Developmental Science

Developmental Science is an emerging approach to the study of human development that combines elements of more traditional approaches from the fields of Developmental Psychology and Human Development. Developmental Science entails the study of human development across the lifespan, integrating the biological, cognitive, and socioemotional underpinnings of development, and incorporating the familial, social, institutional, and cultural contexts in which development occurs.

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Statement of purpose should be 500 words or less and address the following:
  • 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 research interests are and how they might fit with the current research emphases in the department. If you have questions about this, the HDFS faculty research interests are described on the HDFS website (http://www.ndsu.edu/hdfs).
  • What your professional goals are and how this graduate program will help you accomplish your professional goals
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Thesis or writing sample
• Submission of GRE Scores is optional. Lack of scores will not affect admissions decision.
• For non-native English speakers, TOEFL ibT score of at least 100 or IELTS score of at least 7
• Subscores on the TOEFL ibT are at least 24 for speaking and 21 for writing

For those entering with a Master’s degree:

• Master’s degree from accredited educational institution in child development, developmental psychology, human development, developmental science, or related area
• At least one course in statistics and one course in research methods, with a grade of B or higher
• Completion of an empirical Master’s thesis

For those entering with a Bachelor’s degree:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited educational institution in child development, developmental psychology, human development, developmental science, or related area

Financial Assistance

All admitted students are awarded graduate assistantships. In addition to the stipend, graduate assistants receive a graduate tuition waiver. Tuition waivers cover base tuition for NDSU graduate credits only. Students are responsible for differential tuition, student fees, and tuition for non-graduate level credits taken or Cooperative Education credits.   

Curriculum for students entering with a Bachelor's degree (90 credits total)

• Students earn a Master's degree after completing 30 credits, master's oral examination and the master's thesis.
• All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

Curriculum for students entering with a Master’s degree (60 credits total)

• Students may follow this track only if their Master’s degree and thesis was approved by the Developmental Science Committee upon admission.
• Additional coursework may be necessary to compensate for courses not taken.
• All courses 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

1. Course can be substituted with another course approved by advisor and committee or program coordinator.

 Other Requirements

• Teach one undergraduate course, with supervision, for course credit in HDFS 892 Graduate Teaching Experience. Must have first taken a teaching pedagogy course HDFS 802 Teaching and Learning in the Human Sciences, COMM 702 Introduction to College Teaching in the Humanities and Social Sciences, or STEM 810 Teaching College Science, as well as two courses out of HDFS 811 Developmental Concepts and Theories, HDFS 813 Social and Emotional Development Across the Lifespan, HDFS 815 Physical and Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan, and HDFS 817 Prevention Science.
• Submit at least four proposal/abstracts for presentations or posters at national conferences, including as a co-presenter (2 submissions if enter with MS).
• Present (in person) at least twice at national conferences (once if enter with MS), unless a waiver is granted by the student’s committee.
• Submit at least two peer-reviewed articles for publication (including as co-author). Note: Although these presentation and publication requirements do not carry course credit per se, they are projects that would be worked on as part of HDFS 798 Master's Thesis, HDFS 893 Individual Study/Tutorial , and/or HDFS 899 Doctoral Dissertation.
• Successful qualifying examination.
• Successful comprehensive/preliminary examination (dissertation proposal) and successful final examination (dissertation defense). If entering without MS degree, successful thesis defense.

Core Faculty

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

James E. Deal, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 1987
Research Interests: Personality Development in Children; Relationship Between Individual Development and Family Relationships

Heather Fuller, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, 2009
Research Interests: Social Relationships Across the Lifespan (e.g. Intergenerational Relationships); Successful Aging and Health Promotion; Aging in Rural and Cross-cultural Contexts; Aging Families and Caregiving; Aging-in-Place, Survey Research and Program Evaluation 

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; Social Emotional Learning; Program Evaluation; The Experience Sampling Method 

Carmen Kho, Ph.D.
University of California Merced, 2020
Research Interests: How cultural, family, and other contextual influences intersect with socio-emotional development of children, adolescents, and emerging adults.

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

Leanna McWood, PhD.
Auburn University, 2020
Research Interests: Extracurricular Involvement; Social Relationships; Contextual Influences; Sleep; Adolescent Development

Natira Mullet, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University, 2020
Research Interests: Intergenerational, cultural and familial protective factors to reduce interpersonal trauma and resulting substance use and mental health outcomes among marginalized communities.

Wen Wang, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 2018
Research Interests: How culture and ethnicity shape parenting; Socialization of children's mastery motivation in at-risk families

Affiliated Faculty within HDFS

Margaret Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1997
Research Interests: Family owned businesses--copreneurial couples, women and minority-owned businesses, the interface between the business, family, and community, and managerial adjustment strategies.

Christi McGeorge, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2005
Research Interests: Heterosexism and Homophobia; Single Parenting; Women's History; Gender Socialization From a Feminist Perspective 

Meagan Scott Hoffman, Ph.D. 
Oklahoma State University, 2016
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

Affiliated Faculty outside of HDFS

Ben Balas, Ph.D.,  
Psychology

Sarah Boonstoppel, Ph.D.,  
Political Science

Erin Conwell, Ph.D.,   
Psychology

Britt Heidinger, Ph.D.,  
Biological Sciences  

Brent Hill, Ph.D.,  
Education

Andrea Huseth-Zosel, Ph.D.,  
Public Health

Linda Langley, Ph.D.,  
Psychology

Carrie Ann Platt, Ph.D.,  
Communication

Susan Ray-Degges, Ph.D.,  
Apparel, Design and Hospitality Management

Kevin Thompson, Ph.D.,

Criminal Justice and Political Science

Rachelle Vettern, Ph.D.,  
Center for 4-H Youth Development