Admissions Policy - Idaho's Public College and Universities

This policy sets the standards that students must meet for admittance to Idaho’s Public College and Universities

The policy does not apply to Eastern Idaho Technical College or the professional-technical schools at Lewis-Clark State College, Boise State University, and Idaho State University. The College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College are exempted from certain provisionsof this admission policy as determined by their local boards of trustees. The purpose of this admission policy is to help students prepare for college and to provideminimum admission guidelines for each four-year institution. The institutions may establish additional and more rigorous requirements for admission to specific programs, departments,schools, or colleges within the institutions. Students should check with the college or university admission offices for additional information.

Regular Admission

A degree-seeking student with fewer than 14 credits of postsecondary work must complete each of the minimum requirements in this section. International students and students pursuing postsecondary professional-technical studies are exempt.

The student must:

  1. submit ACT or SAT scores and/or other standardized diagnostic tests as determined by the institution. Applicants who have reached the age of 21 may be exempt (check with admission office). These applicants are subject to each institution′s testing requirements.
  2. graduate from an accredited high school and have completed specified high school courses with a 2.00 grade point average(GPA). High school courses may be selected from the following:
Category Minimum Requirements Selected from These Subject Areas
English 8 credits Composition, Literature, or courses which integrate components of Composition, Literature, and Language.
Math 6 credits A minimum of six (6) credits, including Applied Math I or Algebra I; Geometry or Applied Math II or III; and Algebra II. A total of eight (8) credits are strongly recommended. Other courses may include: Probability, Discrete Math, AnalyticGeometry, Calculus, Statistics, and Trigonometry. Four (4) of the required mathematics credits must be taken in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. NOTE:Courses not identified by traditional titles, e.g., Algebra I or Geometry, may be used as long asthey contain all of the critical components (higher math functions) prescribed by the State Mathematic Achievement Standards.
Social Science 5 credits American Government (state and local), Geography, U.S. History, World History, Economics (Consumer Economics if it includes components recommended by the State Department of Education), Psychology and Sociology.
Natural Science 6 credits Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geology, Physiology, Physics, PhysicalScience, and Zoology. A maximum of two (2) credits may be derived from professional-technical science courses and/or Applied Biology or Applied Chemistry as jointly approved by the State Department of Education and the State Division of Professional-Technical Education. Ecology will count if it includes components recommended by the State Department of Education or the State Division of Professional-Technical Education. At least two (2) credits must involve laboratory science experience. NOTE: A laboratory science course is defined as one in which at least one (1) class period per week is devoted to providing students with the opportunity to manipulate equipment, materials, or specimens; to develop skills in observation and analysis; and to discover, demonstrate, illustrate, or test scientific principles or concepts.
Humanities/Foreign Language 2 credits Literature, History, Philosophy, Fine Arts (if the course includes components recommended by the State Department of Education, i.e., theory, history appreciation and evaluation), and interdisciplinary humanities (related study of two or more of the traditional humanities disciplines). History courses beyond those required for state highschool graduation may be counted.
Other College Preparation 3 credits

• Speech or Debate (no more than one (1) credit). Debate must be taught by a certified teacher.

• Studio/Performing Arts (Art, Dance, Drama and Music).

• Foreign Language (beyond any foreign language credit applied in the Humanities/Foreign Language category).

• State Division of Professional-Technical Education-approved classes (no more than two(2) credits in this category) in Agricultural Science and Technology; Business and Office Education; Health Occupations Education; Family and Consumer Sciences Education; Occupational Family and Consumer Sciences Education; Technology Education; Marketing Education; Trade, Industrial, and Technical Education; and Individualized Occupational Training.

 

  • In all cases, one credit is defined as a course providing a minimum of 70 hours of classroom instruction.
  • If a high school does not offer a required course, applicants may contact the institutional admission officer for clarification of provisional admission procedures.
  • High school credit counted in one category, e.g., Humanities/Foreign Language, may not count in another category.
  • Each high school in Idaho has a list of approved courses, that count toward college/university admission.
Idaho State Board of Education • PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0037 • 208-334-2270  home | contact | privacy | idaho.gov
Copyright © 2008, Idaho State Board of Education. All rights reserved.