Bemidji State University

[EduCativ]

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along Lake Bemidji's shores.
Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences, and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university's Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and international and multicultural understanding.
The Bemidji State campus balances rigorous academia with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, robust outdoor culture. The proximity to the lake and the surrounding north woods allows easy access to an assortment of recreation, including kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, hunting, hiking, foraging, skiing, fishing, ice fishing, snowboarding, and more. Bemidji State students, faculty, and staff have the luxury of enjoying a four-season year with the significant campus facilities connected by all-season underground passages for safe and warm travel to and from classes during the cold, winter months.
We create an innovative, interdisciplinary, and highly accessible learning environment committed to student success and a sustainable future for our communities, state, and the planet. Through the transformative power of the liberal arts, education in the professions, and robust engagement of our students, we instill and promote service to others, preserve the Earth, and respect and appreciate the diverse peoples of our region and world.
BSU faculty and students are global, performing innovative fieldwork and research, publishing in nationally reviewed journals, and sharing their findings with peers and colleagues.
Our undergraduates present research at statewide conferences and spend summers studying the biodiversity of different regions throughout the U.S. Graduate students dedicate much of their time to independent research in their fields and deliver oral defenses of their work before achieving their degrees. BSU's faculty boasts an impressive roster of presentations and publications on topics that range from mental health in Native American communities and food security in the developing world to American youth movements in the 19th century and culturally responsive mathematics. Our academic specialties are as diverse and vibrant as our campus community. Explore our collected work to learn more about research at BSU.
The School of Graduate Studies at Bemidji State University offers various professionally-oriented graduate programs and research and fieldwork opportunities, specially designed to meet the needs and schedules of career-focused students. Besides traditional, on-campus programs, we offer several online degrees and certificate options to help students with jobs, families, and other obligations complete their coursework on their own time.
Bemidji is a special place, and our environment is a big part of who we are. We work hard to preserve and protect it. With the Sustainability Office leading the way, we have been named one of America's greenest colleges and universities by The Princeton Review. As part of our institutional commitment to environmental stewardship, our entire community is dedicated to keeping our campus and our environment pristine. Bemidji State University's mission for sustainability is to promote awareness and instill a passion for the Earth through research, projects, and leadership. At BSU, there is a unique understanding of and commitment to sustainability that emphasizes personal wellness and social equity, economic feasibility, and environmental responsibility. The Bemidji State sustainability mission and perspective has been greatly influenced by the Ojibwe culture, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between Earth and humanity.
While our name and curriculum have changed through the years, our primary focus has not: Bemidji State University serves the people of its region and state. Since its inception, BSU's first responsibility has been to provide quality educational opportunities to northern Minnesota citizens. Over the decades, we have attracted more and more students from around the region, the country, and the world. Recognizing the importance of global education, the university encourages international students to study and live at BSU as we increase student opportunities to study and live abroad. Moreover, as we expand our online course offerings, we can serve more students living and working outside the area as they strive to secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.
In response to a growing need for public school teachers, the school was chartered by the Minnesota State Legislature, and teacher training was its primary curriculum. Bemidji Normal became Bemidji State Teachers College and began offering a four-year degree in 1921. Reflecting on ongoing changes in the curriculum, the school was renamed Bemidji State College in 1957. In 1975, recognizing its growing role as a multi-purpose educational institution became Bemidji State University.BSU now hosts more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. We offer baccalaureate degrees in a wide range of fields, master degrees in the arts and sciences, and various online learning options. Several of our degree programs and research activities are unique in the state.

View full university