496 | 2 | HDFS 763 | 3 |
| HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 677 | 3 | HDFS 771 | 3 |
| HDFS 770 | 3 | HDFS 740 | 3 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 765 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 11 | 6 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 762 | 3 | HDFS 794 | 6 | ||
| HDFS 741, 767, or 768 | 3 | HDFS 769 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 766 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 9 | ||||
| Total Credits: 142 | |||||
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 .
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 135 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
| HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 111 | 3 | Wellness Gen Ed | 2 | ||
| Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | 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 | 15 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ENGL 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
| HDFS 340 | 3 | HDFS 330 | 3 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 9 | Elective for Minor | 6 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||||
| 15 | 14 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| HDFS 475 | 3 | HDFS 496 | 2 | HDFS 714 | 3 |
| HDFS 710 | 1 | HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 7XX Elective | 3 |
| HDFS 713 | 3 | HDFS 711 | 3 | ||
| Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 712 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 6 | HDFS 715 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | 6 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HDFS 716 | 3 | HDFS 717 | 3 | ||
| HDFS 718 | 3 | HDFS 794 | 5 | ||
| HDFS 719 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 8 | ||||
| Total Credits: 141 | |||||
