College of Applied Science and Technology
Departments and Programs Pride
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Our students learn and work at the Department of Agriculture’s state-of-the-art, 360-acre teaching and research farm located in nearby Lexington, Illinois.
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The student organization in the Occupational Safety and Health program was recognized by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) in 2017 and 2019 as the best in the nation.
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Illinois State developed the first interdisciplinary Renewable Energy major in the United States.
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The Department of Agriculture boasts a very high job placement rate for graduating seniors and hosts a successful career fair with more than 50 participating companies.
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Health Informatics at Illinois State was named in the Best Value Health Information Management Bachelor’s programs list in 2019.
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Most Technology and Engineering Education majors secure teaching positions before graduation. Our overall job placement rate is nearly 100 percent.
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All Physical Education Teacher Education classes are taught by full-time faculty who have earned advanced and terminal degrees within the profession and have had K-12 teaching experience.
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Our graduate program attracts and includes numerous Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University assistant coaches, helping to enhance their understanding of athlete psychology, behavior, and performance.
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Agribusiness is the department's largest major, with opportunities to take classes in the Department of Agriculture as well as across campus in the College of Business. Agribusiness students also participate in top-ranked registered student organizations such as National Agri-Marketing Association and Collegiate Farm Bureau.
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The Agronomy Management sequence provides students with hands-on lab work at the University Farm and locations around central Illinois. The Agriculture Science Club gives students an out-of-the-classroom look into their major.
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Animal Industry Management majors are exposed to a variety of coursework and lab opportunities. The Hoof N’ Horn Club puts on the largest Jackpot Cattle Show in Illinois each spring, called the Redbird Rumble.
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Animal Science students have the unique opportunity to work directly with livestock at the University Farm, which provides employment, internships, and independent study opportunities.
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Agriculture Communication and Leadership is the newest major in our department. Students have the opportunity to work directly with the School of Communication, learning how to effectively utilize their communications skills to advocate for the agriculture industry.
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Agriculture Education students are given numerous chances to get into the classroom before student teaching. These students take courses in the School of Teaching and Learning and upon graduation will have completed the edTPA. Agriculture Education majors are in high demand and have high job placement after graduation.
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Food Industry Management graduates work as sales representatives, input procurement managers, commodity merchandisers, market analysts, supply chain managers for retail food companies, agricultural business organizations, market research firms, and government agencies.
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Horticulture and Landscape Management majors have access to the 23-acre Horticulture Center, which gives students a chance to get real-world experience right near campus.
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Crop and Soil Science students participate in soil sampling and soil labs that take place at the Illinois State's University Farm. They also have the chance to participate in various soils judging contests around the United States through the Ag Science Club and judging teams.
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Each year more than 170 students from the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences are placed into internships with federal, state, county, and local agencies, as well as departments around the world. CJS students are consistently chosen for a competitive Washington, D.C., internship program.
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Criminal Justice Sciences students can connect with 200+ future employers each year at the Social Sciences Career and Internship Fair.
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The criminal justice sciences graduate program includes a diverse student body. With a mixture of criminal justice practitioners and individuals who plan to pursue doctoral studies, everyone brings unique perspectives to the program.
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The FCS Teacher Education program at Illinois State is the largest program and producer of FCS teachers in Illinois.
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The 5-year pass rates for the Registered Dietitian exam (for the Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship programs) is 91%.
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Every year students in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program plan their own fashion show to showcase their work.
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Students learn and work in Illinois State’s newly renovated Foods Lab, which includes commercial-quality equipment and state-of-the-art workstations.
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Several graduate students in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences published their theses in peer-reviewed journals.
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All students in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences complete a professional practice (internship) or student teach prior to graduation. These experiences often lead to full-time job offers.
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Illinois State’s Lois Jett Historic Costume Collection supports education, research, and outreach, with more than 2,000 items of dress, dating from the 1870s to present day.
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The environmental health and sustainability program is one of only 23 accredited programs in the nation and the only program in Illinois.
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Students in Public Health work directly with community partners in more than half of their classes. You'll do things like organize food drives, partner with community events such as McLean County Heart Walk, Rock Steady Boxing, the CAUSE project, advocate for public health policy and laws, and complete service projects with agencies such as Heartland Head Start and the School Street Food Pantry.
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Graduates of the Medical Laboratory Science program at Illinois State University have enjoyed a 99% placement rate in laboratory medicine and graduate school.
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Students from the Department of Health Sciences health education program find jobs quickly after graduation in local schools, hospitals, public health departments, volunteer agencies, and private health organizations.
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Illinois State's RHIT to HIM program ranked in the Top 25 Best Online Bachelor Degree Programs in U.S. News and World Report in 2019.
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The Department of Health Sciences’ safety program has been ranked among the top 10 best value occupational safety degree programs in the U.S.
