Human Development and Family Science
This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.
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 or case study 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 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.
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.
Family Financial Planning
| 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 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Theories & Research in Family Financial Planning II | ||
| Professional Practices in Family Financial Planning | ||
| Housing/Real Estate | ||
| Military Personal Financial Readiness | ||
| Practicum/Internship | ||
| Master's Paper | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
Other elective approved by advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Gerontology
| 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 | |
Youth Development
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 711 | Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 712 | Positive Youth Development in Community Settings | 3 |
| HDFS 713 | Adolescents and Their Families | 3 |
| HDFS 716 | Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research | 3 |
| HDFS 717 | Design and Evaluation of Youth Programs | 3 |
| HDFS 718 | Youth Development Personnel and Program Management | 3 |
| HDFS 719 | Youth Policy | 3 |
| HDFS 794 | Practicum/Internship | 6 |
| Electives (select 2 courses) | 6 | |
| Contemporary Youth Issues (*) | ||
| Youth Culture | ||
| Graduate Seminar (*) | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
*Upon approval of topic by adviser. Can be taken more than once with different topics.
Family Financial Planning
Select one of the options: Financial Planning or Financial Counseling
| 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 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 of the following: | 6 | |
| Theories & Research in Family Financial Planning II | ||
| 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 | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Gerontology
| 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 | |
Youth Development
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 711 | Youth Development | 3 |
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Positive Youth Development in Community Settings | ||
| Adolescents and Their Families | ||
| Contemporary Youth Issues 1 | ||
| Youth Culture | ||
| Youth Policy | ||
| Graduate Seminar 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| 1 | With approval of topic by advisor. |
Youth Program Management and Evaluation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 710 | Foundations of Youth Development | 3 |
| HDFS 717 | Design and Evaluation of Youth Programs | 3 |
| HDFS 718 | Youth Development Personnel and Program Management | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Positive Youth Development in Community Settings | ||
| Contemporary Youth Issues 1 | ||
| Youth Policy | ||
| Graduate Seminar 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| 1 | With approval of topic by advisor. |
James Deal, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 1987
Research Interests: Identity Development in Emerging Adults, Particularly in the Areas of Religion and the Transition to College; First Generation and/or Low Income Students and Issues Related to Financial Support
Heather Fuller, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, 2009
Research Interests: Social Relationships and Well-Being Across the Lifespan (e.g. Intergenerational Relationships); Successful Aging and Health Promotion; Aging in Rural and Cross-Cultural Contexts; Aging Families and Caregiving; Survey Research and Program Evaluation
Joel Hektner, Ph.D.
University of Chicago, 1996
Research Interests: Design and Effectiveness of Programs to Prevent Adjustment Problems and Promote Well-Being in Children and Adolescents; 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: Personal Finance for Low-Income and Underserved Populations; Financial Education Impact; Student Loan Debt: Program Delivery Methods and Evaluation; Behavioral Finance Across the Lifespan
Melissa O'Connor, Ph.D.
University of South Florida, 2010
Research Interests: Examining Age-Related Differences and Changes in Cognitive and Functional Abilities, Such as Driving, Among Healthy Adults and Clinical Populations; Quantitative Methods and Psychometrics; Interventions for Improving Cognition, Health, and Everyday Functioning; and Attitudes Toward Dementia
Rachelle Vettern, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2006
Research Interests: Leadership and Volunteer Development