Chapter 10 — Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University
English Composition Requirement
Mathematics Requirement
Because the ability to read, write, and think critically are characteristics of an
educated person, (and because English is the language required for success in
Boise State University courses), Boise State University requires students to
demonstrate proficiency in written English. All students seeking a
baccalaureate degree must either complete six credits in English composition
or demonstrate writing proficiency in English in one of several other ways.
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.
If English is not your native language, you need to take the ESOL
(English for Speakers of Other Languages) placement test to determine which
course you should take. The COMPASS placement exam is not an appropriate
tool for multilingual writers. 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.
The English Composition Requirement is administered by the First-Year
Writing Program Office within the English Department.
How to Meet the English Composition Course Requirement
In order to satisfy the English Composition Requirement, you must
successfully complete with a grade of C- or higher one of the following
sequences:
฀ ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 Introduction to College Writing and Research
฀ ENGL 101 and ENGL 112 Intro to College Writing and Honors Composition
Course Placement or Sequence for Meeting the English Composition
Course Requirement
We plan to continue with our successful use of a pilot placement process that
enables you to have more input into your course selection. The course
sequence you take depends on following “The Write Class” placement
information, which will be made available to you via e-mail before your
Broncoventure Orientation session. If you have any questions about this
process, please contact the First-Year Writing Program Office (number below).
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.
Table 10.3
Math Placement Exam/Prerequisite Categories
The current placement options continue to be available for all students, as well
(Table 10.2). The course sequence you take depends on your score on the
English portion of the ACT, or the critical reading (previously verbal) portion
of the SAT, or the writing portion of COMPASS as indicated in Table 10.2.
Category
1
COMPSCI 115, MATH 108
MATH 25
Table 10.2 English Composition Requirement
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
ACT
English
SAT
Critical
Reading
COMPASS
0-17
200-440
0-67
18-24
450-560
68-94
Take ENGL 101, then ENGL 102
95-99
Three credits (P) for ENGL 101 and
placement in ENGL 102
25-30
570-690
31-36
700-800
Sequence Indicated
Take ENGL 90, then ENGL 101
and then ENGL 102
Credit (P) for both ENGL 101 and
ENGL 102 (six total credits)
Courses in Category
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.
Table 10.4
Exam Scores/Placement Cutoffs
Note: The COMPASS placement test does NOT give credit for ENGL 102.
Note: You may not use test score credit to substitute or improve a previous grade earned in a course.
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 English Composition 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-up of the upcoming fall semester, and the end of fall semester finals week
for the upcoming spring semester.
Prerequisite
Category
ACT Std.
SAT Std.
Percentile
COMPASS
MATH 108
18
430
41
40 (ALGP)
1 (except MATH 108)
19
460
48
45 (ALGP)
2
23
540
70
61 (ALGP)
3
27
620
88
51 (CALGP)
4
29
650
93
51 (TRIG)
Priority deadline for Fall Semester 2012 is August 9, 2012; priority deadline for
Spring Semester 2013 is December 20, 2013.
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.
For further information on this process contact the First-Year Writing Program
Office, Liberal Arts Building, Room 256. Preferred contact: fywp@boisestate.
edu, secondary contact: (208) 426-4209.
The developmental mathematics courses MATH 15, Pre-Algebra and
MATH 25, Elementary Algebra, do not require a placement exam.
Boise State University 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog
47
Chapter 10 — Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University
How to Read a Degree Requirements Table
The following information is provided as a supplement to the general degree
requirements specified above.
One of the most important purposes of this catalog is to tell you what
requirements you must meet to earn a particular degree at Boise State
University. To learn about these requirements, you will need to read carefully
two parts of this catalog:
฀
฀
฀
฀ ฀
฀ ฀
฀
฀
general requirements for all undergraduate degrees.
฀
฀
฀
฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀
฀
฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀
฀
฀
unit that offers the degree you are interested in obtaining. That section
explains the specific requirements for the degree. You will find the
section relevant to your degree in Chapter 12—Academic Programs and
Courses.
As you plan your academic career, you should be able to use your degree to
keep track of your degree requirements. Other useful information may be
available from the department offering your major. In addition, your advisor
can assist you in creating a schedule for your academic work. Ideally, that
schedule will enable you to meet all the requirements shown in the degree
requirements table, and to do so in a logical, coherent sequence that takes
into account your particular circumstances.
The table below is a typical degree requirements table. You should carefully
review this table and the explanations of its elements before you begin
planning how you will meet the requirements for your degree. And, as
mentioned above, you should consult with your advisor and with other faculty
members within the department offering your major.
Social Science
Bachelor of Science
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The English Composition
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page 47.
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Boise State University 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog
The Mathematics
requirement is
explained on page 47.
B@A
Each box will contain
either a group of courses
(which are all required),
or else a list of courses
from which you must
choose one or more.
You must complete at least 120
credits for any baccalaureate
degree. A few majors fulfill
this automatically, but for most
majors you will need to take
some additional electives.
The only restrictions on these
elective credits are those
defined on page 53.
Chapter 10 — Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University
Foundational Studies Program
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 of the Foundational Studies Program may be found at: http://
academics.boisestate.edu/undergraduate/foundations-program-2/.
University Learning Outcomes
The eleven desired learning outcomes (ULOs) listed below were developed by
the faculty to provide undergraduates with a common experience aimed at
unifying the University’s diverse student body and expanding students’
awareness of themselves and their world. Every Boise State graduate is
expected to have met these ULOs, regardless of major or baccalaureate
degree.
Foundational Studies Program University Learning Outcomes (ULOs) by
Cluster
Intellectual Foundations
1. Writing
฀Write effectively in multiple contexts, for a variety of audiences.
2. Oral Communication
฀Communicate effectively in speech, both as speaker and listener.
