Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University
Types of Degrees
Academic and Career Advising
General Degree Requirements
College First-Year Writing Requirement
Mathematics Requirement
Foundational Studies Requirements
Additional Baccalaureate Degrees
Admission to Upper Division
Catalog Policy
Course Challenge
Course Prerequisite
Credit for Prerequisites Not Taken
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit Limitations
Double Majors
Graduation Honors
How to Apply for Graduation
Minor and Other Certificates
Transferring Credits to Boise State
Types of Degrees and Certificates
This table lists the types of degrees and certificates offered at Boise State University. For a complete list of degrees, majors, minors, certificates, and transfer programs, see Summary of Programs and Courses.
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Types of Degrees and Certificates |
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Associate of Arts (A.A.) Associate of Science (A.S.) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Graduate Certificate (G.C.) Master of Arts (M.A.) Master of Applied Anthropology (M.A.A.) Master of Applied Historical Research (M.A.H.R.) Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Master of Education M.Ed.) Master of Educational Technology (M.E.T.) Master of Engineering (M.Engr.) Master of Earth Science (M.ESci.) Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Master of Health Science (M.H.S.) Master of Kinesiology (M.K.) Master of Music (M.M.) Master of Nursing (M.N.) Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Master of Science (M.S.) Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
Undergraduate degrees available at Boise State fall into one of two categories: associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees (also known as bachelor degrees). Both degrees are academic titles granted to students who have completed a specific course of study; that particular course of study constitutes a major (for example, accountancy, biology, or English). For instance, if you major in biology, you will receive a bachelor of science degree. If you major in English, you will receive a bachelor of arts degree.
Traditionally, obtaining a baccalaureate degree has required four years or more of full-time study, while obtaining an associate degree has usually required two or more years of full-time study.
This page defines the minimum credit requirements for each degree available at Boise State, as well as general policies applying to all degrees. After reading this page, you should look at the Academic Programs and Courses, where you will find additional requirements you must meet in order to obtain a degree. These additional requirements (known as major requirements) are specified by the department or interdisciplinary program responsible for the degree you wish to obtain. From time to time, as your academic work progresses, review this page and other relevant sections of the catalog to verify that you are making satisfactory progress toward your academic goals and that you are meeting all the requirements for the degree you seek.
In addition to the information contained in this catalog, you can receive information and assistance from your academic advisor. Use this opportunity to consult your advisor about your academic goals and your plans for achieving them. If you have selected a major, you will work with an advisor in the academic department responsible for your major. If you have not selected a major, you will work with an advisor from the Advising and Academic Enhancement, 1464 University Drive, (208) 426-4049.
Academic and career advising is the process by which students receive help in forming their educational and career goals and planning ways to achieve them. Based on a student’s individual circumstances, personal development and skills, advisors provide information and support and foster a sense of responsibility in students to achieve their own goals. Academic and career advising at Boise State University are integrated because there is a strong relationship for most students between their educational and career goals. Boise State University is proactive about assisting students to explore this relationship for themselves and about raising awareness of the need for both academic and career planning throughout students’ programs of study. Academic and career advising include:
- Ongoing contact with an informed and supportive representative of the campus community
- Degree planning, including introduction to and explanation of academic requirements, policies and procedures
- Exploration of necessary skills
- Referral to campus resources
- Career exploration, information and preparation
Most advisors are faculty members, although some departments also employ professional and peer advisors. In most cases, once you have selected a major, you will work with a faculty advisor from your department. Advisor assignments are handled differently in each department and to get accurate information, you must contact the department directly regarding advisor selection and appointment scheduling. For advising locations, go to http://academicadvising.boisestate.edu/.
If you have not selected a major, you will work with an advisor in Advising and Academic Enhancement (see http://academicsupport.boisestate.edu/ for location).
Boise State encourages you to seek academic advising whenever you have questions about academic planning.
