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Online Master's Degree Programs in Idaho

Idaho residents who are interested in pursuing graduate studies at the master’s level while taking advantage of the flexibility and convenience of online learning can choose from a broad range of online master’s programs offered by schools located in Idaho and in other states. There are a number of public and private colleges and universities in Idaho that are active in offering online master’s programs in many of the most common areas of study, including accounting, business administration, education, engineering, environmental science, public administration, and social work. There are also a growing number of options for earning a master’s degree online from the many accredited, non-profit schools in other states that admit applicants who reside in Idaho.

This page offers an overview of schools in Idaho and neighboring and regional states that offer online master’s programs. In addition, there are sections below devoted to providing details about online master’s programs in Idaho’s most common fields of master’s-level study, including programs offered by in-state schools and programs offered by out-of-state schools in the Idaho region.

Schools in Idaho That Offer Online Master’s Programs

There are three publicly funded research universities in Idaho: Boise State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho. These three universities, along with Lewis-Clark State College, and several additional two-year community colleges in the state are under the purview of the Idaho State Board of Education, which maintains Next Steps Idaho, a website that features a directory of Idaho’s postsecondary institutions of higher education.

All three of the state’s research universities are active in offering online programs, as indicated on the table below. The table lists Idaho’s four largest schools in order of their size, based on an analysis of data collected by the US Department of Education for its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
Boise State University	Boise	Yes
Idaho State University	Pocatello	Yes
University of Idaho	Moscow	Yes
Lewis-Clark State College	Lewiston	Yes

Idaho is also home to several private, non-profit colleges and universities, some of which are active in offering online degree programs. The table below lists the four largest private institutions of higher education in Idaho, along with the location of each’s school’s main campus and whether or not the school offers online degree programs.

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho)	Rexburg	Yes
Northwest Nazarene University	Nampa	Yes
The College of Idaho	Caldwell	No
New Saint Andrews College	Moscow	No

Regional Out-of-State Schools That Offer Online Master’s Programs

In addition to colleges and universities in Idaho that offer online master’s programs, there are many schools across the country with online master’s programs that accept applicants from Idaho. The University of Washington (UW) in Seattle and Gonzaga University are two schools in the neighboring state of Washington that offer online master’s programs. In addition, there are several other schools in states that border Idaho that offer online master’s programs, including Oregon’s Portland State University (PSU), Montana State University (MSU), The University of Utah, and The University of Nevada, Reno.

UW offers an array of online master’s programs through its UW Continuum College initiative and its School of Professional & Continuing Education. The programs offered by UW include online master’s programs in several engineering fields, a number of education specializations, applied mathematics, financial risk management, and library and information science.

Gonzaga University, a private school located in Spokane, offers a number of online Master of Arts (MA) programs. These include online MA programs in communication, organizational leadership, athletic administration, and educational leadership. Gonzaga also offers online master’s programs in engineering and nursing.

PSU, which is one of Oregon’s larger public universities, offers a variety of online master’s programs. These include an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare program, several online Master of Education (MEd) programs, and master’s programs in public health, social work, taxation, and more.

Among the online programs offered by The University of Nevada, Reno are online master’s program in accounting, cybersecurity, education, judicial studies, public health, and social work, while MSU has online master’s programs in agricultural education, family financial planning, gerontology, environmental science, mathematics, nursing, and teaching. Finally, The University of Utah in Salt Lake City offers online master’s programs in biomedical informatics, business administration, computer engineering, teaching, nursing, nutrition, and more.

The 15 Most Common Areas for Master’s Degree Studies in Idaho

In order to determine the most common areas for master’s-level studies in Idaho, OnlineEducation.com analyzed the most recent IPEDS graduation data by field of study. While IPEDS classifications do not align precisely with the names of specific online master’s programs, an analysis of IPEDS data on graduates from master’s programs at schools in Idaho provides a representative overview of the types of master’s degrees that are most commonly pursued by students in the state. The 15 most common areas of study at the master’s level in Idaho are:

Business Administration and Management
Educational/Instructional Technology
Social Work
Curriculum and Instruction
Accounting
Physician Assistant
Educational Leadership and Administration
Social Work, other
Natural Resources Management and Policy
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Environmental Science
Public Administration
Special Education and Teaching

Each of the sections below provides details on schools in Idaho and neighboring and regional states that offer online programs in many of the fields listed above.

