Major Requirements
Major: Human Development & Family Science
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
| College Composition I | |
| College Composition II | |
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | |
† | |
Total Credits | 39 |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
Major Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
CSCI 114 | Computer Applications (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
or TL 116 | Business Software Applications |
| 3 |
| Business and Professional Writing | |
| Writing in the Health Professions | |
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences | |
| Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | |
HDFS 230 | Life Span Development (May satisfy general education category B) | 3 |
HDFS 242 | Couples, Marriages and Families (May satisfy general education category W) | 3 |
HDFS 250 | Introduction to Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences | 3 |
HDFS 275 | Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life (May satisfy general education category B and D) | 3 |
HDFS 353 | Children, Families and Public Policy | 3 |
HDFS 389 | Pre-Field Experience | 2 |
HDFS 390 | Career Development | 1 |
HDFS 496 | Field Experience 1 | 3 |
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 |
Total Credits | 57 |
Adult Development and Aging Option
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
HDFS 357 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
HDFS 360 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
HDFS 480 | Community Resources of Later Life | 3 |
HDFS 482 | Family Dynamics of Aging | 3 |
| | 9 |
Child and Adolescent Development Option
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
HDFS 320 | Prenatal, Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
HDFS 330 | Child Development | 3 |
HDFS 340 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| 3 |
| Observation and Assessment of Children | |
| Best Practices, Play and Activities from Birth through Adolescence | |
| | 9 |
Family Science Option
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
HDFS 341 | Parent-Child Relations | 3 |
HDFS 357 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
HDFS 448 | Issues In Sexuality | 3 |
HDFS 462 | Methods of Family Life Education | 3 |
| | 9 |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A grade of C or better is required for all HDFS courses, regardless of whether they are used for the major core, major electives, general education, or free electives.
- 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.
Accelerated Program in HDFS
- A combined/accelerated program will allow high-achieving students to complete both a bachelor's and master's degree in HDFS in five years.
- Only students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.50 and who have completed at least 60 credits are eligible to apply. Interested students should speak with an HDFS advisor about how to proceed.
- 15 credits at the master's level may be used to meet the requirements for a bachelor's degree.
- The programs will map as follows:
- BS-HDFS program with an option in Adult Development and Aging may enter the master's option Gerontology.
- BS-HDFS program with an option in Child and Adolescent Development may enter the master's option in Youth Development.
- BS-HDFS program with an option in Family Science may enter the master's option in Family Financial Planning