To obtain an associate degree:
- complete the number of credits specified for that degree (see Credit Requirements for Various Degrees)
- complete the 15 of your last 18 credits at Boise State (residency requirement)
- fulfill all Foundational Studies Program requirements for University Foundation (UFs) and Disciplinary Lens (DLs) courses with a grade of C- or higher in each course
- attain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher
- complete all other requirements specified by the program or department offering the degree
- apply for graduation
To obtain a baccalaureate degree:
- complete the number of credits specified for that degree
- of those credits, at least 40 must be in upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher)
- complete 30 of your last 36 credits at Boise State (residency requirement)
- fulfill all Foundational Studies Program requirements, receiving a grade of C- or higher in each course, unless otherwise required by department
- attain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and meet any other grade requirements stipulated for your major
- attain a grade of C- or higher in all upper-division courses required by your major
- complete all major requirements specified by the program or department offering the degree
- apply for graduation
College First-Year Writing Requirement
First-year college writing courses play a vital role in enhancing the transition into the university by providing an introduction to the critical reading, writing, and inquiry practices of the university. Because these are foundational courses that connect directly to the University Learning Outcomes, all students seeking a baccalaureate degree complete at least six credits in first-year writing. In order to successfully complete the First-Year Writing Requirement, students must complete ENGL 101 and 102 (or their equivalents) with a grade of C- or higher, or demonstrate writing proficiency as outlined below.*
College First-Year Writing Requirement |
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|---|---|
| ENGL 101 Waived | Satisfactory score to place into ENGL 102 from "The Write Class" assessment tool, hosted at www.thewriteclass.com. |
| ENGL 101 Credit | AP Language and Composition score of 3 or higher. |
| ENGL 101 and 102 Credit | Satisfactory score from "The Write Class" assessment tool, hosted at www.thewriteclass.com; AP Language and Composition score of 5; ACT English score of 31 or higher; SAT Critical Reading score 700-800. |
*Note: In order to receive credit for ENGL 101 and 102 based on an ACT or SAT score, students must complete the Receiving Credit for English Composition form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office http://registrar.boisestate.edu/forms/testingenglishcomp.pdf.
Course Selection Boise State University uses an online assessment tool, “The Write Class,” to place students in the appropriate first-year writing course. Studies have shown that students who are placed in their first-year writing class using “The Write Class” have higher GPAs in their first-year writing courses when compared with placement based on ACT or SAT scores alone.
Before your orientation session (and before you are able to register for a first-year writing course), you need to complete “The Write Class,” hosted at www.bsuplacement.com. This online program takes multiple factors into account to determine the best placement for you. Please print out your results and bring them with you to orientation.
Multilingual Students If English is not your native language, you need to take the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) placement test. To take the ESOL placement test, contact University Testing, (208) 426-2762, located at 1464 University Drive (next door to the Student Union Building), or see their Web site http://aae.boisestate.edu/testing. The ESOL placement test will place you into ENGL 121, 122, 123, or 101.
Transfer Students If you have transferred English composition courses from another institution to Boise State, the Registrar’s Office will determine whether your courses satisfy all or part of the First-Year Writing Course Requirement. If you have further questions about first-year writing transfer equivalencies, the First-Year Writing Program can provide information about options. However, if you have questions about placement or transfer courses that will impact the upcoming semester, please plan accordingly. To ensure appropriate service, all placement and transfer credit issues must be received in the First-Year Writing Program Office at least ten business days prior to the start of the upcoming fall semester, and by the end of fall semester finals week for the upcoming spring semester.
Priority deadline for Fall Semester 2013 is August 9, 2013; priority deadline for Spring Semester 2014 is December 20, 2014.
For further information on first-year writing courses, transfer issues, placement, or contact the First-Year Writing Program Office, Liberal Arts Building, Room 256. Preferred contact: fywp@boisestate.edu, secondary contact: (208) 426-4209.
Because the ability to think quantitatively is a characteristic of an educated person, Boise State University requires students to demonstrate proficiency in mathematics. All students seeking a baccalaureate degree (and, with a few exceptions, those seeking an associate degree) must complete 3-5 credits in mathematics.
Mathematics and Computer Science Placement Exam Policy
Note: ACT/SAT/COMPASS are for placement only. All students must take a mathematics course; the placement tests do not waive the mathematics requirement.
Placement Exams Boise State uses an “adaptive” computerized exam that covers up to four areas of mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra, college algebra, and trigonometry). The areas covered will depend on your background and your performance as the exam proceeds.
The exam is untimed and the number of questions you will be given will vary due to the adaptive nature of the exam, but you should generally allow about an hour. Your exam will be scored immediately and you will be given a printout of your results telling you which classes you are permitted to take.