Online Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Programs in Idaho

Boise State University and Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) are the two schools in Idaho that offer online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. Boise State has an online MBA program with a general business option and three additional specializations: Construction Management; Healthcare Leadership; and Management. Students who enroll full-time in Boise State’s MBA program can complete their degree in as few as 12 months.

NNU offers an online MBA program with two specialization options: Accounting; and Healthcare. NNU’s general MBA program can be completed in 16 months of full-time enrollment. The Accounting and Healthcare specializations require extra courses and take a minimum of 18 months to complete.

Idaho residents may also be interested in two online programs offered by Washington State University (WSU). WSU has an online MBA program that gives students four specialization options: Marketing; Finance; International Business; and Hospitality Business Management. In addition, WSU has an online Executive MBA (EMBA) program that is designed for professionals who have a minimum of five years of experience in management and/or leadership positions. WSU’s online MBA program has an International Field Study option that consists of a weeklong study-abroad trip to Finland and Estonia. The online EMBA gives students the option of a study-abroad trip to China.

Portland State University (PSU) and The University of Utah are two additional schools in nearby states that offer online MBA programs. The PSU program is an online Healthcare MBA program that requires students to attend two campus-based weekend sessions per semester at Oregon Health & Science University. The program offered by The University of Utah is an online MBA program with a general business administration curriculum. It requires students to attend a three-day orientation session at the university’s Salt Lake City campus. And the University of Nevada, Reno has an online EMBA program that requires applicants to have a minimum of five years of prior professional business experience.

Online Master’s in Education Programs in Idaho

There are numerous opportunities for teachers and educators in Idaho who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in an education field online through an in-state school. Boise State University, Idaho State University (ISU), and the University of Idaho (U of I) are three public universities in Idaho that offer online master’s programs for teachers and educators.

Boise State has an online Master of Education (MEd) in Early and Special Education program that is designed for education professionals who work with young children and with children who have special education needs. The program does not require applicants to hold a teaching license and is not designed to prepare teachers for licensure or additional certifications. Boise State also offers an online Master of Education Technology program, as well online Master in Teaching (MIT) in Early Childhood Interventions and Special Education programs. Both MIT programs are designed to prepare students for certification.

ISU offers a number of specialized master’s in education programs online, including online MEd programs in: Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Instructional Design & Technology; K-12 Education Administration; K-12 Athletic Administration; and School Psychological Examiner. Most of ISU’s online MEd programs require a valid teaching credential and/or a minimum of one year of K-12 teaching experience. ISU also offers on online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program that requires students to complete a field practicum at a school approved by the program.

Among the online master’s in education programs offered by the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at U of I are several online MEd programs that have licensure and non-licensure tracks. These include online MEd programs in: Educational Leadership; Curriculum & Instruction; Physical Education & Physical Activity Pedagogy; and Special Education. In addition, the Engineering Outreach program at U of I offers an online MAT in Mathematics program that is designed for certified teachers.

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) offers online master’s programs for educators, including an online MEd in Curriculum, Instruction, & Innovation program and an online MEd in Educational Leadership program for principals and administrative staff. The Educational Leadership program requires the completion of a nine-month internship.

There are also a number of schools in neighboring states that offer online master’s programs that accept teachers and educators from Idaho. Through PSU Online, Oregon’s Portland State University (PSU) offers three teaching specialization master’s programs online: Curriculum & Instruction; Early Childhood Inclusive Education; and Early Intervention Special Education. All three of these programs have Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) options that can be earned online. In addition, PSU Online offers an online Visually Impaired Learner MS program.

Eastern Washington University (EWU) is another public university in Washington State that offers several online master’s programs for educators, including online MEd programs in seven specializations: Adult Education; Curriculum & Instruction; Early Childhood Education; Educational Leadership; Educational Leadership (Principal Certification); Special Education; and Literacy. Applicants to the Curriculum & Instruction and the Literacy programs are required to hold a teaching license.

