Graduate College

The Graduate College and graduate faculty at Iowa State University are responsible for the quality of graduate education, for supervising students’ graduate programs, and for obtaining research support from various governmental, industrial, and private agencies.

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 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.

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. For those individuals interested in advanced study directed toward meeting vocational or professional objectives, the following degrees are offered: master of accounting, master of agriculture, master of architecture, master of business administration, master of community and regional planning, master of education, master of engineering, master of family and consumer sciences, master of fine arts, master of landscape architecture, master of public administration, and the master of school mathematics.

The Graduate College Handbook lists policies and procedures of the Graduate College. It is available in the Graduate College, in program offices, and at the Graduate College’s Web site: www.grad-college.iastate.edu/. Each new graduate student is urged to obtain a copy. It is mailed to graduate faculty members. Most of the forms in this bulletin are also available online at www.grad-college.iastate.edu

			Graduate Appointments and Study
			Admission
			Registration
			Grading
			General Requirements for Master's Degrees
			Specific Master's Degrees
			Doctor of Philosophy
			Summary of Graduate Majors