An exam fee is payable to University Testing Services, Academic and Career Services Building, Room 111, at the time you take the exam. Photo ID is required. Personal checks are not accepted. You may take the exam at most twice during a given semester, and results are valid for placement only for the designated semester.
Prerequisite Courses you may be exempt from the placement exam if you have taken an appropriate prerequisite course. The following table groups the courses for which placement exams are given into four categories. You may take a course in a given category if you have received a C- or higher in either the prerequisite course listed for that category, or another course in the same or higher numbered category.
Math Placement Exam/Prerequisite Categories |
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|---|---|---|
Category |
Courses in Category |
Prerequisite |
1 |
COMPSCI 115, MATH 108, MATH 123 | MATH 25 |
2 |
COMPSCI 119, MATH 143, MATH 147, MATH 157, MATH 254 | MATH 108 |
3 |
MATH 144, MATH 160, MATH 187 | MATH 143 |
4 |
COMPSCI 117, COMPSCI 125, MATH 170 | MATH 147 |
Transfer students will need to contact the mathematics department to determine whether transfer courses not equivalent to a Boise State course will count as prerequisites for placement purposes.
Scores on the Mathematics portion of the ACT or SAT may be used for placement, but if in doubt, you should take the placement exam. The table below gives placement cutoffs for both standard and percentile scores. You may take the indicated course if either your standard score or your percentile is high enough.
Exam Scores/Placement Cutoffs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Category |
ACT Std. |
SAT Std. |
Percentile |
COMPASS |
1 |
18 |
430 |
41 |
40 (ALGP) |
2 |
23 |
540 |
70 |
61 (ALGP) |
3 |
27 |
620 |
88 |
51 (CALGP) |
4 |
29 |
650 |
93 |
51 (TRIG) |
To retake a course in which you received a D, F, or W, you must requalify via either a placement exam for the current semester or a prerequisite course (with a C- or better). Neither old placement exams nor ACT/SAT scores may be used to requalify for repeat courses.
The developmental mathematics courses MATH 15, Pre-Algebra and MATH 25, Elementary Algebra, do not require a placement exam.
Philosophy of the Foundational Studies Program
Boise State’s Foundational Studies Program offers an integrated, sequential, multi-disciplinary learning experience that illustrates the University’s commitment to undergraduate education from entrance to graduation. The Program’s distinctive features establish the University as a leader in empowering students and enabling them to achieve academic excellence. Foundational Studies Program courses constitute a coherent framework on which departments establish the educational opportunities specific to the needs of their disciplines.
From the time they enter the University, students encounter skilled and motivated faculty members in courses that feature diverse opportunities for examination of historical, intellectual, and ethical traditions. Courses focus on the kinds of inquiry central to a university education, creating opportunities to explore important subjects, ask questions, debate ideas, increase understandings, research, innovate, and solve problems.
The emphasis is on building a foundation for both advanced study and lifelong communication and learning. Courses in the Foundational Studies Program have clearly articulated goals (University Learning Outcomes). A built-in process for robust assessment fosters on-going improvement. A complete description may be found at: Foundational Studies Program.
Area I Core courses
Area II Core courses
Area III Core courses
Diversity courses
Additional Baccalaureate Degrees
If you have earned a baccalaureate degree, either at Boise State or elsewhere, you must complete at least 30 additional credits for each additional degree you wish to earn. Those 30 credits must be earned at Boise State. In addition, you must meet all of the course requirements in your major and meet any other requirements of the university.
In order to determine what requirements you need to complete, you will need to take a copy of your transcript(s) to the department chair of your major. The chair will review your transcript(s) and compile a list of courses you must complete at Boise State in order to earn the additional degree. Your major may require that the dean of the college also approve this list. A copy of the approved list must be sent to the Graduation Evaluators in the Registrar’s Office. You do not have to meet the foundational studies (discussed on page 49), though you may have to take foundational studies required for your major.
Note: If you already have a baccalaureate degree and you are pursuing graduate studies, you must apply for admission to Boise State through the Graduate Admissions and Degree Services Office, Business Building, Rooms 304 and 305, (208) 426-3647. If you already have a baccalaureate degree and will be taking undergraduate courses, you need to apply through Undergraduate Admissions, located on the first floor of the Student Union Building, (208) 426-1156.
