Admissions Information - Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture - Iowa State University

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Basic Qualifications for Admission For all applicants: an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale), at least 6 credits completed in the natural sciences, and at least 6 credits completed in the social sciences. For MS applicants: an earned Bachelor's degree and a demonstrated record of achievement in one of the natural, social, or engineering sciences. For PhD applicants: an earned Master's degree and either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in one of the academic majors offered through the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). For a list of these programs, please see CALS Academic Majors below.

How to Apply Submit an on-line Graduate College application. Official transcripts of all previous academic work must be submitted to ISU Office of Admissions. (See on-line instructions for address.) The links to applications for both US citizens (including permanent residents, refugees or political asylees) and international students are located at the following page. http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/graduate.php Submit a statement of purpose (included in on-line application). In your statement, please describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your specific research interests, your background and/or experience related to sustainable agriculture, your preference for a faculty advisor, and any other information you wish to tell us about yourself. The statement is a particularly important tool in helping us select a faculty advisor for you. Please be as specific as possible. Submit a score report from the GRE General Test. The minimum required scores are a total of 300 or higher (new test) or 1000 or higher (old test) in the Verbal and Quantitative sections and 3.5 or higher in the Analytical Writing section. An official score report must be sent to Iowa State (institution code 6306, department code 0199). Test scores are valid for five years from the date the test is taken. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed a university degree in a country where English is the official language must submit a score report from the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum required scores for admission are 230 (CBT) or 570 (PBT) or 80 (IBT) for the TOEFL or 6.5 for the IELTS. An official score report must be sent to the ISU Office of Admissions. A recent resume or CV, including awards, honors, and publications (if any). Please send directly to the program via the GPSA program coordinator. Three letters of recommendation are required and may be submitted in one of two forms: on line - Enter the e-mail addresses of three referees in the on-line Graduate College application. on paper - Referees may send letters directly to the GPSA program office. When to Apply Applications may be submitted at any time for any term of entry; however, the deadlines for priority consideration for competitively awarded fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships are 1 February for fall and summer semester admission and 1 September for spring semester admission. The majority of admissions to the GPSA are for the fall term (beginning in August). All currently available ISU fellowships and many other competitive financial awards are timed to the fall admission cycle. If you have questions about when best to apply, please contact the GPSA program coordinator. How We Evaluate Your Application Admission to the GPSA depends upon three key factors: the applicant presenting competitive academic credentials, the identification of a faculty advisor with an open position, and the identification of a source of funding. For more information about how we evaluate your application and the timing of admission offers, please see Admission Evaluation and Offers. Financial Support Support for the first year of study is typically provided by some combination of GPSA and advisor and/or departmental funds. In subsequent years, support commonly comes from a student's advisor and/or home department. GPSA students may qualify for ISU fellowships and grants and awards from organizations external to the university. News about financial awards is routinely posted at http://www.sust.ag.iastate.edu/gpsa/studentfunding.html. For Help... Questions about the application process and any other admissions-related issue may be directed to Charles R. Sauer Program Coordinator Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture 657 Ross Hall (office) 603 Ross Hall (campus mail box) Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011-1200 USA telephone: 515.294.6518 fax: 515.294.6390 e-mail: gpsa@iastate.edu
CALS Academic Majors
Agricultural Biochemistry Agricultural Business Agricultural Economics Agricultural Education Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Meteorology Agricultural Studies Agricultural Systems Technology Agronomy Animal Ecology Animal Breeding and Genetics Animal Physiology Animal Science Biology Crop Production and Physiology Culinary Science Dairy Science Diet and Exercise Dietetics Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Entomology Environmental Science Family and Consumer Sciences	Fisheries Biology Food Science Forestry Genetics Global Resource Systems Horticulture Industrial Technology Insect Science International Agriculture Meat Science Microbiology Nutritional Science Plant Biology Plant Breeding Plant Pathology Public Service and Administration in Agriculture Rural Sociology Seed Science Soil Science Sustainable Agriculture Toxicology Wildlife Ecology
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a US veteran. Inquiries about this policy may be made to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3680 Beardshear Hall, telephone 515.294.7612.