In addition, the University of Montana has an online Professional Educator Curriculum & Instruction MEd program with four specialization options: Elementary (K-8); Secondary (6-12); Music Teacher (K-12); and Library Media. The University of Montana also offers an online MS in Science Education program and an online MAT program with tracks for Elementary and Secondary teachers. The online MAT program requires students to attend one weeklong summer residency session at the school’s Missoula campus.

Note: Licensing for teachers is administered at the state level and licensing requirements vary by state. Idaho residents who are considering online master’s in teaching and education programs should review the state’s licensing requirements prior to applying to programs offered by out-of-state schools. In addition, some online programs may require student teaching assignments at schools approved by the program. Potential applicants should contact a program administrator regarding supervised student teaching placements, particularly if a program is offered by an out-of-state school.

The only online Master of Social Work (MSW) program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in Idaho is offered by Boise State University. The College of Health Sciences at Boise State offers an online MSW program that has an advanced generalist curriculum, providing students with training in clinical and macro practice social work. The program has a traditional track that requires the completion of 1000 hours of field education and has a two-year full-time enrollment plan. Students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program may be eligible for Boise State’s Advanced Standing online MSW program track, which requires 600 hours of field education and can be completed in one year.

Outside of Idaho there are two schools in neighboring states that offer online MSW programs. Portland State University (PSU) in Oregon has an online MSW program that has separate concentrations for clinical and macro social work: Practice and Leadership with Communities and Organizations (macro); and Health Across the Lifespan (clinical). The program has a three year completion plan for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in social work, and a two year Advanced Standing plan for students who have a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

The University of Nevada, Reno has an advanced generalist online MSW program that provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. The program has an eight-semester traditional track for students who do not have a BSW degree, and a four-semester Advanced Standing track.

Note: All MSW programs require students to complete field education hours at sites approved by the program. Students who are considering programs offered by out-of-state schools may want to contact program administrators regarding potential field education sites prior to initiating the application process. In addition, Idaho residents who are interested in becoming licensed clinical social workers after completing their master’s program should review Idaho’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an out-of-state program, as licensing requirements vary by state.

Online Master’s in Accounting Programs in Idaho

Boise State University is the only school in Idaho that currently offers an online master’s in accounting program. The Boise State online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program consists of ten courses that can be completed in as few as 12 months. Students in the program are required to complete an internship, however internship hours may be accrued at a student’s place of employment provided it involves professional accounting. In order to qualify for Boise State’s online MAcc program, students must first complete 18 semester credits of upper-division undergraduate accounting courses and 15 semester credits of upper-division undergraduate business courses. An undergraduate degree in accounting will generally fulfill these requirements.

In the neighboring state of Washington there is one school that currently offers an online master’s in accounting program that Idaho residents may want to explore. City University of Seattle has an online Master of Professional Accounting program that offers specializations in Public Accounting, Information Security Auditing, Finance, and Management Accounting. The program’s 45-credit core curriculum is designed for students who hold an undergraduate degree in accounting. However, City University offers a bridge program of prerequisite courses online for students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting but who would like to pursue a master’s degree in the field.

The University of Nevada, Reno is another school in a neighboring state that offers an online master’s in accounting program. The program is an online MAcc program that has a Background Track for students who do not have training or experience in accounting and a Core Track for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting and/or have professional experience in the field.

Note: While a master’s degree is not a requirement for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure, earning a master’s in accounting degree is one way to qualify to sit for the CPA exam. Idaho residents should, however, be aware that eligibility requirements for CPA licensure vary by state and may thus want to review Idaho’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an online master’s in accounting program offered by an out-of-state school.

Online Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies Programs in Idaho

Currently, there are no online master’s programs for Physician Assistants (PAs) offered by schools in Idaho. Boise State University does offer an online Master of Science (MS) in Respiratory Care program that may be of interest to Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) who want to advance in their careers. However, PAs in Idaho who would like to explore options for earning a master’s degree in their field may want to consider the online programs offered by the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and the University of Washington School of Medicine (UW Medicine) in Seattle.

The College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has an online Master of Physician Assistant Studies program that is designed for practicing PAs who hold a bachelor’s degree and an active PA license. The program includes online coursework and a provision for students to complete 800 hours of advanced supervised clinical practice at their place of employment.