To enroll in upper-division courses (those numbered 300 to 499), you must have completed all course prerequisites and have met all other requirements of your department or college. In most instances, you must also have attained junior standing. If you are a sophomore, you may enroll in upper-division courses with the permission of the department, provided that you have completed all course prerequisites. Some academic programs require students to be formally admitted to the major before they may enroll in upper-division courses. To determine if this policy applies to your major, consult the requirements specified for your major in Academic Programs and Courses.
In determining if you are eligible to graduate, the Registrar’s Office follows the requirements defined in a single edition of the university catalog. You may select any edition of the catalog, provided that the catalog was published and was in force while you were enrolled at Boise State and provided that the catalog is no older than six academic years at the time of your graduation.
If you need to change your catalog, contact the Registrar's Office at (208) 426-2932 or regmail@boisestate.edu. If you have already applied for graduation and need to change your catalog, e-mail DegreeProgress@boisestate.edu.
If you feel that your background, education, and experience have given you sufficient knowledge in a subject area, you may challenge certain courses. That is, you may be able to receive credit for the course by passing a challenge exam. Each department selects which courses are available for challenge and may develop screening procedures to determine if you are eligible to take the challenge exam. You may not challenge a course to improve a previous grade earned in that course.
After you have completed 12 semester credits at Boise State University, and you have received permission from the appropriate academic department to register for a challenge exam, you must complete the form Credit for Prior Learning —Challenge and submit it to the Registrar's Office, Administration Building, Room 110. A $50 per course fee will be charged to challenge a test prepared by an academic department. For externally prepared challenge exams, a $20 per course fee is paid to the University. Any fees for tests are paid directly by the student. Any proctoring/testing center fees are paid by the academic department out of the university fee. Fees charged are the same regardless of whether a student is full-time or part-time. For departmentally prepared exams, the department determines the grading system. Grades may be recorded as either Pass or as a letter grade (A+ through C-). Grades of D+ or lower will not be transcribed. Before you take the exam, the department will tell you what type of grading is available.
A prerequisite is a course (or courses) that you must have successfully completed before you can enroll in another course. For instance, before you can enroll in SPANISH 102 Elementary Spanish II, you must first have completed SPANISH 101 Elementary Spanish I. If a course has a prerequisite, the prerequisite is listed in catalog descriptions or in the online Boise State University Schedule of Classes.
Students must complete prerequisites listed in the catalog descriptions or the online Boise State University Schedule of Classes with a grade of C- or better prior to enrolling in the course unless otherwise specified by the department. Requests to waive certain course prerequisites may be approved by the department offering the course. Requests must be justified on the basis of background, education, or experience.
Credit for Prerequisites Not Taken
A prerequisite is a course (or courses) that you must have successfully completed before you can enroll in another course. For instance, before you can enroll in SPANISH 102 Elementary Spanish, you must first have completed SPANISH 101 Elementary Spanish with a grade of C- or higher. If a course has a prerequisite, the prerequisite is listed in catalog descriptions or in the online Boise State University Schedule of Classes.
Depending on your background or experience, you may be allowed to take some courses without first taking a prerequisite course. In some cases, you may also be able to receive credit for the prerequisite course. To take a course without first taking the prerequisite, you must obtain the approval of the head of the appropriate academic department. Complete the form Credit for Prior Learning —Challenge and submit it to the Registrar's Office, Administration Building, Room 110. A $20 per course fee will be charged to apply for credit for prerequisites not taken and to take the appropriate test. Any fees for externally prepared tests are paid by the student. Any proctoring/testing center fees are paid by the academic department out of the University fee. Fees charged are the same regardless of whether a student is full-time or part-time. Grading will be done on a Pass/Fail system. Only Pass grades will be transcribed. Grades will be transcribed if/when you complete the advanced course and earn a grade of C- or higher. Academic departments determine which courses can qualify for this credit.
Many colleges and universities, including Boise State, accept satisfactory performance on national standardized examinations, satisfactory performance on locally written examinations, or satisfactory evaluation of other training and experience as alternatives by which a student may satisfy certain general education, specific course, or major requirements.
