Minor

Abbreviation
Minor
Code
Min
Degree Type
Minor
Interdepartmental Program
No
The Women’s and Gender Studies interdisciplinary graduate minor is available for masters and doctoral students seeking to integrate work on women and gender into their programs of study.
Women’s and Gender Studies

The graduate minor is designed to provide students with knowledge of theories and methods within a variety of approaches in feminist and gender-based scholarship. The program seeks to integrate and synthesize knowledge from many disciplines and to offer students opportunities for systematic study of gender and women’s experiences and perspectives in all knowledge fields.


Degrees Offered:

  • Minor
Program Degrees Offered

Learning Goals

A Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Minor requires a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours of coursework. Students are required to take either WGS 5010 Contemporary Feminist Theories or WGS 5020 Advanced Seminar in Feminist Research Methods; taking both is strongly recommended.  Students will also take two or three electives selected from the list of core and cross-listed Women’s and Gender Studies courses approved for graduate study. At least one member of the Women’s and Gender Studies faculty will serve on the program of study for doctoral students. Substitutions for required courses are possible on a case-by-case basis with WGS Program Director and POS Chair approval.

515-294-8344

Kelly Winfrey

kwinfrey@iastate.edu
Program Homepage

Application Requirements

Prerequisites:

  • Official acceptance into any ISU graduate degree program.
  • Successful completion of at least two undergraduate courses in Women’s and Gender Studies.
  • Submission of a Statement of Purpose to the program director detailing your research interests in the Women’s and Gender Studies minor.
  • Completion of an advisory meeting with the program director.

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:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 600
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 100
    IELTS 7.5
    PTE 68
    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
kwinfrey@iastate.edu
Program Staff
kwinfrey@iastate.edu
program_contact_email_new
kwinfrey@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
The cross-disciplinary program in speech communication offers courses designed for all students as part of their general education and as a complement to their professional training. It also offers a minor in speech communication.
Cain Doeden

Students who minor in speech communication will prepare themselves for a wide variety of employment opportunities in business, industry and government, as well as in non-profit and educational organizations. With their effective oral communication, listening, teamwork, problem-solving and leadership skills, speech communication students find positions in general business management: human resources, benefits, financial services, retail, sales and marketing and serve various organizations as recruiters, trainers, promotions managers, communication specialists, community outreach personnel and event planners.


Degrees Offered:

This is a minor.

 

 

Program Degrees Offered
515-294-2180

Craig Rood

rood@iastate.edu

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Fall term - June 15, Spring term - Nov 15, Summer term - March 15.

International students should apply at least three months before the start of term they are applying.

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:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 600
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 100
    IELTS 7.5
    PTE 68
    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
begray@iastate.edu
Program Staff
rood@iastate.edu
program_contact_email_new
rood@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
Immerse yourself in the richness of Hispanic culture and language with our Graduate Spanish Minor program. Ideal for students pursuing advanced degrees in literature, international relations, or education, this program offers comprehensive courses in Spanish language proficiency, literature, and cultural studies.
Spanish

Enhance your communication skills in Spanish while exploring the diverse literary traditions and contemporary issues of the Spanish-speaking world. Whether preparing for academic research or seeking to engage more deeply with global communities, our Graduate Spanish Minor provides a transformative experience that prepares you for diverse professional opportunities in an interconnected world.


Degrees Offered:

  • This is a minor

 

Program Degrees Offered
wlc-advising@iastate.edu
Program Homepage

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Fall term - June 15, Spring term - Nov 15, Summer term - March 15.

International students should apply at least three months before the start of term they are applying.

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:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 600
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 100
    IELTS 7.5
    PTE 68
    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
rmlooft@iastate.edu
program_contact_email_new
wlc-advising@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
Have you ever wondered whether we have free will, whether a particular action is ethical, or what genuine justice would look like? Have you ever wondered whether we really can know anything for certain, or when you have enough evidence to show that something is true? If you have, then you are already interested in philosophy.
Philosophy

Philosophy tries to make sense of human experience and reality through critical reflection and argument. Students in philosophy classes will be exposed to arguments on both sides of such questions, and they will be encouraged to develop and rationally defend their own positions.

