Boise State University is a large public research university with almost 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The U.S. News and World Report ranked it as one of America’s Best Colleges in 2010. The university is driven by innovation and creativity that places students as the number one priority. It is committed to superior instruction and 11 professors have earned the “Idaho Professor of the Year” honor since the year 1990. It offers more than 200 degrees in nearly 200 fields of study and it also has over 100 graduate programs. It awards degrees at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. It also grants graduate certificates. The university also has the largest undergraduate nursing program in Idaho.
Boise State University offers online programs through its Division of Extended Studies. The division is committed to supporting the mission of the university by offering innovative and flexible delivery of online courses and programs in a mostly asynchronous format. Some courses include some synchronous activities. Online courses are delivered in various ways such as through the Internet using the Blackboard course management system; Teleweb using Blackboard and video programming; Online Professional Education for educators using virtual education software; Telecourses that feature home viewing of nationally pre-produced educational program broadcasts and in-person meetings or labs; and Videoconferencing that features synchronous instruction through video broadcasting technology. The Division of Extended Studies offers bachelor degree completion programs in nursing and respiratory care; complete master degrees in instructional and performance technology, educational technology, nursing; and graduate certificates in educational technology and instructional and performance technology. It also offers a Technology Accentuated Transformative Education for Rural Specialists (TATERS) endorsement program.
The Episcopal Church founded Boise State University as Boise Junior College in 1932 and the institution became independent in 1934. In 1965, the college acquired four-year status and began to offer bachelor degrees and changed its name to Boise State College in 1969. It gained university status in 1974 and offered its first distance education program in 1989. Today, Boise State University has graduated more than 75,000 students and it has grown to become the state of Idaho’s largest and fastest growing higher education institution.
Accreditation
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredits Boise State University.
Schools Of Education
College of Arts and Sciences: the university’s largest academic unit that encompasses 11 departments, various research units, and an interdisciplinary studies program. It encourages excellence in the broad field of liberal arts education and research.
College of Business and Economics: through its six academic departments, the college features innovative academic programs, meaningful research, and support of economic development in the region.
College of Education: committed to preparing students to become qualified education professionals. It employs integrated teaching and learning practices in its eight academic departments.
College of Engineering: dedicated to providing excellent and accessible education that features research activities and real-world experiences. Offers various programs through seven academic departments.
Graduate College: offers various graduate programs through all the other schools of education. All programs hold special endorsement and accreditation.
College of Health Sciences: committed to offering programs of educational excellence for current and aspiring health professionals. The programs are offered through four departments.
College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs: dedicated to facilitating engagement in politics and policy as well as community service and outreach. Offers programs in 11 departments.
Scholarships Offered
Boise State University offers a variety of scholarships such as Adeline Neilson Scholarship Foundation, Executive Women International Boise Chapter Scholarship, Lorry Roberts Graphic Arts Scholarship, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Marianne Baker Scholarship, P.E.O. Scholarship Awards, Society of Women Engineers, and Phi Kappa Phi. Individual colleges and departments also offer scholarships.
Financing Options
Boise State University participates in various financial aid programs including grants, loans, and work-study. Federal financial aid programs include Federal Pell Grant, National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Academic Competitiveness Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Leveraged Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) Grant, Federal Parent PLUS Loan, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, and Federal Work-Study Program. It also accepts alternative student loans and offers payment plans that enable students to pay their tuition in installments.
Credit Earning Options
Boise State University accepts previous coursework from other regionally accredited institutions. Transfer courses are classified as equivalent that count toward a degree and non-equivalent that do not count. Courses must have received a grade of a C- or higher and all transfer credits will be assessed through an external credit report. Students must submit official transcripts and course descriptions. Boise State University also grants credits for national standardized examinations such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Examinations (AP), Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), and DANTES examinations. Students are able to earn a 1/3 of the total credits for a certificate or degree program through transfer credits.