You may earn up to one-third of your total credits required for graduation (40 credits for a baccalaureate degree and 21 for an associate degree) in a combination of all forms of experiential learning (portfolio, challenge, CLEP credits, AP credit, DSST credits, Credit for Prerequisites Not Taken, ACE Guide credits, military credit, etc.). No more than one-quarter may be earned in portfolio credit (30 credits for a baccalaureate degree and 16 for an associate degree). Credits earned through any form of experiential learning/prior learning shall not count toward the 30-credit graduation residency requirement or as a repeat of another course.
Students must be currently enrolled at Boise State to apply for prior learning credits. The Registrar’s Office will transcript credits awarded through prior learning after a student has successfully completed 12 credit hours at Boise State University.
You can earn credits required for graduation by receiving credit for prior learning in the following ways:
- Satisfactory performance on approved national standardized examinations, departmental examinations, or evaluations
- Military training and experience
- Other training programs recognized and evaluated by the American Council on Education
- Credit granted through a prior learning portfolio (described below)
Specific course equivalencies and credits awarded are determined by academic departments. Credit may be awarded for specific courses or as general elective credit. In granting credit for prior learning, Boise State University generally will follow the guidelines provided by The American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to Educational Credit by Examination and The ACE Guide to Military and Other Training Programs. Credits awarded through The ACE Guide recommendations and national standardized tests (CLEP, AP, etc.) are recorded with a grade of P (Pass) after you have enrolled in course work at Boise State University. Credits earned through any form of experiential learning may not be used to repeat a class already completed.
A detailed list of all the types of prior learning for which you may receive credit is available at http://registrar.boisestate.edu/priorlearning.shtml. More information about prior learning credit is available through the Registrar’s Office, Administration Building, Room 110, (208) 426-4249.
The following is a brief review of the prior learning credit that is available:
- The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) consists of general and subject exams in a variety of subject areas. The general exams measure college-level achievement in five areas: English composition, natural sciences, social sciences and history, mathematics, and humanities. The subject exams test achievement in more specific college-level subjects.
- DSST Exams allow you to receive college credits for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. Exams cover the areas of Social Science, Business, Mathematics, Humanities, and Physical Science.
- USAFI/DANTES Exams are primarily available to personnel on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and to the cadets and midshipmen of the military academies. These are also similar to CLEP subject exams in that they test achievement in college-level subjects.
- Advanced Placement Exams (AP) are administered nationally each year in May, primarily at participating high schools. The exams are the culminating exercise for high school students taking honors or advanced courses that parallel standard college-level courses.
- IBO International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Examinations. The IBO’s Diploma Program (DP) is a demanding course of study that leads to culminating exams for highly motivated high school students. Only High Level (HL) exams will receive college-level credit at Boise State University. A minimum score of 4 is required to receive credit.
Experiential Learning
You may earn up to one-third of your total credits required for graduation (40 credits for a baccalaureate degree and 21 for an associate degree) in a combination of all forms of experiential learning (portfolio, challenge, CLEP credits, AP credit, DANTES credits, Credit for Prerequisites Not Taken, ACE Guide credits, etc.). No more than one-quarter may be earned in portfolio credit (30 credits for a baccalaureate degree and 16 for an associate degree). Credits earned through any form of experiential learning/prior learning shall not count toward the 30-credit graduation residency requirement or as a repeat of another course.
Military Training Credit
You may receive credit for selected military training or experience. To do so, you must furnish the Registrar’s Office with a copy of your S.M.A.R.T. or A.A.R.T.S. transcript or similar official documents. If you have completed two or more years of active military service, you may also request that the Boise State Military Science department evaluate your military service for possible credit toward the ROTC Basic Course. Credit for the ROTC Basic Course is only awarded to those who have committed to pursuing the ROTC Advanced Course.
Other Training Programs
You may earn credit for training programs listed in the National Guide to Education Credit for Training Programs, published by the American Council on Education. You may also earn credit for training programs listed in A Guide to Educational Programs in Noncollegiate Organizations, published by the University of the State of New York.