UW Medicine has an Extended Master of Clinical Health Services (EMCHS) program that is similarly designed for practicing, bachelor’s trained PAs who would like to earn a master’s degree online while continuing to work at their place of employment. The program requires students to attend a two-week campus session at the start of the program, after which all coursework is delivered online and all clinical work can be completed at a student’s place of employment.

Note: Online master’s in physician assistant studies programs typically require students to complete supervised clinical hours at program-approved sites. It may thus be advisable to contact a program administrator regarding potential clinical placements prior to applying to an online program, particularly if the program is offered by an out-of-state school. Idaho residents should also review their state’s licensing requirements for PAs prior to applying to an online program offered by an out-of-state school.

Online Master’s in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Science Programs in Idaho

The University of Idaho (U of I) offers an online Master of Natural Resource (MNR) program and an online Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Science program. The MNR program is a 30-credit program that can be completed in as few as three semesters and that can be paired with graduate certificates in Integrated Natural Resources and Fire Ecology & Management. The MS in Environmental Science program is also 30 credits and gives students the option of specializing in biological science, physical science, or social science. Students in the Environmental Science program can choose between a master’s thesis or a non-thesis research project.

Idaho residents who are interested in natural resource management and environmental science may also want to explore two online engineering master’s programs offered by the University of Idaho (U of I): an online MS in Geological Engineering program; and an online Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering program. The Geological Engineering program includes coursework and instruction in mining projects, mitigation of geologic and environmental hazards, and the exploration of mineral and energy resources. The Civil Engineering program has four specializations, including: Environmental Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Hydraulics and Water Resource Engineering; and Structural Engineering and Mechanics. Both programs are designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.

Montana State University (MSU), Oregon State University (OSU), and Utah State University are among the out-of-state schools in the Idaho region that offer online master’s programs in natural resource management and/or environmental science. MSU has an online MS in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences program with an interdisciplinary curriculum that allows students to pursue studies in watershed hydrology, invasive plant species, land reclamation, crop diversification, environmental risk management, geographic information systems, and climate science.

OSU has an online Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program that offers an Environmental Science specialization and provides training in technical aspects of environmental science as well as professional management and communication skills. Finally, Utah State has an online MNR program that is offered through the school’s J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources.

Online Master’s in Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Programs in Idaho

Idaho State University (ISU) is currently the only in-state school offering an online master’s program in Speech Language Pathology (SLP). The ISU program is a Master of Science (MS) in SLP program, and it is also the only master’s program in the state with accreditation from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The university offers its MS in SLP program in a 24-month, full-time, campus-based format at its campuses in Pocatello and Meridian, and as a 36-month, part-time, online program that requires students to participate in two on-campus clinical practicum experiences held during the summers. Students in the online program must also complete an eight-week clinical externship at a site approved by the program. For admission to the program, applicants must have completed undergraduate coursework in phonetics, speech development, communication disorders, and language science.

Idaho residents who are interested in exploring ASHA-accredited online master’s in SLP programs offered by schools in other states may want to consider the programs offered by the University of Montana and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). The University of Montana has an online MS in SLP program that has a thesis and a non-thesis option, both of which require students to complete a clinical practicum consisting of at least 375 clock hours under the supervision of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. Students in the program must attend one immersion session at the University of Montana’s Missoula campus in preparation for the program’s practicum.

UNC offers an online Master of Arts (MA) in SLP program that is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in SLP, audiology, or communication disorders and for students who have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate major in one of these three fields. While the majority of the program’s coursework is delivered online, students are required to attend campus-based classes for a two to three week period during the program’s first summer session and to complete a 12-week supervised internship in an approved medical setting during the final summer of the program.

Note: Online master’s in SLP programs require clinical internships. Idaho residents who are considering online programs offered by out-of-state schools may want to contact administrators at those programs to ensure that a convenient clinical site can be found prior to initiating the application process. In addition, Idaho residents should be aware that licensing requirements for speech-language pathologists vary by state. It is thus advisable to review Idaho’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an online program offered by an out-of-state school in order to ensure the program has a curriculum that fulfills Idaho’s licensing requirements.