3. Critical Inquiry
฀Engage in effective critical inquiry by defining problems, gathering and
evaluating evidence, and determining the adequacy of argumentative
discourse.
4. Innovation and Teamwork
฀Think creatively about complex problems in order to produce, evaluate,
and implement innovative possible solutions, often as one member of
a team.
Civic and Ethical Foundations
5. Ethics
฀ Analyze ethical issues in personal, professional, and civic life and
produce reasoned evaluations of competing value systems and ethical
claims.
6. Diversity and Internationalization
฀ Apply knowledge of cultural differences to matters of local, regional,
national, and international importance, including political, economic,
and environmental issues.
Distribution Requirements/Disciplinary Clusters
7. Mathematics
฀ Apply knowledge and the methods of reasoning characteristic of
mathematics, statistics, and other formal systems to solve complex
problems.
8. Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences
฀ Apply knowledge and the methods characteristic of scientific inquiry to
think critically about and solve theoretical and practical problems about
physical structures and processes.
9. Visual and Performing Arts
฀Apply knowledge and methods characteristic of the visual and
performing arts to explain and appreciate the significance of aesthetic
products and creative activities.
10. Literature and Humanities
฀Apply knowledge and the methods of inquiry characteristic of literature
and other humanities disciplines to interpret and produce texts
expressive of the human condition.
11. Social Sciences
฀Apply knowledge and the methods of inquiry characteristic of the social
sciences to explain and evaluate human behavior and institutions.
ULOs 1-6 are competency-based outcomes that are developed throughout the
academic career and in multiple courses and contexts. After exposure to these
Learning Outcomes in early courses, students revisit them in greater depth
throughout their college experiences and academic programs.
ULOs 7-11 are associated with disciplinary course clusters that represent
multiple perspectives to be encountered during a student’s academic career.
Courses are aligned with the Disciplinary Lens clusters that best match the
learning outcomes naturally associated with that course.
Boise State’s ULOs were inspired by the AAC&U’s “LEAP” framework: http://
www.aacu.org/leap/index.cfm.
Boise State University 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog
49
Chapter 10 — Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University
Foundational Studies Program Requirements
IV. Communication in the Discipline (CID) Courses
I. Introduction to College Writing and Research (ENGL 101 and ENGL 102)
฀Students must successfully complete CID credits in courses designated
by their major department. CID courses are offered at the 200, 300,
or 400-level for those who have successfully completed the English
Composition requirement. The courses focus on written and oral
communication as practiced in the discipline and are not necessarily
conducted in English. CID courses are listed in the major requirements
for each program. All CID courses must be at least 2 credits and are
identified by CID in the course description.
V. Finishing Foundations (FF) Courses
฀ This two semester, six credit sequence provides an introduction to the
University’s expectations about academic writing and research. The
program is coordinated by the English Department’s First Year Writing
Program. Students are placed in appropriate courses based on test
scores. See English Composition Requirement below, for details.
II. Foundational Studies Program (UF) Courses
1. Courses with a UF (University Foundations) prefix introduce a diversity of
intellectual pursuits, encourage a critical stance toward learning, and equip
students with university-level analytic and communication skills.
2. Intellectual Foundations (UF 100). This required, three-credit course offers
entering students a combination of large general sessions and small-format
discussion sections (~25) in which to transition from high school to the
university, with its different expectations. Multi-disciplinary sections are
organized around central themes that are listed in the course schedule
for each semester. Courses support ULOs 2, 3, and 4 and incorporate
the Campus Read. (See http://academics.boisestate.edu/undergraduate/
about-campus-read/campus-read/.)
3. Civic and Ethical Foundations (UF 200). This required, three-credit
sophomore level course is delivered in medium size (~40 students)
classes. It engages students in topics connected to ethics, diversity
and internationalization, often through experiential learning. Courses
support ULOs 1, 5 and 6. Prerequisites: ENGL 101, ENGL 102, UF 100, and
sophomore standing.
4. Transitional Foundations (UF 300). This three credit course is only
for transfer students who enter the university as “core certified.”(See
http://registrar.boisestate.edu/corecertification.shtml regarding core
certification.) Core certified transfer students are not required to take
UF 100 and UF 200 but must take UF 300, which introduces them to
the common learning experiences on which a Boise State education is
based. During the transition to the new Foundational Studies program,
current Boise State University students who have completed all of their
Core Requirements and who want to change to the 2012 catalog will be
permitted to take Transitional Foundations. UF 300 serves the learning
outcomes of both UF 100 and UF 200, but with higher achievement
expectations. Supports ULOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
III. Disciplinary Lens (DL) Courses
฀ All students are required to take a number of disciplinary lens courses.
(See degree box for specific requirements.) DL courses are offered
by academic departments and designed to expose non-majors to
the distinctive methods and perspectives of a disciplinary cluster.
The distribution requirement for DL courses reflects the belief of the
faculty and the Idaho State Board of Education that a major purpose
of undergraduate education is to prepare graduates to fulfill the
responsibilities of a citizen and to understand and appreciate diverse
approaches to information and values. Note that DL requirements
include a required mathematics course. Students are placed in an
appropriate mathematics course based on test scores and previous
coursework. See above for specifics. Disciplinary lens courses are listed
in Table 10.1 and are identified with DL in the course description. Some
departments and programs require specific DL courses.
฀Students must successfully complete capstone (FF) credits designated
by their major departments and range from 1-3 credits. Finishing
foundations courses are designated for students close to graduation.
They are identified with FF in the course description.
By the end of the first half of their undergraduate careers, students are
expected to have completed ENGL 101 and 102, UF 100 and UF 200, and most,
if not all, of the DL requirements.
Table 10.5 Minimum Credit Requirements for all
Baccalaureate Degrees
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Boise State University 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog
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