Prior Learning Portfolio
Credit for prior learning experience is also possible in some departments through development of a formal, professional, written portfolio. The portfolio outlines, in-depth, the knowledge you have gained outside the college classroom and shows the relationship to college-level learning. Assessment of portfolios and credit recommendations are determined by the academic department in which the credit is being requested. To apply for credit through this method, you will be required to pay a $75.00 per course fee to have your portfolio reviewed. For further information on this process, contact the Registrar's Office, Administration Building, Room 110, (208) 426-4249. For further information on specific applications, contact the appropriate academic department.
Extension and Correspondence Courses
You may count toward graduation as many as 30 credits of extension or correspondence courses. However, your department may further limit the type and number of these credits that you can count toward your major. If you wish to count an extension or correspondence course toward degree requirements, you must complete the course and have an official transcript sent to the Registrar’s Office by mid-term of the semester in which you begin the last 30 of your last 36 credit hours.
Kinesiology Activity Courses
Kinesiology activity courses are offered by the Kinesiology department in general-interest sports and recreation activities, such as bowling, kayaking, tennis, and aerobics. You may count toward graduation as many as 8 credits of kinesiology activity courses.
Independent Study
Any department offering a baccalaureate degree may offer independent study, which allows you to pursue a special interest in an area not covered by a regularly offered course. Independent study is designed to complement your major and is not intended to be used to complete requirements for a regularly offered course. You may not use independent study to improve a grade you received in a class. To participate in independent study, you must have attained junior standing and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. If you are a junior or senior, you may take up to 4 credits of independent study in a semester, though you may take no more than 6 credits in a given academic year. You may apply no more than 9 credits of independent study toward your degree. If you are a freshman or sophomore in the Honors Program, you may take up to 4 credits of independent study in a semester, up to a total of 6 lower-division credits.
Internships
Most departments provide internships or cooperative-education programs that provide academic credit for on-the-job experience in an area of interest or in your major. You may apply up to 12 credits of internship toward your graduation requirements. Departments that offer internship and cooperative-education programs have faculty coordinators for these programs. More information about internships is available from your department.
Religion Courses
You may count toward graduation as many as 8 credits of nonsectarian religion courses (e.g., Old or New Testament or The Bible as Literature). However, the courses must be taken at regionally accredited colleges or universities, and you may count the credits only as general elective credits.
Service-Learning
Service-learning provides you with a way to link community service to your course work. You can become involved by enrolling in a designated service-learning course which is linked to a specific section of an already established course. In the online Boise State University Schedule of Classes, the service-learning lab will be designated by the base course prefix and number followed by the suffix SL (e.g., MKTG 307 base course; MKTG 307SL service-learning component). Through service-learning, you will receive course credit for participating in service opportunities that are intentionally designed to promote learning while helping meet human and community needs. You may take up to 3 service-learning credits in a semester. You may apply no more than 9 service-learning credits toward your degree. For more information, contact the Service-Learning Program office at (208) 426-1004.
Many classes integrate service-learning as a teaching method. In these courses, service-learning is an integral part of the course work. These “fully integrated” service-learning classes are searchable on my.BoiseState, select integrated service-learning in the designation drop-down menu. Classes using this model include a related service experience (sometimes required, sometimes optional) that is used as the basis for papers, class presentations, discussion, and other assignments. Instructors deliberately link the course content with the service experience. Service ranges from 10 to 30 hours, and is at the discretion of the faculty member. For more information, contact the Service-Learning Program office at (208) 426-1004. There is no limit to the number of fully integrated service-learning courses you can take.
Undergraduate Enrollment in 500-Level Courses
If you are a senior, you may apply up to two 500-level (graduate) courses toward the credit requirements for an undergraduate degree. You may also count these courses toward the 40-credit requirement for upper-division courses. To count 500-level courses toward graduation, complete the form Permit for Seniors to Take Graduate Courses, available online at the http://registrar.boisestate.edu/.
Workshop Credits
You may apply up to 9 workshop credits toward your graduation requirements. However, your department may further limit the number of workshop credits you may apply toward your major.
You may earn a single baccalaureate degree with more than one major if you satisfy all requirements for each major.