Online Master’s in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management Programs in Idaho

There are a number of different types of engineering master’s programs that are offered online by Idaho schools, including master’s in electrical engineering programs and master’s in engineering management programs. The University of Idaho (U of I) offers both of these types of engineering master’s degrees online through its Engineering Outreach initiative. U of I offers non-thesis Master of Engineering (MEng) programs in Electrical Engineering and in Engineering Management, as well as a Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering program that requires students to complete a master’s thesis. The online MEng and MS in Electrical Engineering programs give students the choice of eleven areas of emphasis, including: Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) Circuits; Supercomputer; Microwaves; Communication Systems; Integrated Circuit Design; Electromagnetics; Control Systems; Signal Analysis; Network Synthesis; Digital Systems Design; and Electrical Power Systems.

Idaho residents may also want to consider the online Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program in Electric Power Engineering offered by the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University (WSU). The program’s curriculum combines technical instruction in power systems, including renewable energy systems and high voltage transmission lines, with engineering management training in areas like leadership, decision science, and finance.

Gonzaga University, a private non-profit university in Washington State, offers an online MEng in Transmission & Distribution Engineering program that focuses on power grids, electrical systems engineering, and transmission lines. The program includes an Engineering Leadership capstone project and requires students to attend one campus-based immersion session at the Gonzaga campus in Spokane. Finally, Oregon State University (OSU) has an online MEng in Engineering Management program with a curriculum designed for engineering professionals and students who have a degree or work experience in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.

Online Master’s in Counseling Programs in Idaho

Currently, there are no schools in Idaho that offer online master’s programs in counseling. However, there are several schools in neighboring and regional states that have online master’s in counseling programs, including Washington State’s Northwest University and Montana State University Billings (MSU Billings).

The program offered by Northwest University is an online Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Students in the program must attend three campus-based sessions in Kirkland, WA during the program, which takes three years to complete. In addition, the program requires the completion of two clinical internships in order to prepare students for licensure in clinical counseling.

MSU Billings offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program. While most of the program’s curriculum is taught using online instructional methods, students are required to attend several on-campus sessions for an Advanced Group Counseling course and a pre-practicum experience that is designed to prepare students for the program’s clinical fieldwork component. Students who take three or four courses per semester can graduate from the MSU Billings program in three years.

Note: Prior to submitting applications to online master’s in counseling programs offered by out-of-state schools, there are two factors that Idaho residents may want to take into account. The first concerns internships: online master’s in counseling programs require students to complete clinical hours at sites approved by the program. Thus, it may be advisable to contact a program administrator about potential clinical placements in advance to ensure that a convenient location can be found. Secondly, licensing requirements for clinical counselors, school counselors, and rehabilitations counselors differ by state. Idaho residents should review state licensing requirements carefully to ensure that out-of-state programs meet these requirements.

Online Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) Programs in Idaho

Idaho residents who are interested in earning a master’s degree in public administration online can do so through the University of Idaho (U of I) and its Department of Politics and Philosophy. U of I offers an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program with a curriculum that focuses on leadership in local government, although the program includes coursework that can prepare students for careers in state and federal government as well as in non-governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. As part of the 36-credit program, which can be completed in four semesters (two academic years), students are expected to participate in field research internships at sites approved by the program.

The University of North Dakota (UND) and the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) are two additional schools located in nearby states that offer online MPA programs. The UND program is designed for students who can demonstrate competencies in public administration, administrative science, and social science methodologies, either through undergraduate coursework in political science, accounting, economics, and statistics, or through prior experience in the field. The 36-credit program includes a required capstone project and an administrative internship at a local, state, or federal governmental agency.

CU Denver’s online MPA program is offered through the university’s School of Public Affairs and features six concentrations: Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management; Emergency Management and Homeland Security; Environmental Policy and Management; Gender-Based Violence; Local Government; and Nonprofit Organizations. Students in the program must complete 36-credits of coursework, including a capstone project or master’s thesis, as well as an internship, which may be waived for students who have one or more years of experience in the field.

Note: Online MPA programs may require students to complete on-site internships and/or field research. Idaho residents who are considering online MPA programs offered by out-of-state schools should consider contacting program representatives regarding internship sites prior to submitting applications to ensure that a convenient site can be found.