The Philosophy unit in the department is home to 18 full-time faculty members who are actively engaged in research and teaching. The program offers a wide range of courses leading to an undergraduate major or minor in Philosophy.


Degrees Offered:

  • Minor

 

Program Degrees Offered

Heimir Geirsson

geirsson@iastate.edu
Program Homepage

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Fall term - June 15, Spring term - Nov 15, Summer term - March 15.

International students should apply at least three months before the start of term they are applying.

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:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 600
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 100
    IELTS 7.5
    PTE 68
    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
geirsson@iastate.edu
Program Staff
hope@iastate.edu
program_contact_email_new
geirsson@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
A graduate minor in linguistics permits students to investigate various aspects of linguistics, emphasizing the ability to think about language in a systematic and disciplined way and to apply the methods of the field to research problems in their own disciplines.
Linguistics

A graduate minor in linguistics permits students to investigate various aspects of linguistics, emphasizing the ability to think about language in a systematic and disciplined way and to apply the methods of the field to research problems in their own disciplines. Graduate courses for the minor may be cross-listed with courses in Anthropology, Communication Disorders, Computer Science, English, Psychology, and World Languages and Cultures.


Degrees Offered:

  • Minor
Program Degrees Offered

Learning Goals

For those pursuing a master’s degree, a declared minor in linguistics consists of 9 credits in linguistics including two foundation courses:

515-294-7524

John Levis

jlevis@iastate.edu
Program Homepage Program Handbook

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Fall term - June 15, Spring term - Nov 15, Summer term - March 15.

International students should apply at least three months before the start of term they are applying.

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:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 600
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 100
    IELTS 7.5
    PTE 68
    Duolingo (approved through spring 2025) 115
Program Interest Area
Program Department
Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
begray@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
There are numerous challenges in today’s world. Driven by a desire to positively change communities and society as a whole, students who major in sociology, criminal justice, and agricultural and rural policy studies are well-equipped to seek out innovative solutions to these challenges.
Two guys are talking

When you major in criminal justice at Iowa State University, some of the nation’s leading scholars in the field will provide you with the foundation to positively impact the criminal justice system. You will study the issues affecting the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and you will learn how to apply theories about crime, victimization, and criminal justice to real-world scenarios.


Degrees Offered:

  • Minor
Program Degrees Offered

Learning Goals

Students in the criminal justice program will learn about the components of the juvenile and criminal justice systems, become acquainted with the issues affecting these systems, apply theoretical concepts to real-world phenomena, interface with criminal justice and social service providers, and plan an academic and/or applied career in criminal justice.

515-294-2506

Rachel Burlingame

rmb@iastate.edu
Program Homepage Program Handbook

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Rolling.

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.

GRADUATE MINORS

Minors are available in many disciplinary and interdepartmental graduate programs. Some programs offer only a minor. In other programs, students may declare either a major or a minor. Programs offering a major are not required to offer a minor. A student may not major and minor in the same discipline for a single degree or across multiple degrees. To illustrate, a student earning a Ph.D. in computer science may not minor in statistics for their Ph.D. program if they are also pursuing an MS in statistics.

Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
burgason@iastate.edu
Program Staff
rmb@iastate.edu
program_contact_email_new
rmb@iastate.edu
Interdepartmental Program
No
This graduate minor for students working in scientific computation is available from the graduate college of ISU.  The degree will recognize the student’s educational focus on computation, in addition to the major degree.
Applied scientific computing

The objectives of the minor in Applied Scientific Computing are to train students in the techniques of high performance computing for science and engineering applications, to expose students to application areas beyond their immediate research, to share experience and expertise across disciplinary boundaries and to facilitate interdisciplinary research that relies on numerical simulation.  Students in this program are expected to be engaged in research that applies large scale, high performance computer simulation to areas of science and engineering.


This is a Minor.

Program Degrees Offered
515-294-7234

Dr. Paul Durbin

durbin@iastate.edu
Office: 2237 Howe Hall

Program Homepage

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Further information can be obtained from Professor Paul Durbin.

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 Interest Area
Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
durbin@iastate.edu
Subscribe to Minor