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Safety students that are involved in Illinois State's American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) chapter conducted research in Uptown Normal bars on the effects of noise on employees. Their research won first place at AIHA Chicago Section Student Night.
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Illinois State is the only university in the state with information systems and computer science programs both accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
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The School of Information Technology is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security through 2020.
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School of Information Technology students are required to complete a professional practice (internship). Students apply their knowledge in a professional environment and network with potential future employers.
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The School of Information Technology’s mentoring program pairs students with alumni working out in the field. Nearly 80 students participate in the program.
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School of Information Technology majors and minors can live in University Housing’s IT Themed Living-Learning Community, with special programs and access to a faculty mentor.
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Illinois State’s Athletic Training program exceeds the national average for first time pass rate (78%) on the Board of Certification (BOC) exam with an impressive 91%, highest among all AT programs in the state.
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Illinois State's Athletic Training program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
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The School of Kinesiology and Recreation's Biomechanics Lab is equipped with instrumentation for the collection and analysis of force, muscle activity and video data.
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More than 95 percent of students in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation pass their respective certification exams on the first attempt following graduation.
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Our students travel to national conferences, such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, to present research each year.
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The Recreation and Sport Management program has been nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions for more than 30 years.
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Sport Management classes are taught by full-time faculty with years of hands-on sport industry experience. Students in the sport management sequence gain access to an accomplished group of program alumni who are actively employed by professional sports teams, collegiate athletics departments, sport agencies, and more. As a result, students will learn how to think critically about the issues facing the sport industry through real-world application and experience.
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The Redbird Battalion proudly supports the Total Army by producing leaders of character to serve as officers in the Active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserves. Graduates of the Battalion have gone on to command at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. They have also served in distinguished units such as the Installation Management Command, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the United States Military Academy.
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Pre-Veterinary Medicine students can participate in the Indy-pendence Service Dogs Organization. They help train service dogs that will one day be put to work helping people in need. Students also have the opportunity to participate in Calf Watch at the University Farm.
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Courses completed as part of the graduate certificate program may also be counted toward the requirements of the Master of Science in Technology degree.
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Illinois State hosts a Construction Management Career Fair every semester, connecting our in-demand students with some of the nation's largest builders and contractors.
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Computer Systems Technology students learn and work in two microcomputer labs, two telecommunications facilities, and an electronics laboratory.
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Department of Technology graduate students often present their team class projects at the annual University Research Symposium, hosted by the Graduate School.
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Employers seek Illinois State students to fill graphic communications jobs. Within three months of graduation, 95 percent of our graduates are employed.
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Our students get hands-on experience with our 10 robots in the Caterpillar Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory, the new computer-controlled lathe in the Machine Shop, and injection-molding machines in the Plastics Lab, among other equipment.
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The Quality Management and Analytics sequence boasts near 100 percent job placement rates and near 100 percent graduation rates, plus flexibility in the curriculum and individualized attention.
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The Department of Technology awards more than $28,000 in scholarships to students each year.
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The Department of Technology's graduate programs maintain excellent relationships with local businesses, leading to internship opportunities with Fortune 500 companies like RR Donnelley, Dell, State Farm, COUNTRY Financial, and a division of BMW in Munich, Germany.
Accreditations
Department of Agriculture
- Agriculture Teacher Education sequence , B.S. – Illinois State Board of Education, State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
- American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Center – National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics , B.A., B.S. – Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Interior Design , B.A., B.S. – Council for Interior Design Accreditation
- Family and Consumer Sciences, B.A., B.S., Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education sequence , – Illinois State Board of Education, State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
- Family and Consumer Sciences Dietetic Internship sequence , M.A., M.S. – Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Department of Health Sciences
- Environmental Health and Sustainability , B.S. – National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council
- Health Promotion and Education , B.S., B.S.Ed., Community Health Promotion sequence – Society for Public Health Education, American Association for Health Education
- Health Promotion and Education , B.S., B.S.Ed., School Health Education sequence – American Association for Health Education; Illinois State Board of Education, State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
- Health Information Management , B.S. – Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education
- Medical Laboratory Science , B.S. – National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Safety , B.S. – Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology/Applied Science Accreditation Commission
School of Information Technology
- Computer Science , B.S. – Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Information Systems , B.S. – Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
School of Kinesiology and Recreation
- Athletic Training , B.S. – Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Kinesiology and Recreation , M.S., Athletic Training sequence – Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Physical Education , B.S.Ed., Physical Education Teacher Education sequence – National Association for Sport and Physical Education; Illinois State Board of Education, State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
- Recreation and Park Administration , B.S. – Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions
Department of Technology
- Construction Management , B.S. – American Council for Construction Education
- Engineering Technology , B.S. – Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering
- Graphic Communications , B.S. – Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering; Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications
- Industrial Technology , B.S., Computer Systems Technology sequence – Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering
- Technology and Engineering Education , B.S. – International Technology and Engineering Educators Association; Illinois State Board of Education, State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board