Welcome to Iowa State University's Graduate College

About the college

  • 1,793

    Master's Students

  • 2,135

    Doctoral Students

Our Mission

The Graduate College at Iowa State University provides an institutional home for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. We enhance the university as a premier destination for advanced scholarship and research. We seek to improve the academic experiences of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate faculty. We minimize barriers to graduate education and contribute to a welcoming campus where all students can thrive. The college provides opportunities for academic advancement, the development of communication skills, and career planning with the goal of preparing those we serve to benefit human society, the global ecosystem, and economic vitality. We take pride in facilitating the joy of discovery and act based on our core values: equity, integrity, ethical practice, and excellence.

Our Leadership

Our Principles

Approach

The Graduate College partners with other service, support, and academic units essential to the success of graduate education and postdoctoral scholarship. Policies that guide the academic journeys of students and scholars are initiated by the Graduate Council, which represents broad constituencies of stakeholders. The college offers academic courses and professional-development opportunities, and contributes to recruitment and retention. Our goal is to assist in preparing graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to conduct and disseminate the outcomes of high-quality scholarship and research.

Vision

Graduate education is vital to the quality of university teaching. The creative efforts of graduate faculty members and graduate students result in knowledge necessary to help society solve problems in educational, scientific, technological, and socio-economic areas. The Graduate College encourages educational exchange and contact with undergraduate areas of the university to promote improved teaching on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A part of this exchange is accomplished by the publication of books and technical articles which are made possible by graduate research.

Values

The Graduate College and graduate faculty at Iowa State University are responsible for the quality of graduate education, for administering students’ graduate programs, and for promoting research support from various governmental, industrial, and private agencies. The Graduate College ensures academic integrity by applying approved policies equitably across the broad spectrum of disciplines that offer graduate courses, certificates, and degrees.

  • 1877

    First Graduate Degree

Distinguished History

Graduate study was offered soon after the university was founded, and the first graduate degree was conferred in 1877. Experimentation and research also started early, first in agriculture and shortly thereafter in home economics, engineering, science, and veterinary medicine. In 1913, the graduate faculty was organized formally and an executive graduate committee was appointed. In 1915, the graduate faculty held its first meeting, and in 1916, it granted the first doctor of philosophy degree.

The graduate faculty in various programs handle admission and classification of graduate students, establish requirements for advanced degrees, and have charge of instruction and research at the graduate level. Graduate faculty members also teach graduate courses, serve on program of study (POS) committees, and direct work of master’s and doctoral students. All graduate courses offered for major or nonmajor credit are taught by graduate faculty members or graduate lecturers.

Graduate education is vital to the quality of university teaching. The creative efforts of graduate faculty members and graduate students result in knowledge necessary to help society solve problems in educational, scientific, technological, and socio-economic areas. The Graduate College encourages educational exchange and contact with undergraduate areas of the university to promote improved teaching on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A part of this exchange is accomplished by the publication of books and technical articles which are made possible by graduate research.

The degrees Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy are research oriented. In many fields master’s degrees are also awarded without a thesis, but a written report of independent study, called a creative component, is generally required. Coursework only degrees are available for those individuals interested in advanced study directed toward meeting vocational or professional objectives. Information on other types of master’s degrees can be found in the Graduate College Handbook,

Our Programs

Iowa State University’s graduate programs are renowned for their excellence and innovation. Notably, the university’s commitment to fostering a collaborative and respectful academic environment, with world renown faculty has earned it top rankings collegially. This dedication to a supportive and inclusive atmosphere enhances the overall educational experience, making Iowa State a standout choice for graduate studies. Our university boasts highly ranked programs in fields such as engineering, statistics, and veterinary medicine. According to US News we ranked #2 in both Biological and Agriculture Engineering programs.