Program Description
The Department offers graduate study leading
to the Master of Science degree with four options: Child Development
and Family Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Financial
Planning, and Gerontology.
The Child Development and Family Science option
is a two-year program, designed to provide students with a research-based,
comprehensive, and integrated study of child, adolescent, and
family development and dynamics. Faculty emphasize development
and interaction throughout the life span and in a broad environmental
context, with a particular emphasis on the establishment and maintenance
of healthy developmental trajectories.
The Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) option is
a three-year program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
in Marriage & Family Therapy Education, designed to train
students interested in working in clinical settings as couple
and family therapists. This option involves intensive course work
and an on-campus practicum the first two years, with thesis work
and an off-campus practicum the third year.
The Family Financial Planning (FFP) option is a collaborative, inter-institutional program offered through web-based distance education. The FFP option is a 42 credit program with a specific curriculum approved by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards. The program requires one of the following: practicum, practicum and Master's paper, or a Master's thesis. For students not needing a full Master's degree, a Graduate Certificate in Family Financial Planning is also available, with 18 credits of coursework required.
The Gerontology option is a collaborative, inter-institutional program offered through web-based distance education. The Gerontology option requires 30 to 33 credits of coursework and a thesis or masters paper for a total of 36 credits. The program can be completed in two to three years. For students not needing a full Master's degree, a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is also available, with 21 credits of coursework required.
Admissions Requirements
The Department of Child Development
and Family Science graduate program is open to qualified graduates
of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted
to the program with full status, the applicant must:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an
educational institution of recognized standing.
- Have adequate preparation in child or
human development, family science, or personal finance, and
show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced
by academic performance and experience.
- At the baccalaureate level, have
earned a cumulative grade point average in all courses of at
least 3.0 or equivalent. Students with a previous graduate degree
with a GPA of 3.0 or equivalent may be admitted in full standing.
Applications for all options should be submitted directly to the Graduate School; NDSU applications are available on the graduate school website, with CDFS applications available on the departmental website. The CDFS and CFT Programs admit students to begin in the fall semester only. Completed applications must be received by February 1 . Applications received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis. Applications received after May 1 may be held for consideration for admission in the following academic year. The Family Financial Planning and Gerontology programs admit students throughout the year if space is available in the courses.
Official transcripts (transcripts having an appropriate seal or
stamp) of all previous undergraduate and graduate records must
be submitted with the application. When a transcript is submitted
in advance of completion of undergraduate or graduate studies,
an updated transcript showing all course credits and grades must
be provided in advance of the initial registration at NDSU.
Three letters of recommendation must be provided. Personal reference
report forms are available from the NDSU Graduate School.
In addition to these materials, students applying for the CFT
option must complete the Marriage and Family Therapy application.
An interview conducted by the CFT faculty to determine readiness
for the program will also be required after initial application
materials are received. The interview will address professional
interests and goals, perceived ability to complete the program,
emotional and personal stability, and self-evaluation of clinical
skills. Near the end of the first semester after admission, a
second interview which focuses on clinical readiness will be conducted
prior to admission into the practicum.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of assistantships are available to qualified students with priority given to first year students. Graduate assistants work for a faculty member usually for 10 hours per week. The student receives a full waiver of all tuition, as well as a stipend. To be considered for a departmental assistantship, a student must first make application to the Graduate School and be accepted in full or conditional status. The student must then submit a letter to the CDFS department indicating interest and special skills/experiences that would qualify him/her for an assistantship.
Degree Requirements
The CDFS option requires 37-40 semester credit hours; the Couple and Family Therapy option requires 62 credits; the Family Financial Planning option requires 42 credits; and the Gerontology option requires 36 credits.
CDFS Option Requirements
CDFS 703 Research Methods 3
CDFS 790 Seminar: Special Topics in Research Methods 3
CDFS 781 Family Systems 3
CDFS 782 Advanced Human Development: Birth through Childhood 3
CDFS 783 Dynamics of Parent-Child Relations 3
CDFS 784 Advanced Human Development: Adolescence through Adulthood
3
CDFS 785 Family Theories 3
CDFS 701 Graduate Orientation 1
CDFS Thesis Option
9 additional credits to be approved by advisor and committee. At least six of these are to be numbered 793 or below (i.e. not practicum, field experience, thesis, or paper credits). Elective courses can come from within CDFS or from other departments related to CDFS.
CDFS 798 Master's Thesis 6
Total 37 credits
CDFS Paper option
15 additional credits to be approved by advisor and committee. At least 12 of these are to be numbered 793 or below (i.e. not practicum, field experience, thesis, or paper credits). Elective courses can come from within CDFS or from other departments related to CDFS.
