Boise State Edtech: FAQ for Prospective Students

FAQs for Prospective Students

If you can't find answers here, contact the Educational Technology Department Office at (208) 426-1966 or edtech@boisestate.edu.

Q: Who can I ask to find out if my transcripts have arrived ?
Q: I haven't heard anything about being accepted yet. Who can I ask about the status of my application?
Q: Is this program accredited?
Q: What kind of master's degrees does this program offer?
Q: How long does it take to complete this program?
Q: How long can I take to finish this program?
Q: How many credits are required in this master's program?
Q: Is the GRE required?
Q: What kind of GPA is required for admission?
Q: Are there any residency requirements?
Q: Can I go at my own pace?
Q: Do I have to write a thesis?
Q: Can I take classes before I am accepted into the master's program?
Q: If I earn one of the graduate certificates and then decide to pursue a master's degree, will my certificate credits apply to the master's degree?
Q: Does my degree have to be in education, and do I have to be a certificated teacher to apply for the master's program?
Q: Do I have to buy a computer to complete this program?
Q: What are the employment opportunities for teachers with master's degrees in Educational Technology?
Q: Is financial aid available?
Q: Can I transfer graduate credit from another university to meet my degree requirements?
Q: If I apply to the master's program, can I also earn a graduate certificate?

Q: Who can I ask to find out if my transcripts have arrived?
A: You can call the Graduate Admissions Office at 208-426-1074.

Q: I haven't heard anything about being accepted yet. Who can I ask about the status of my application?
A: First call the Graduate Admissions Office (208- 426-1074) and ask if all of your transcripts have arrived, and if your application and transcripts have been sent to the Department. To determine whether the application packet has been sent to the Department, contact Kelti Baker at 208-426-5383, keltibaker@boisestate.edu.

Q: Is this program accredited?
A: Certainly. We are accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, one of the six regional accrediting agencies authorized by the U.S. Department of Education. Further, the College of Education is fully accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Our program is in full alignment with AECT Standards for programs in instructional design, as well.

Q: What kind of master's degree does this program offer?
A: Our students can earn one of two master's degress, an MS (Masters of Science in Educational Technology) or an MET (Masters in Educational Technology).

Q: How long does it take to complete this program?
A: Most students take six credits each semester and finish in about two years.

Q: How long can I take to finish this program?
A: As long as seven years.

Q: How many credits are required in this master's program?
A: 33 semester credits

Q: Is the GRE required?
A: We offer two degrees, a Master of Science in Educational Technology (MS) and a Master of Educational Technology (MET). Admission for the MS degree requires GRE scores, while admission for the MET degree does not.

Q: What kind of GPA is required for admission?
A: We require a minimum GPA of 3.0 but we sometimes admit students with lower scores on a 12-credit provisional basis. Provisional students who earn a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 in those first four courses are invited to continue working toward a master's degree.

Q: Are there any residency requirements?
A: No. All classes are delivered online. Students never have to leave home to earn an Educational Technology degree at Boise State.

Q: Can I go at my own pace?
A: No. All students are in highly interactive classes in which assignments are generally due weekly. However, which day that you do your work, or which hour of the day (or night) that you do your work is entirely up to you.

Q: Do I have to write a thesis?
A: Only if you are in the MS degree program. MET students take a comprehensive exam or complete a portfolio, depending on their catalog year.

Q: Can I take classes before I am accepted into the master's program?
A: This question has two answers. (A): Transcripts sometimes take a long time to arrive, so the Graduate Admissions Office allows degree-seeking students one semester of grace. (B): Non-degree-seeking students may study up to 15 credit hours before having to become accepted into the master's program. Also, we welcome students who want to take just one class to fulfill an elective in a master's program at another institution.

Q: If I earn one of the graduate certificates and then decide to pursue a master's degree, will my certificate credits apply to the master's degree?
A: Absolutely, as long as your coursework has been completed within the last seven years.

Q: Does my degree have to be in education, and do I have to be an certificated teacher to apply for the master's program?
A: No. About half of our students are K-12 teachers. The remainder work in higher education, educational agencies, or educational organizations. Some students are seeking career changes, and may be working from home while raising children. All we ask is that you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Q: Do I have to buy a computer to complete this program?
A: No, but you need ready access to one, and a broadband internet connection is strongly recommended.

Q: What are the employment opportunities for teachers with master's degrees in Educational Technology?
A: Depending on your concentration, you will develop experise in instructional design, online teaching, school technology coordination, technology integration into the classroom, and more. Our students work in K-12 and higher education settings, or in e-learning corporations. See our Jobs section for more information.

Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Sure. The federal student loan program provides the funding for master's degree students. Financial aid is not available for graduate certificates alone, but will be provided if a student enrolls simultaneously in a certificate and master's program.

Q: Can I transfer prior graduate credit from another university to meet my degree requirements?
A: Generally, upon admission we can accept six prior credits from accredited institutions if the credits are full-fee academic credits, as opposed to professional development credits. Those six credits are considered electives in the Boise State Educational Technology program. We sometimes accept an additional three credits if the course matches one of our core courses. Submit the course name and copy of the syllabus you'd like to transfer to Jerry Foster at edtech@boisestate.edu. Also provide the exact Web address(es) where the course descriptions and/or syllabi can be downloaded from the institution's online catalog. These transfer credits will be evaluated for acceptance as part of your admissions packet.

Q: If I apply to the master's program, can I also earn a graduate certificate?
A: Yes, but only if you apply before finishing your first semester in the master's program. We strongly recommend ALL our masters students to simultaneously enroll in a graduate certificate. There are no extra fees or time required to complete both programs. Check with the department office at (208) 426-1966 or 1962.