Physical Sciences

Interdepartmental Program
No
Our department tackles a diverse range of research problems in the four sub-disciplines of chemistry and also offers many multi-disciplinary options, such as materials chemistry, forensics, and biophysical chemistry.
chemical formula

Our research faculty at ISU Chemistry guide students to think critically and creatively about solutions to important and challenging scientific problems. Our department’s 27 active research groups receive >$30M annual funding by federal and state agencies and by industry to support our research. Our graduate students develop their full potential here at ISU by working closely with faculty in individual and collaborative research projects in a beautiful chemistry building equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.


Degrees Offered:

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

Area(s) of Specialization:  (may appear on ISU transcripts after graduation)

  • Biomolecular Science (Ph.D.)
  • Chemical Education (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Chemical Instrumentation (Ph.D.)
  • Forensic Chemistry (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Industrial Chemistry (Ph.D.)
  • Materials Chemistry (Ph.D.)

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the doctorate: 5.3 years (Methods)
  • Median time to earn the master’s: 1.0 year (Methods)
Program Degrees Offered

Learning Goals

  • Have an understanding of the literature in your discipline
  • Identify problems relevant to the sub-field of chemistry
  • Learn to gather, organize, analyze, and report data
  • Develop the skills to test hypotheses and solve research problems
  • Communicate research effectively, in both written and oral forms
515-294-7810

Graduate Student Services

chemgrad@iastate.edu
Chemistry Graduate Admissions
1605 Gilman Hall
2415 Osborn Drive
Ames, IA 50011-1021

Program Homepage Program Handbook

Application Requirements

The Chemistry program at Iowa State University has a pre-application process. Apply ONLY to Chemistry initially using the departmental online application found on our webpage at www.chem.iastate.edu or above under the Apply Now button. We review your file in house and if you receive an offer of admission and accept, we will pay your application fee to the University.

Application Deadlines:

International deadline: January 15. Domestic deadline: February 1 We do not offer spring admission.

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students.

Application Instructions

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:

  • Departmental on-line application
  • TOEFL scores are REQUIRED for international applicants.
  • Program Requires GRE: No
  • Program Requires GMAT: No
  • Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 573
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 89
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 60
    Duolingo (approved through spring 2026) 115
Program Interest Area
Program Department
Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
yjlee@iastate.edu
Program Staff
norvell@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing plants that serve humans, using practices essential for maintaining and improving life. We commonly use the term crops to refer to these types of plants. Crops can be used for food, feed for livestock, fiber, fuel, and fossil-fuel alternative bioproducts. Agricultural meteorology is one aspect of agronomy.
People in field working with heavy equipment

The Agricultural Meteorology major integrates knowledge from a variety of scientific disciplines in order to determine how cropping systems are affected by weather and climate, and how cropping systems themselves affect weather and climate.


Degrees Offered: 

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

 

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the doctorate: 3.6 years (Methods)
  • Median time to earn the master’s: 1.7 years (Methods)
Program Degrees Offered

Learning Goals

  • Summarize scholarly work in an area of study, as demonstrated by a literature review in a creative component, thesis, or dissertation.
  • Construct hypotheses and/or objectives that advance disciplinary knowledge, as demonstrated by hypotheses and/or objectives proposed in a creative component, thesis, or dissertation.
  • Conduct quantitative research, as demonstrated by work described in a creative component, thesis, or dissertation.
  • Interpret research results and integrate them into existing disciplinary knowledge, as demonstrated by analyses and conclusions in a creative component, thesis, or dissertation.
  • Clearly and accurately communicate research findings orally, visually (through the use of images and/or figures), and in writing, as demonstrated by oral presentations, and by the creative component, thesis, or dissertation.
515-294-4161

Kevin Desjean

agrongradprograms@iastate.edu
Agricultural Meteorology Graduate Programs
Iowa State University
2101 Agronomy Hall
716 Farm House Lane
Ames, IA 50011-1051

Program Homepage Program Handbook

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Continual review, no deadlines for admission or assistantships; faculty may offer assistantships (they will contact you directly if they have an interest in working with you); we deny admission without a faculty commitment.

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students.

Application Instructions

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:

  • Publications list if applicable
  • Resume and Publications list should be uploaded as PDFs into the online application system.
  • Program Requires GRE: No
  • Program Requires GMAT: No
  • Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 550
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 79
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 53
    Duolingo (approved through spring 2026) 115
Program Interest Area
Program Department
Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
bkh@iastate.edu
Program Staff
kdesjean@iastate.edu
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