Human Development and Family Science

Major Requirements

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

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 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Communication (C)		12
ENGL 110	College Composition I
ENGL 120	College Composition II
COMM 110	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.
†: 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Human Development & Family Science Core Requirements
CSCI 114	Computer Applications	3
or TL 116	Business Software Applications
Select one of the following:		3
ENGL 320	Business and Professional Writing
ENGL 325	Writing in the Health Professions
ENGL 358	Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences
ENGL 459	Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
HDFS 230	Life Span Development	3
HDFS 242	Couples, Marriages and Families	3
HDFS 250	Introduction to Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences	3
HDFS 275	Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life	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	3
SOC 110	Introduction to Sociology	3
STAT 330	Introductory Statistics	3
Option Selection
Select one option from the three listed below: Adult Development & Aging; Child & Adolescent Development; Family Science		21
Minor Plan of Study
A minor plan of study is required outside of the HDFS department for all options.		16
Total Credits		73

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
HDFS 300-400 Level	Major Electives (can include up to 3 credits of HDFS 496 or HDFS 491)	9
Total Credits		21

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
HDFS 320	Prenatal, Infant and Toddler Development	3
HDFS 330	Child Development	3
HDFS 340	Adolescent Development	3
Select one of the following:		3
HDFS 424	Observation and Assessment of Children
HDFS 483	Best Practices, Play and Activities from Birth through Adolescence
HDFS 300-400 Level	Major Electives (can include up to 3 credits of HDFS 496 or HDFS 491)	9
Total Credits		21

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
HDFS 300-400 Level	Major Electives (can include up to 3 credits of HDFS 496 or HDFS 491)	9
Total Credits		21

¹: In the semester prior to taking field experience credits, students are required to take HDFS 389 Pre-Field Experience. Note: HDFS 491 Senior Thesis may be completed as elective.

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.

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 3.0 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

Required Credits: 18

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
HDFS 230	Life Span Development	3
HDFS 242	Couples, Marriages and Families	3
Elective Courses ^{1, 2}
HDFS	Any Level Elective	12
Total Credits		18

¹: No more than 3 credits may be a field experience, practicum, or student teaching.
²: Note that HDFS 250 or an approved equivalent in another department is a required co-requisite or pre-requisite for all 300-400 level HDFS courses. HDFS 250 may be counted as an HDFS elective course for the minor.