Boise State University offered vocational education for 70 years, from 1939 to 2009. These 2-year associate degrees and certificates trained students for occupations specific to businesses in the Boise Valley. The university stopped accepting new two-year degree seeking students in fall 2009 to focus its identity as a research university. The majority of the resources from vocational education started the College of Western Idaho.
Early Years
From 1932 to 1938, BJC’s curriculum was exclusively courses intended to prepare students for transfer to a four-year school. When the school became a public institution in spring 1939, the school board sought the addition of vocational and technical degrees. One of the first courses was on how to make radios, which directly contributed to World War II efforts. There were also degrees in forestry, secretarial science, and home economics. After World War II, vocational programs followed job growth in the valley, leading to departments dedicated to automotives, construction, business equipment, and practical nursing. Throughout this time, vocational programs were designated as Lower Division University Curricula and Semi-Professional Curricula.
During these years, vocational students formed the student organization Tau Alpha Pi. Their major event was called the Hobo March, a costumed fundraiser involving impersonating vagrants and pan-handling for a scholarship fund.
University Years
When Boise Junior College became Boise College, a four-year institution, in 1965, the vocational programs transformed its curricula from two types to many disciplines. The professional degrees were still popular and throughout the 1970s and 1980s remained a staple of education at the University.
The rise of computer technology in the Boise Valley led to new businesses and the need for even more technical education in the computer science field. Boise State was already offering certificates in business machine technology and this evolved into computer science, electrical engineering, and some other related fields. As these education fields increased in popularity and in sophistication, some technology-based vocational programs split off to form the College of Engineering. Meanwhile, all other vocational programs were placed under the Applied Technology college.
The College of Applied Technology was led by Larry G. Selland, and after his death the program was renamed the Larry G. Selland College of Applied Technology. This name lasted until 2009, when all applied technology programs were either discontinued or moved to the College of Western Idaho.
Division/School Names
Semi-Professional Curricula, 1939-1964
Area Vocational School, 1965-1968
Division of Vocational Technical Education, 1965-1969
School of Vocational Technical Education, 1969-1991
School of Applied Technology (within the College of Technology), 1991- 1996
Larry G. Selland College of Applied Technology, 1996 – May 2009
Departments and Degrees Offered
The following is a list of departments and degrees with the corresponding start and end dates of each program. Some programs like Home Economics and Forestry were originally considered vocational, however they quickly moved to the general curricula. Other disciplines like nursing and engineering broke off and formed their own colleges. These distinctions are not within the scope of this list.
Business, Marketing, Office
Broadcast Technology, 1991-2009
General Business, 1939-
Business Systems and Computer Repair, 1991-2009
Business & Office Education, 1987- 1994/Business Technology, 1995-2009
- Office Occupations, 1975-1976
- see Service Occupations, 1977-1986
- Accounting Technology, -2009
- Administrative Office Technology, 2009
- Legal Office Technology, -2009
Computer Service Technology, 1991 – 2009
- Business Machine Technology, 1986-1990
- Data Processing, 1967-
- Office Machine Repair, 1966-1976
- see Light Technologies, 1976-1985
- Computer Peripheral Service, -2009
- Computer Programmer (1-yr), 1968-
- PC/LAN Specialist, -2009
- Computer Network Technology, -2009
- Network Technician, -2009
- Computer Network Technology, -2009
Instruction and Performance Technology, 1992-
Instructional Technology, 1989-1992
Marketing/Mid-Management, 1992-2009
- Marketing Mid-Management, 1986-2009
- Mid-Management, 1965-1981
- Fashion Merchandising, 1972-1980
Office Occupations, -2009
Secretarial Science, 1940-
Health and Human Services
- Child Care and Development, 1991- 2009
- Child Care Studies, 1975-1990
- see Service Occupations, 1977-1985
- (Day Care Training)
- Child Care and Development, 1991- 2009
Culinary Arts, 1985-2009
- Food Service, 1973-1976
- Food Service Technology, 1977-1984
- Culinary Arts, 1985-2009
Dental Assistant, 1986-2009
- Dental Assisting, 1961 – 2009
- see Health Occupations, 1977-1985
Health and Human Services, -2009
Horticulture Service Technician, 1986-
- Horticulture, 1967-1976
Nursing
- Pre-Medic, 1939-40, 1950-1952
- Pre-Nursing, 1940-1959
- Nursing, 1959-1964 Renamed practical nursing
- Practical Nursing, 1965-2009
Respiratory Therapy Technician, 1989-2009
Surgical Technology, 1986-2009
Medical Technology, 1944-1946, 1954-
Operating Room Technology, 1975-1976
Manufacturing, Heavy Mechanical
Industrial and Manufacturing Technology, 1989-2009
- Changed to Industrial Technology
- Manufacturing System Technology, -2009
- Industrial Technology (4 year program), 1994 –
- Industrial Electronics Technology, -2009
- Industrial Maintenance Technology, -2009
- Industrial Mechanics / Automation, 1986-1988
Automotive, 1958-2009
- Auto Body (and fender), 1958-2009
- Auto Mechanics, 1965-1976
- see Mechanical Technologies, 1977-1985
- Auto Mechanics, 1986-1992
- Automotive Industrial Technician, 1988-2009
- Automotive Technology, 1993-2009
Electrical Lineworker, 1987-2009
- Electrical Lineman, 1985-1986
- see Heavy Technologies, 1977-1985
Fire Service Technology, 1988-2009
- Wildland Fire Management, -2009
Heavy Duty Mechanics, 1975-1976
- Heavy Duty Truck Technician, -2009
- Heavy Equipment Technician, -2009
Mechanical Welding Technician, 1994-
- combines Welding/Metal Fabrication and
- Heavy Duty Mechanics
Parts Counter-person, 1973-1980
Machine Tool Technology, 1993- 2009
- Machine Shop, 1958-1976, 1986-1992
Professional Truck Driving Program, 1987-2009
Residential, Environmental Services
Farm Business Management, 1994-2009
- Agricultural Equipment Technology, 1986-
- (Landscape Construction and Maintenance)
- Industrial Environmental Technician, 1989-
- Industrial Plant Maintenance, 1976-1978
- Farm Business Management, 1994-2009
Radio, 1940-1946
Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning, 1987- 2009
- Air Conditioning, 1985-1987
- Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration, 1976-2009
- see Heavy Technologies, 1977-1984
Environmental Control Technician, -2009
Recreational and Small Engine Repair Technology, 1993- 2009
- Small Engine Repair 1975-1976, 1985-1992
Carpentry
- Carpentry, 1959-1967
- Residential Carpenter, 1992-
- Note: wood shop and other similar trade courses were offered as early as 1940.
Water/Wastewater Environmental Technology, 1993-
- Water / Wastewater, 1988-1992
- Wastewater Technology, 1987-1988
Welding and Metals Fabrication, 1987-2009
- Welding, 1960-1976, 1985-1987
Science, Engineering, Construction
Drafting Technology, 1986-2009
- Drafting and Design, 1959-1968
- Drafting Technology, 1969-2009
- see Light Occupations, 1977-1985
Applied Technology, 1992-2009
Electronics Service Technology, 1985-1991
Electronics Technology, 1963-2009
Consumer Electronics, 1973-1983
Semiconductor Technology, 1985-2009
Construction Management and Engineering, 1995-2009
- formerly Management and Engineering Technology, 1992-1994
- formerly Construction Management and Pre-Engineering
Engineering in Boise BSU/UI Cooperative Program, 1995-1996
- formerly University of Idaho Engineering in Boise Program, 1991 – 1994