Computer Science

Coover lab
Our highly regarded academics, groundbreaking research, and supportive environment makes Iowa State’s Department of Computer Science an exceptional place to pursue an advanced degree with immediate career applications.
Program Homepage Program Handbook

The Department of Computer Science offers a M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science as well as a M.S. in Artificial Intelligence.


Degrees Offered:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  • Master of Science (M.S.)

Area(s) of Specialization: 

  • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Robotics and Autonomous Systems
  • Software Engineering and Programming Languages
  • Systems and Networking
  • Theoretical Foundations

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the doctorate: 5.8 years (Methods)
  • Median time to earn the master’s: 2.3 years (Methods)

Department of Computer Science Graduate Admissions

csadmissions@iastate.edu
515-294-5779

Learning Goals

  • Master core areas of Computer Science (MS, PhD)
  • Achieve in-depth knowledge in chosen subfield of Computer Science (PhD)
  • Obtain expertise to perform original research that advances Computer Science (PhD)
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate technical concepts and research results (MS, PhD)

Admission Requirements

Graduate College Requirements:

  • 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
  • Proof of English Proficiency.

Program Specific Requirements:

  • M.S. Application Requirements
    • • GRE – required for M.S. applications. The GRE Requirement website has information about the GRE requirement, including the criteria to request a GRE waiver.
    • • FREE M.S. pre-application to find out if you are potentially admissible to our M.S. degree programs. Plus, you will be automatically considered for a GRE waiver.
    • • The M.S. application fee is required at the time of application submission. We do not offer M.S. application fee waivers.
  • Ph.D. Application Requirements
    • • GRE – optional (not required) for PhD. Applications.
    • • Ph.D. pre-applications are not offered due to the large number of factors considered during the Ph.D. admission process.
    • • Ph.D. applications are free. The application fee waiver is automatically applied.
  • Program Requires GRE: M.S. yes; Ph.D. no
  • Program Requires GMAT: No
  • Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: NoNo

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 550
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 79 (for exams taken before January 21, 2026; 4.5 (for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 53
    Duolingo 115

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

See detailed deadlines for Spring 2025 applications at www.cs.iastate.edu/future-students. Fall 2025 applications will open September 1, 2024.

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students.

Application Instructions