CDFS 797 Master's Paper 3
Total 40 credits
CFT Option Requirements:
CDFS 701 Graduate Orientation 1
CDFS 703 Research Methods 3
CDFS 773 Foundations of Marital & Family Therapy I 3
CDFS 774 Foundations of Marital & Family Therapy II 3
CDFS 775 Clinical Applications in Marital & Family Therapy
I 3
CDFS 776 Clinical Applications in Marital & Family Therapy
II 3
CDFS 777 Diagnosis & Assessment in Marital & Family Therapy
3
CDFS
790 Special Topics in Clinical Applications 3
CDFS 780 Ethics & Professional Issues in Marital & Family
Therapy 3
CDFS 785 Family Theory 3
CDFS 790 Special Topics in Research Methods 3
CDFS 794 Practicum 19
CDFS 782 Advanced Human Development
- Birth through Childhood 3
CDFS 783 Parent-Child Relations 3
CDFS 784 Advanced Human Development - Adolescence through Adulthood
3
CFT Thesis Option
CDFS 798 Master's Thesis 6
Total 62 credits
CFT Paper Option
CDFS 797 Master's Paper 3
Elective 3
Total 62 credits
FFP Option Requirements:
CDFS 781 Family Systems 3
CDFS 764 Family Economics 3
CDFS 677 Financial Counseling 3
CDFS 770 Fundamentals of Family Financial Planning 3
CDFS 771 Investing for the Family's Future 3
CDFS 765 Insurance Planning for Families 3
CDFS 766 Estate Planning for Families 3
CDFS 768 Housing/Real Estate 3
CDFS 762 Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits And the Family
3
CDFS 767 Professional Practices in Family Financial Planning 3
CDFS 763 Personal Income Taxation 3
CDFS 769 Financial Planning - Case Studies 3
- Six credits of practicum OR
- Three credits of practicum (CDFS
796) and three credits of Master'spaper (CDFS 797) OR
- Six credits of Master's thesis
(CDFS 798).
Note: The courses in Insurance, Investment,
Personal Taxation, EstatePlanning, Retirement and Employee Benefits,
and Real Estate and Housing will satisfy the education requirements
for students who wish to sit for the Certified Financial Planner
exam.
Graduate Certificate in Family Financial Planning Requirements
CDFS 762, 763, 765, 766, 770, and 771. Students completing the certificate are eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. The CFP Board website at http://www.cfp.net provides information relating to CFP® Certification Examination.
Gerontology Option Requirements:
CDFS 790 Perspectives in Gerontology 3
CDFS 660 Adult Development and Aging 3
CDFS 682 Aging in the Family Context 3
ADFH 696 Aging and the Environment 3
CDFS 722 Applied Research in Gerontology 3
HNES 652 Nutrition, Health, and Aging 3
CDFS 760 Aging Policy 3
CDFS 790 Capstone Graduate Seminar 3
A. Six credits of CDFS 798 Master's thesis plus 6 elective credits approved by advisor and committee.
B. Three credits of CDFS 797 Master's paper plus 9 elective credits approved be advisor and committee.
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Requirements
CDFS 790 Perspectives, CDFS 660, CDFS 722, HNES 652, CDFS 790 Capstone, plus two courses from CDFS 760, CDFS 682, or ADFH 696 or from electives approved by advisor and committee
Courses Offered
- 624 Observation and Assessment
of Children 3
- This course is an introduction to the
observation and assessment of children for both research and
practice applications. Areas covered will include standardized
testing; informal assessments; and observations of infants,
toddlers, and preschoolers, focusing on progress toward developmental
goals in cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains.
-
- 625 Risk, Resilience, and Competence in Children and Adolescents 3
- Critical examination of research and theory on elements that place children and adolescents at risk, factors that promote resilience for those who are at risk, and the promotion of competent development for all children and adolescents
-
- 648 Issues in Sexuality 3
- Study of personal, interpersonal, and
societal meanings of human sexuality. Decision making relevant
to sexual behavior.
-
- 650 Adolescent Development 3
- Study of physical, social, cognitive,
and emotional development of adolescents. Includes examination
of contemporary issues related to this age group.
-
- 660 Adult Development and Aging
3
- Study of development during adulthood
and later life. Emphasis on perceptual-motor and cognitive functioning,
personality, adjustment, social, familial, and cultural aspects
of adulthood.
-
-
662 Risk, Resilience, and Competence in Families 3
- Study of the key theoretical perspectives and research related to risk, resilience, and competence in families. Includes study of the impact of crisis on family development, risk and protective factors, and positive family development .
-
- 668 Families and Work 3
- Issues, opportunities and problems related
to the interface of work and family. Topics include household
division of labor, trends in the labor market, and work-family
policy.
-
- 675 Children and Families Across
Cultures 3
- Study of developmental and family issues
as viewed from a cross-cultural diversity perspective. Prereq:
6 credits of social science.
-
- 677 Financial Counseling 3
- Advanced analysis of family financial
issues. Evaluation of alternative financial programs. Prereq:
CDFS 357.
-
- 678 Financial and Consumer Issues
of Aging 3
- Integration of economic and consumer
problems of the elderly including income trends in retirement
and health care. Prereq: 6 credits of social science.
-
- 681 Women and Aging 3
- Study of theory, research and application
of issues related to women and the aging experience.
