At Boise State’s School for the Digital Future, students aren’t just earning degrees — they’re building personalized pathways to the workplace. From student-athletes juggling practice and travel, to working adults returning to school, to others turning callings into professions, students are discovering flexible, customizable programs that fit their lives.
A collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Innovation and Design, the school offers three degree options: interdisciplinary studies, interdisciplinary professional studies, and digital innovation and design. Each program allows students to mix and match areas of interest — from business and content creation to leadership — to create a degree aligned with their goals.
“The faculty are in touch with industry partners and businesses,” said Kelly Arispe, the school’s launch director. “We’re thinking about the future of work and creating that path for our students.”
Alum and soccer player Morgan Padour (BA, interdisciplinary studies, 2024) called the ability to tailor her education a game-changer. With help from an academic advisor, she crafted a course plan that included business, communications and leadership, preparing her for a wide range of careers.
The program’s flexibility proved essential during soccer season, when travel often kept her off campus. “The teachers and advisors helped me make it work,” she said. “Whether it was finding a different course or an online option, they supported me.”
While Padour came to the program through athletics, her story highlights what many students discover: The School for the Digital Future supports real life — and that can take many forms.
“Students today want education that reflects who they are and what they care about,” Arispe said. “We’re asking students: ‘What drives you? What skills do you need?’ We help them build a degree.”
By Nick Cesare and Lizzie Holdridge