Human Development and Family Science
This is an archived copy of the 2019-20 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.
Human development and family science (HDFS) provides a program of study for students interested in a variety of careers that involve work with children, adults and/or families. Students majoring in HDFS may obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Career Interest Areas
Career interest areas available at the undergraduate level include:
- Adolescent Development
- Adult Development and Aging
- Child Development
- Cooperative Extension Service
- Family and Human Services
- Family Economics
- Family Life Education
- Financial and Consumer Literacy
- Health Services
- Hospital Child Life
- Parenting and Family Life
- Gerontology
The Program
The major emphasis in HDFS programs is family and human development over the life span. Students gain an understanding of the development of children and adults and their interaction in the family within society.
Students majoring in HDFS have 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 fact sheet. Each of these 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 on a separate sheet.
Courses in the program include:
- Adolescent Development
- Adult Development and Aging
- Child Development
- Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life
- Children, Families, and Public Policy
- Personal and Family Finance
- Issues in Human Sexuality
- Life Span Human Development
- Parent-Child Relations
- Family Dynamics of Aging
- Couples, Marriages, and Families
Students majoring in HDFS enroll for credit in field experience as a critical part of their program of study. The department offers opportunities to work with children, youth, adolescents, older adults and families in various settings.
Career Opportunities
Career directions through HDFS can be divided into two general areas:
Direct Service to Children, Adults and Families – community service worker, outreach worker, parent educator, gerontology outreach, extension agent, or financial counselor to name a few.
Support Service to Children, Adults and Families – program director for nursing or retirement facility, child care director, community and human service worker, consultant in human development, hospital-related services, researcher, child advocate, and family life education are some examples.
Some of the listed careers require a planned minor or a double major. Other careers require preparations beyond the bachelor's degree level. An HDFS degree is excellent preparation for students considering graduate work in counseling, family therapy, child and human development, or as a child life specialist. Study in HDFS provides course work for students interested in careers involving human relations.
Graduates from HDFS are currently employed in a variety of careers. These include extension agent, Head Start program director, child care director, home visitor for Head Start, crisis family counselor, hospital child life specialist, family life educator, developmental disabilities worker, volunteer coordinator, parent support specialist, parent educator, financial counselor and financial planner.
The Facilities
Facilities for the Department of Human Development and Family Science are housed in Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall and the Family Life Center. Included in these buildings are classrooms, conference rooms, research labs, and a child development center serving young children and their families.
Community Setting
The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area offers a conducive setting for study. Students have the opportunity to work in a number of community institutions serving children and families. Professionals working with the elderly, child care programs, mental health centers, chemical dependency treatment centers, medical facilities and welfare agencies visit classes and conduct tours to explain their programs for children and families.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Students may enhance their involvement in the HDFS area by participating in groups such as the HDFS Club, the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children, and the North Dakota Family and Consumer Sciences Association.
Plans of Study
Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.
Human Development and Family Science
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
ENGL 110 | 4 | HDFS 230 | 3 |
HDFS 242 | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 |
PSYC 111 | 3 | Global Perspective Gen Ed | 3 |
Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
14 | 15 | ||
Sophomore | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
SOC 110 | 3 | Science & Tech Gen Ed | 3 |
Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab | 4 | STAT 330 | 3 |
HDFS 250 | 3 | HDFS 275 Diversity & Multiculturalism | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
16 | 15 | ||
Junior | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
HDFS Option Course* | 3 | HDFS 389 Pre-Field Experience | 2 |
HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 |
ENGL 320, 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HDFS Option Course* | 3 |
Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 |
Elective | 3 | ||
15 | 15 | ||
Senior | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
HDFS 496 | 3 | HDFS Option Course* | 3 |
HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 |
HDFS Option Course* | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 |
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 |
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Total Credits: 120 |
*HDFS Option Courses: Adult Development and Aging (HDFS 360, 357, 480, and 482)
Child and Adolescent Development (HDFS 320, 330, 340, and Either 424 or 483)
Family Science (HDFS 341, 357, 448, and 462)
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.
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 242 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
PSYC 111 | 3 | Global Perspectives Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
14 | 15 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | HDFS 275 Diversity & Multiculturalism | 3 | ||
SOC 110 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab | 4 | Science & Tech Gen Ed | 3 | ||
HDFS 250 | 3 | STAT 330 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
16 | 15 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 360 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
ENGL 320, 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HDFS 389 Pre Field Experience | 2 | ||
HDFS 357 | 3 | HDFS 480 | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||||
15 | 15 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 721 | 3 | ||
HDFS 496 | 3 | HDFS 682 | 3 | ||
HDFS 723 | 3 | HDFS 7XX Elective | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||||
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 |
Degree Notes:
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. Fifteen credits of the undergraduate curriculum are replaced by 15 graduate credits.
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 242 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
PSYC 111 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Global Perspectives Gen Ed | 3 | ||
14 | 15 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | HDFS 275 Diversity & Multiculturalism | 3 | ||
SOC 110 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab | 4 | Science & Tech Gen Ed | 3 | ||
HDFS 250 | 3 | STAT 330 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
16 | 15 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 357 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
ENGL 320, 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HDFS 389 Pre Field Experience | 2 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 341 | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||||
15 | 15 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 462 | 3 | HDFS 763 | 3 |
HDFS 770 | 3 | HDFS 677 | 3 | HDFS 771 | 3 |
HDFS 496 | 3 | HDFS 740 | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 765 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||||
15 | 12 | 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: 141 |
Degree Notes:
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. Fifteen credits of the undergraduate curriculum are replaced by 15 graduate credits.
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 242 | 3 | HDFS 230 | 3 | ||
ENGL 110 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 | ||
HD&E 189 | 1 | ENGL 120 | 3 | ||
PSYC 111 | 3 | Global Perspectives Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Elective (Math 103) | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
14 | 15 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CSCI 114 or MIS 116 | 3 | HDFS 275 Diversity & Multiculturalism | 3 | ||
SOC 110 | 3 | Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab | 4 | Science & Tech Gen Ed | 3 | ||
HDFS 250 | 3 | STAT 330 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
16 | 15 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 340 | 3 | HD&E 320 | 1 | ||
ENGL 320, 325, 358, or 459 | 3 | HDFS 389 Pre Field Experience | 2 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | HDFS 330 | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | Elective for Minor | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||||
15 | 15 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
HDFS 353 | 3 | HDFS 483 | 3 | HDFS 714 | 3 |
HDFS 496 | 3 | HDFS 711 | 3 | HDFS 7XX Elective | 3 |
HDFS 710 | 1 | HDFS 712 | 3 | ||
HDFS 713 | 3 | HDFS 716 | 3 | ||
Elective for Minor | 3 | ||||
Elective for Minor | 3 | ||||
16 | 12 | 6 | |||
Fifth Year | |||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
HDFS 715 | 3 | HDFS 717 | 3 | ||
HDFS 718 | 3 | HDFS 794 | 5 | ||
HDFS 719 | 3 | ||||
9 | 8 | ||||
Total Credits: 141 |
Degree Notes: