Human Development and Family Science/Elementary Education
The human development and family science/elementary education dual degree program is designed to provide additional knowledge in all aspects of child development to prepare elementary teachers to be advocates for young children and extend their knowledge about how children learn, what they learn, and the techniques that facilitate such learning.
The Program
Through this curriculum, students are concurrently enrolled in the human development and family science (HDFS) major (child development option) through North Dakota State University and the elementary education major through Valley City State University (VCSU). The culmination of these requirements leads to a bachelor’s degree from NDSU (human development and family science major/child development option) as well as a bachelor’s degree from VCSU (elementary education major).
Under a cooperative agreement, students remain on the NDSU campus to complete all coursework for the dual degree. The courses specific to the elementary education major (VCSU) are offered on the NDSU campus by VCSU faculty. Students are certified to teach elementary education in public schools and may, with additional course work and an additional student teaching experience, be certified to teach kindergarten as well.
The HDFS degree complements and strengthens the elementary education curriculum with coursework in child development, family issues and cross-cultural diversity.
Children are very diverse in all aspects of their development—physical, cognitive, social and emotional. It is more accurate to view “normal” development as a range of possible outcomes rather than a single life course. Ultimately, these developmental factors have a strong influence on children’s performance and behavior in school. A degree in HDFS will help future teachers understand development and its diversity, making them more effective teachers and helping them work with children from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Selective Admission
Admission to the dual degree program consists of two separate university applications:
1. Application for admission to NDSU for the human development and family science/elementary education dual degree prior to beginning the program, and
2. Application for admission to VCSU and admission to the teacher education program, which occurs at the end of the sophomore year.
During or immediately following the introductory professional education course, students must meet additional requirements to be admitted into teacher education:
1. Sophomore standing or better with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75,
2. Satisfactory academic performance in English 110 and 120 (grades of C or higher) and successful completion of a speech screening test,
3. Achievement of minimum scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), and
4. Qualification for teacher certification in the state of North Dakota upon VCSU program completion, as outlined in the latest issue of the Educator’s Professional Certificate Regulation booklet published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the culmination of the teaching program. Students have the opportunity to apply skills acquired in college courses under the supervision of an experienced educator.
Certification
Upon completing this program, students are eligible for certification to teach grades 1 through 6. The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at NDSU makes available grants, loans, scholarships and work-study employment. Scholarships also are available through the College of Human Sciences and Education. For more information visit: https://www.ndsu.edu/onestop/finaid/scholarships/
The Facilities
Facilities for the dual degree program are housed in Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall and the Family Life Center. Included in these buildings are classrooms, conference rooms and a child development center serving young children and their families.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Students may enhance their involvement by participating in groups such as the HDFS Club, the Elementary Education Club, the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children, the North Dakota Family and Consumer Sciences Association and the North Dakota Education Association.
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.
Elementary Education & Human Development and Family Science Plan 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.
Freshman | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||||
HD&E 189 Skills for Academic Success | 1 | ENGL 120 College Composition II | 3 | ||||
PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology | 3 | MATH 104 Finite Mathematics | 3 | ||||
HDFS 230 Life Span Development | 3 | 3 | |||||
ENGL 110 College Composition I | 4 | HDFS 250 Introduction to Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences | 3 | ||||
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 | HDFS 242 Couples, Marriages and Families | 3 | ||||
Gen Ed Science & Technology(BIOL) | 3 |
| |||||
| 17 |
| 15 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||||
HDFS 275 Diversity and Multiculturalism | 3 | HDFS 330 Child Development | 3 | ||||
Gen Ed Science & Technology | 3 | HDFS 353 Children, Families and Public Policy | 3 | ||||
Gen Ed Co-Req Science Science & Technology Lab | 1 | HDFS elective | 3 | ||||
| HIST 103 or 104U.S. to 1877 or U.S. Since 1877 | 3 | EDUC 250 Introduction to Education | 3 | ||||
CSCI 114or MIS 116 Microcomputer Packages or Business Use of Computers | 3 | MATH 277 Math for Elementary Education 1 | 3 | ||||
Gen Ed Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 |
| |||||
| 16 |
| 15 | ||||
| Summer | Credits | ||||||
| EDUC 210 Creative Activities | 2 | ||||||
| Junior | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||||
| HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 | HD&E 320 Professional Issues | 1 | ||||
| HDFS 300-400 level elective | 3 | EDUC 320 Social Studies Methods | 3 | ||||
| EDUC 300 Education Technology | 2 | EDUC 321 Foundation of Reading | 3 | ||||
| EDUC 240 Exceptional Students | 3 | EDUC 322 Language Arts Methods | 3 | ||||
| EDUC 283 Understanding Cultural Diversity | 3 | EDUC 330 Children's Literature | 3 | ||||
| MATH 278 Math for Elementary Education II | 3 | ||||||
| GEOG 111 Survey of Geography | 2 | ||||||
| 20 | 15 | ||||||
Senior | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||||
EDUC 315 Math Methods | 3 | HDFS 496 Field Experience* | 1 | ||||
EDUC 323 Reading Methods | 3 | EDUC 400 Educational Psychology | 2 | ||||
EDUC 350 Elementary Education Practicum | 2 | EDUC 490 Student Teaching | 10 | ||||
EDUC 355 Science Methods | 3 | EDUC 491 Seminar (Senior Portfolio) | 1 | ||||
| ENGL 320, 325, 358, or 459 Business and Professional Writing, Writing in the Health Professions, Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences, or Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | 3 | ||||||
| 14 |
| 14 | ||||
Total Credits: 128 | |||||||
* Students should NOT enroll themselves in HDFS 496 via Campus Connection. The NDSU Registration and Records office automatically enrolls students in the course during the student's teaching semester. | |||||||
View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall
Room 155
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall is located in the center of campus on Centennial Boulevard and is connected to the east end of the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Family Life Center (Campus Map)
Contact Information
College of Human Sciences & Education
NDSU Dept 2600,
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Dept Phone: (701) 231-8211
Dept Website: www.ndsu.edu/hse/
or
Human Development & Family Science
NDSU Dept 2615
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Dept Phone: (701) 231-8268
Dept Website: www.ndsu.edu/hdfs/
Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept #5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Tel: (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/
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