Idaho, South Dakota universities to expedite degree programs

Officials with Idaho State University say a new agreement with South Dakota State University will help students earn a bachelor’s degree in physics along with a master’s degree in nuclear engineering in just five years.

The memorandum of understanding would reduce the time it would take to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering by one year. This will be possible because students will be able to apply credits collected during their graduate program to their undergraduate studies.

“We don’t expect this to be a huge thing. Even if we just get two or three more students, that will be really good,” said Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, chairwoman of ISU’s Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics Department. “We really just want the top achievers.”

The new plan has no expected extra costs because the expenses will be covered through the students’ tuition.

ISU is regionally unique because it is one of the rare universities to have the infrastructure, resources and experts to offer a robust nuclear and physics program, Dunzik-Gougar said. For example, the closest school with similar programs is in Oregon.

School officials discussed the new plan Dec. 10 during the Idaho State Board of Education meeting.

“Idaho State University is to be applauded,” said board member David Hill. “This provides a broader range of opportunities. Doing something like this benefits everyone.”

However, while the new plan has the backing of ISU and the board, SDSU spokesman Matt Schmidt said school officials are still reviewing the plan. He had no timeline when it might be approved.

Earlier this year, business and governmental officials with Idaho’s STEM Action Center began brainstorming efforts to fatten the pipeline of students choosing science, technology, engineering and math careers.

The state’s Department of Labor has estimated that Idaho will face a workforce shortage starting 2022, with most of those jobs expected to require some sort of STEM education.