At a recent event in Meridian, Idaho State University President Robert Wagner announced a plan to expand the school’s health science degrees, namely those offered jointly by Idaho State and the private Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The programs slated for expansion include master’s degrees in the following fields:
- Health informatics
- Public health
- Health administration
Wagner said, “Never has there been a more important time for the state to invest in the wellbeing of its citizens. And our two institutions — ISU and ICOM — are at the forefront of health sciences, education and workforce development.” Like other parts of the country, Idaho is facing a shortage of workers in healthcare as a large portion of its population enters their golden years.
Dr. Rex Force, Vice President of Health Sciences at the university also announced plans for a new nurse anesthesia program to be launched next year. Force said the university will also partner with Lewis-Clark State College to develop new physician assistant programs in the northern part of the state.
Idaho State is known for its credentials in the health sciences. More than 40% of its graduates leave with a degree in this popular field. Other in-demand programs at the school include physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and mental health.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Idaho State University among the top public schools in the nation. Here at CVO, we’ve featured the school in several of our online college rankings, including the Top 50 Online Colleges for Nursing Degrees and the 50 Most Affordable Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (Online DNP) Programs.
Related: Top 25 Online Master’s in Health Informatics