General Education

Department Chair: Dr. Richard Sparks

Adult Basic Education

ABE (Adult Basic Education) and ESL (English as a Second Language) require no fee. Scholarships are available for GED (General Educational Development) students. Services are provided on the top floor of the Roy F. Christensen Building and outreach sites in 7 southeastern Idaho counties.

ABE (Adult Basic Education). Provides basic literacy help to those who need it. This includes basic math, reading and English skills for people performing at the nonreader through twelfth grade levels. The program offers different settings and methods to help students learn in the style they prefer.

ESL (English as a Second Language). Non-English speakers can learn to speak, read, and write English whether or not they can read or write in their native language. Classes stress conversation and survival skills.

GED (General Educational Development). High school equivalency training designed for people who didn't receive a high school diploma. The students work independently and at their own rate. Instruction includes classes, audio tapes, video cassettes, books, tutors, and computers. Practice tests for the GED are offered. The GED may be combined with the government course taken at the center to obtain a diploma from the state.

Resource Center. This program provides tutoring for students within each of the School of Applied Technology programs. Students should contact their instructors to request help.

Post-Secondary Short-Term Training

Post-Secondary Short-Term Education offerings include specialized vocational courses during non-traditional hours. Classes (including short-term workshops) are offered both on- and off-campus during afternoons, weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays. The purpose of these classes is to offer training and/or retraining for persons who have already entered the labor market and who desire to achieve stability or advancement in gainful employment. Instruction may include laboratory, shop and related classroom instruction appropriate for the specific group being served.

Course offerings are announced each semester through the press, radio, and special bulletins. More than 300 courses ranging in length from one week to two years are offered and start at varying times throughout the year. If there is interest shown or a need determined, special workshops and classes are also presented to businesses, industries, and groups of individuals.

Classes in the following general areas are offered each year:

Agriculture     
Electronics
Office Practices
Automotive     
General Trades     
Real Estate
Business Mngt     
Health     
Supervision     
Computers     
Home Economics     
Welding
Drafting Related     
Industrial
Electrical     
Insurance     

Because of the constant demand for classes of this nature, people are encouraged to register for classes as early as possible. Persons interested in enrolling in any of these offerings may do so by coming to the Special Programs Office located in the RFC Building of the School of Applied Technology or by writing to the address or calling the telephone number listed below:

Special Programs

School of Applied Technology
Box 8380
Idaho State University
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 236-3372

Center for New Directions

Center for New Directions Top Floor, Roy F. Christensen Building

Idaho State University
School of Applied Technology
Box 8380
Pocatello ID 83209
(208) 236-2454
Director: Bessie Katsilometes
The Center for New Directions (CND) provides assistance for people in transition who are interested in gaining self-sufficiency skills for educational and employment success. The CND provides resource and support services through personal and career counseling and a variety of workshops, classes, and groups aimed at helping individuals return to school and train for job placement. The CND offers scholarships for persons who plan to enter non-traditional applied-technology programs. All services are confidential and provided at no cost. Call the CND for information about services at the Pocatello campus and at Outreach Centers located in American Falls, Blackfoot, Preston, and Soda Springs.

Southeast Idaho Region 5 Tech Prep

Coordinator: Fred Ball

Southeast Idaho Region 5 Tech Prep

School of Applied Technology
Idaho State University
Box 8380
Pocatello ID 83209
(208) 236-4663

Tech Prep is a vocational/technical program that coordinates what is taught in high school with the postsecondary curriculum. Students enrolled in approved high school programs can receive postsecondary credit toward a technical or professional degree. This process allows students to begin working on an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree or certificate while still in high school. AAS degrees articulate into ISU's Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree.

Tech Prep students can earn their degree in less time or go into greater depth of study at the college level. In Region V, there are more than 90 high school programs that articulate credit to ISU.

The Tech Prep office provides support services designed to assist high school students in articulating credits from high school to the School of Applied Technology. Students are encouraged to contact the office for further information.

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY  Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu  Revised: February 2000

Technology