• English
  

  Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English equivalent to a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 530 (or at least 197 on the computer-based TOEFL test). International students may also submit IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores in lieu of the TOEFL. The ISU Graduate College minimum is 6.0. Individual graduate programs may require higher TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission.

  New teaching assistants whose native language is not English are evaluated before their first teaching assignment using the SPEAK and TEACH tests. These tests are administered by the Graduate College before the beginning of each semester. The Graduate Coordinator has information.

• Foreign Language
  

  None.

• Residence Requirement
  

  There is no on-campus residence requirement for the M.S. degree other than that dictated by course work.

• Time Limits
  

  It is expected that work for the M.S. degree shall be completed within 5 years. In special cases the student's POS committee may recommend that the Graduate Dean extend this time limit.

• Minimum Credits
  

  Thirty semester credits of acceptable graduate work must be completed, not less than 22 of which must be earned from ISU. A program of study (POS) (developed by the student, major professor, and the Program of Study committee) should be submitted for approval by the end of the second semester. Graduate credits earned at another institution (or through a distance education program) may be transferred if the grade was B or better. Such courses must be acceptable toward an advanced degree at that institution and must have been taught by individuals having faculty status at that institution. These credits may be included in the program of study, with committee approval.

• Minor
  

  Students may declare a formal minor in any department or interdepartmental unit authorized to grant such minors. Requirements for declared minors are determined by the minor department or program and coordinated by the faculty member representing the minor department on the POS committee. For a minor to appear on the transcript, it must be approved on the POS and listed on all examination reports and the diploma slip.

• Final Oral Exam
  

  A final oral examination must be held by the deadline date for the semester in which the degree is granted. All coursework in the program of study must either be completed or in progress before the final oral examination can be scheduled. This examination is oral; it may also include a written component if specified by the student’s program of study (POS) committee.

Departmental M.S. Degree Requirements - Thesis Option. These requirements pertain to all M.S. degree students whose home department is NREM regardless of their major.

• Research Proposal Procedures
  

  All M.S. degree students must prepare a research proposal and present an outline of the proposed research to the POS committee. The proposal should be prepared and presented during the first eight months after appointment and prior to commencement of field or laboratory work.

• Thesis
  

  All graduate theses must comply with the requirements and deadlines established by the Graduate College as stated in the Thesis Manual. Students should become thoroughly familiar with the instructions in the manual. The current Thesis Manual is available online as downloadable (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF) documents.

  Each student is expected to complete a thesis produced from original research. Students are also expected to prepare at least one manuscript for publication in a professional journal. This requirement may be met either by including the manuscript as part of the thesis (alternate thesis format) or by submitting the manuscript to the major professor prior to the final examination.

  Copies of the thesis must be distributed to the POS committee and the Department Chair at least two weeks prior to the final examination. After the examination, one bound copy shall be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for the Reading Room and copies will be provided to the major professor and other members of the POS committee.

• Teaching Experience
  

  Each student is responsible for meeting the teaching requirement and the faculty is responsible for providing each student with a positive, meaningful experience. The purpose of the experience is to strengthen the graduate’s qualifications for academic, public, or industrial employment.

  A student in a M.S. program can satisfy this requirement by serving as a TA or by organizing at least one unit of subject matter in a course or extension workshop and teaching at least one period; the student may volunteer for greater participation in the instruction of the course or workshop.

  A student with an interest in either an undergraduate or a graduate course may approach the course instructor about assisting in that course. Alternatively, a faculty member may suggest that a student help with the instruction in a particular course. The student develops a plan with the major professor and the instructor and provides the POS Committee with a one-page description for approval.

  Students will carefully document the teaching-related activities and submit the documentation to the POS Committee. A copy should be in the student file in the SSC.

• Seminar
  

  Formal, oral presentations are an essential component of the training program in graduate studies. Prior to the final oral examination, each student is required to present his/her M.S. thesis research results in a seminar open to all faculty, staff and students.

  Departmental M.S. Degree Curriculum Requirements - Thesis Option. These requirements pertain only to M.S. degree students with majors offered by the NREM Department.

• Foreign Language
  

  None, but a language may be required by the POS committee.

• Minimum Credit Hour Requirements
  

  Thirty credit hours of acceptable graduate work, including at least 15 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and at least 10 credit hours of research (A ECL, FOR, NREM 699) must be earned for the M.S. Credit in 500- and 600-level seminars count as coursework. At least 22 credit hours (including A ECL/FOR/NREM 699 research) must be earned under the supervision of the student's POS Committee at Iowa State, and at least 7 hours must be taken as courses outside the NREM Department.

• Applicable Courses
  

  Graduate courses at Iowa State are numbered 500 and 600 series. Graduate students may receive graduate credit for lower numbered courses in other departments if they are approved for minor graduate credit by the offering department. The catalog description of each department lists the courses offered for minor graduate credit. No undergraduate courses offered by the NREM Department may be used for graduate credit unless they are dual-listed at the 500 level, with extra work required for graduate credit. Graduate transfer credits may be applied with the restrictions discussed under "minimum credits" in the section Graduate College Requirements. Normally, graduate credits of B grade or better earned at another institution are included in the coursework for the POS, with Committee and Graduate College approval.

• Statistics
  

  One 400-level or above course in statistics is required for all students.