Idaho State University is Idaho’s health care university, as designated by the Idaho State Board of Education, and offers 75 percent of the state’s health profession degree programs. One third of Idaho State University’s graduates receive degrees in the health professions.
The majority of the University’s health profession programs are housed in the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. Nineteen health professional programs, including 35 degrees/options, make up the Division. Several of the Division’s programs are offered on both the Pocatello and Meridian campuses, and a number of degrees are offered in an online format. Programs partner with hospitals, clinics, and specialized medical facilities throughout the state and nation to provide state-of-the-art training opportunities and clinical rotations for our students.
A mix of classroom and clinical experiences ensures that graduates are prepared for licensing exams and positions in a wide range of health care fields. On-campus and statewide clinics provide students with hands-on training. Fourteen in-house clinics include medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, audiology, speech pathology, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vestibular (balance), and wellness. Beyond the basic skill sets associated with clinical practice, we train our students to become leaders in their professions and communities. Doing this requires hiring and retaining nationally recognized faculty, using the most current teaching technologies, and giving students access to the hands-on learning opportunities they need for success.
The Kasiska Division of Health Sciences is organized into two colleges:
- College of Health
- College of Pharmacy
Pre-Health Professions Advising
Idaho State University offers advising for pre-health professional students, which prepares them for application to and acceptance by a variety of health professional schools. Health professional programs for which advising is offered include: dentistry, medicine, osteopathic medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and physician assistant. For students interested in one of the health professional programs offered at Idaho State University, such as medical laboratory science, counseling, dental hygiene, family medicine, community and public health, dietetics and nutrition sciences, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, pharmacy, radiographic science, and speech pathology and audiology, the Pre-Health Advisor will refer the students to the appropriate department or college for additional information.
Bachelor of Science in Health Science
The Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree is offered at ISU through the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences in cooperation with the College of Health and the College of Technology. The Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree provides several pathways for students, depending on their ultimate educational and career goals. The choice of five different areas of concentration allows students flexibility in meeting their professional goals.
The objectives of this multidisciplinary degree are to prepare marketable graduates for entry-level employment in the health care field and to prepare students for admission to professional schools or graduate programs.
Associate of Science in Health Science
The Associate of Science in Health Science degree is offered through the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences and serves as a launchpad for students who intend to pursue a career in a health science-related field. This degree will provide basic health science knowledge to students while serving as a bridge to our Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) as well as other bachelor-level programs in the health sciences. There are two “track” options: Track 1 for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS), Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiographic Science, or Communication Science & Disorders programs; and Track 2 for students pursuing Medical Lab Science, Pharmacy, or other graduate-level health profession (PA, PT, OT, Medical, Dental, etc.).
Similar to the BS Health Science degree, the objectives of this AS degree are to prepare marketable students for entry-level employment in the healthcare field and/or to prepare students for admission to health professional schools or graduate programs.
The program consists of specific general education requirements, health science core competencies, and prerequisite courses required for other bachelor-level and/or graduate-level health profession programs.
Interprofessional Minor for Healthy Aging
Course offerings provide students from any major an opportunity to become knowledgeable about the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the aging process. Additionally, required course work furnishes students with an excellent understanding of health and aging, as well as an understanding of the social welfare policy and programs related to the older adult.
Interprofessional Geriatric Certificate
ISU’s Kasiska Division of Health Sciences offers the 8-credit Geriatric Certificate Program to prepare students to support the increasing older adult population with health care needs, and gain practical experience through 90 hours of hands-on educational rotation.
The Geriatric Certificate Program at ISU is available online, and awards undergraduate and graduate students with a Geriatric Certificate along with their degree upon graduation.
Credits count towards upper-division elective credits for undergraduate students, or elective credits for graduate students.
The certificate cannot be awarded without the completion of a concurrent degree program.