Graduation honors are awarded to students receiving their first baccalaureate degree, according to the scale shown in table below. Honors are awarded on the basis of all semesters completed, and the student’s final transcript remains the official record of any honors granted. However, in honoring a student at commencement, Boise State uses the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of either spring or summer semester for the December ceremony and fall semester for the May ceremony.
| Graduation Honors | |
|---|---|
Cumulative Grade-Point Average |
Honor |
3.500 - 3.749 |
Cum Laude |
3.750 - 3.949 |
Magna Cum Laude |
3.950 - 4.000 |
Summa Cum Laude |
| All grades, including those that have been excluded from GPA calculation in accordance with the grade exclusion policy, will be used to calculate graduation honors. | |
You may apply for graduation by logging on to your my.BoiseState student account (http://my.boisestate.edu/). A nonrefundable graduation application fee must be paid when applying.
A graduation evaluator will review your application after the 10th day of classes of the semester in which you intend to graduate. Upon review of your application, you will receive an e-mail notifying you if you are a valid candidate for graduation. To ensure your candidacy, please review your degree information on my.BoiseState with your academic advisor. You must apply for graduation no later than the end of the first week of the semester you intend to graduate (see the Academic Calendar for the exact date).
Note: All graduating students must pay the graduation application fee, regardless of whether they intend to participate in commencement and regardless of whether they wish to receive a diploma.
The Summary of Programs and Courses, lists the certificates and minors available at Boise State, along with the degrees offered by Boise State. Certificates and minors are available in selected fields, as are minor certification endorsements in secondary education programs. Requirements for all certificates, endorsements, and minors are listed in Academic Programs and Courses.
Note: For a minor to be officially recorded on your transcript, you must complete all required course work in that minor before you receive your degree. You may not earn a minor in the same field as your major. Certificates are recorded on your transcript once your department or program notifies the Registrar’s Office that you have completed all required course work. Minor certification endorsements are awarded by the State Department of Education and are not recorded on Boise State transcripts.
Transferring Credits to Boise State
Transferring credits is a process by which some or all of the credits you have earned at another institution of higher learning are applied toward your degree at Boise State. The Registrar’s Office evaluates your transcript to determine if the courses you have taken elsewhere are equivalent to courses offered at Boise State. If a course you have taken is equivalent, you can count toward graduation the credits earned in that course, just as if you had earned those credits at Boise State. If the course is not equivalent, those credits count as general elective credits.
The Idaho State Board of Education policy limits transfer credit from junior or community colleges to 70 credits. Boise State accepts all of your transfer credit from regionally accredited junior or community colleges, however the amount in excess of 70 credits will be added to your total number of credits needed for graduation. So, if your major requires a minimum of 120 credits for graduation and you transfer in 80 credits from a junior or community college, your minimum total credits required for graduation would be adjusted to 130 credits.
Boise State accepts college-level credit, if those credits were granted by institutions accredited by regional accrediting associations, as reported in Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education (published by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation). If you earn credits from an institution not listed in Accredited Institutions of Post Secondary Education, you may still be able to transfer those credits to Boise State. In such cases, the department offering similar courses will review the credits you wish to transfer and will decide which credits, if any, to accept. You may request this department approval after you have completed 15 credits at Boise State, with a cumulative GPA in those courses of 2.0 or higher.
As a transfer student, you are not required to take UF 100 and UF 200 but must take UF 300 if you:
- Transfer from a U.S. regionally-accredited academic institution and have earned an academic A.A. or A.S. degree
- Transfer from a U.S. regionally-accredited academic institution and have completed the equivalent of Idaho’s State Board of Education general-education core (but have not completed an A.A. or A.S. degree)
If you earned an academic associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and your credits were evaluated by Boise State University prior to June 2004, we recommend resubmitting official transcripts for core certification review.
In those cases where a foundational studies class is also required as a particular major requirement, students must still complete the course in the major to earn the degree.
For purposes of counting lower- or upper-division credit required for graduation, the university uses the course number of the transferring institution. So, if the course is numbered at the 100 or 200 level by the transfer institution, it will be counted as lower-division at Boise State. If the course is numbered at the 300 or 400 level at the transfer institution then the course will be counted toward meeting the upper-division requirement for graduation purposes. See general degree requirements for details on minimum upper-division credits needed for obtaining a degree.
Note: If your major requires completion of a specific disciplinary lens course that was not completed as a transfer course, you would need to complete the additional course to earn a degree.
In all other cases, your transcript is evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine which Boise State foundational studies requirements you must meet. For more information about Foundational Studies requirements, see the Foundational Studies Program.