-
- 682 Family Dynamics of Aging
3
- Examination of issues related to family
life in the later years from the perspectives of the elderly
and the family. Prereq: 6 credits of social science.
-
- 688 Exceptional Child and Family
3
- Study of children and their families
who vary from the norm in development and functioning. Prereq:
CDFS 230, 6 credits of social science.
-
- 701 Graduate Orientation Seminar
3
- Introduction to graduate program, faculty,
policies and procedures.
-
- 703 Research Methods in Child
Development and Family Science 3
- Introduction to research methods in
child development and marital and family relationships. Includes
instrument selection/construction, data collection, interpretation
of results, and proposal writing. Emphasis on the unique methodological
features associated with the field.
-
- 722 Applied Research in Gerontology
3
- Study of research in applied Social
Gerontology. The course will explore quantitative and qualitative
approaches to studying older persons and related systems.
-
- 760 Aging Policy 3
- Formation, implementation and impact
of policies that affect the well-being of the elderly in the
United States.
-
- 761 Applications in Gerontology
3
- Study of application of gerontology
research and theory. The course will provide an overview of
programs, methods and evaluations of services for older adults.
-
- 762 Retirement Planning, Employee
Benefits and the Family 3
- Critical examination of micro and macro
considerations in retirement planning for individuals and families.
-
- 763 Personal Income Taxation
3
- Study of principles and concepts of
personal income tax planning as they relate to families.
-
- 764 Family Economics 3
- Overview of basic concepts and theories
in family economics with emphasis on the economic situation
of families in the United States.
-
- 765 Insurance Planning for Families
3
- An in-depth study of risk management
concepts, tools, and strategies for individuals and families.
-
- 766 Estate Planning for Families
3
- Study of principles and concepts of
estate planning as they relate to families.
-
- 767 Professional Practices in
Family Financial Planning 3
- Study of strategies and methods for
managing private family financial planning practices including
ethics, compensation, client-centered marketing and practice
management.
-
- 768 Housing/ Real Estate 3
- Overview of the role of housing and
real estate in the family financial planning process including
taxation, law, mortgages, ethics and financial calculations.
-
- 769 Financial Planning Case Studies
3
- Examines professional issues in family
financial planning including ethics, regulation an certification,
communication, and professional responsibility. Emphasis on
personal finance case studies and investment policy.
-
- 770 Fundamentals of Financial
Planning 3
- Survey of personal/family financial
planning including process, time value of money, cash management,
credit, taxation, insurance, housing, investments, retirement
and estate planning.
-
- 771 Investing for the Family's
Future 3
- Study of concepts of time and risk value
of money in evaluating investment markets.
-
- 773 Foundations of Marital and
Family Therapy I 3
- Introduction to theoretical foundations
of marital and family therapy and the historical and contemporary
development of the field.
-
- 774 Foundations of Marital and
Family Therapy II 3
- Study of critical epistemological issues
in the field of marriage and family as they relate to contemporary
models in the practice of therapy.
-
- 775 Clinical Applications in
Marital and Family Therapy I 3
- In-depth study of current approaches
to family therapy. Emphasis on contextual, structural, and strategic
approaches.
-
- 776 Clinical Applications in
Marital and Family Therapy II 3
- In-depth study of current approaches
to family therapy. Emphasis on constructivist approaches. Application
in the clinical practice of marital and family therapy.
-
- 777 Diagnosis and Assessment
in Marital and Family Therapy 3
- Training in methods of diagnosis and
assessment in mental health issues using DSM-IV criteria as
applied to the discipline of marital and family therapy.
-
- 780 Ethics and Professional Issues
in Marital and Family Therapy 3
- Study of legal responsibilities, ethical
issues, and professional matters as they pertain to the practice
of marital and family therapy.
-
- 781 Family Systems 3
- Advanced study of contemporary family
systems with emphasis in research, ethics, media, and current
family issues. Prereq: Graduate standing.
-
- 782 Advanced Human Development:
Birth throughout Childhood 3
- Critical examination of current research
and theories on child development. Emphasis on applying theoretical
understanding and knowledge of the current empirical research
base to current issues facing children and families.
-
- 783 Dynamics of Parent-Child
Relations 3
- Study of selected theories and research
in parent-child relations. Emphasis on interaction between adults
and children from infancy to youth. Prereq: CDFS 784 or 785
or departmental approval.
-
- 784 Advanced Human Development:
Adolescence through Adulthood 3
- Critical examination of current research
and theories on adolescent and adult development. Emphasis on
applying theoretical understanding and knowledge of the current
empirical research base to current issues facing adolescents,
adults, and families.
-
- 785 Family Theory 3
- Identification and analysis of theoretical
approaches to research on the family. Study of frameworks currently
used.
-
-
790 Graduate Seminar 1-3
792 Case Studies 1-3
793 Individual Study/Tutorial 1-5
794 Practicum 1-8
795 Field Experience 1-15
696/796 Special Topics 1-5
797 Master's Paper 1-3
798 Master's Thesis 1-10
