How to Apply

Before proceeding, please read this information about admission standards.

Environmental Science Admission Standards

This page includes the application steps for

• New students seeking first-time admission to ISU
• Current ISU grad students seeking an ENSCI co-major

New Admissions

1)  Please complete the on-line ISU Graduate College application and pay the application fee.

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

Please send official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate course work to the ISU Office of Admissions per the instructions in the Graduate College application.   For minimum GPA requirements, please see admission standards.

2)  Please submit a statement of research interest in the space provided in the on-line application.   In it, please describe your purpose in pursuing graduate study, your specific research interests, your background and/or experience related to environmental science, preferred faculty advisor (if known), and any other information that you feel is relevant to your application.

3)  Please also submit a professional CV or resume, including honors and awards you have received.  E-mail transmission is preferred.  Please send via enscigradoffice@iastate.edu.

4)  All applicants must submit an official score report from the GRE General Test.   Reports should be sent directly from ETS to the Office of Admissions (institution code 6306, department code 0502).  For minimum required scores, please see admission standards.

5)  Applicants whose native language is not English must provide an official score report from the TOEFL or IELTS English examinations.  For minimum required scores, please see admission standards.  Score reports should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency (institution code 6306, department code 46 for the TOEFL).

6)  Applicants must provide three letters of reference, which may be submitted in one of two ways:

• On line, when you complete the on-line Graduate College application.  Enter the e-mail addresses of your referees. They will be prompted by the system to complete an electronic letter that will be transmitted to ISU and to the Environmental Science program.  Please note:  referees will not be contacted until the application fee is paid.
• On paper, using either the Graduate College template or on the letterhead of the referee's institution.  In this case, please send the letters directly to the Environmental Science Program Office.  Letters may be assembled in sealed envelopes and sent by the applicant or may be sent directly by referees.

Admission to Environmental Science is contingent upon acceptance by a faculty advisor.

Applicants are encouraged to browse information about individual faculty research at the following Faculty Directory and to identify compatible faculty in their statements of interest.

Co-Major Admissions

(for students already admitted to ISU)

Environmental Science encourages ISU graduate students who are interested in expanding their environmental credentials to add ENSCI as a co-major program of study.

To apply for the co-major, please submit the following items to the Environmental Science program coordinator Charles Sauer at csauer@iastate.edu.

• a statement of purpose that outlines your reasons and goals in pursuing the co-major; please also include a brief description of your research project,
• a current resume or CV, including all recent awards, publications, honors, etc.,
• a memo from your current faculty advisor endorsing the addition of the co-major (please note: if your present advisor is not a member of the ENSCI program, you will need to identify an ENSCI faculty member to serve as your co-advisor).

The ENSCI program will collect a copy of your original ISU Graduate College application with supporting documents and a copy of your current ISU transcript.  These materials will be added to your new submissions and then forwarded to the ENSCI Admissions Committee for review.  The same admission standards are applied for co-majors as for newly entering students.  Please see admission standards.

Please contact the program coordinator Charles Sauer for assistance.

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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.

EnSci Graduate Program Office

Charles R. Sauer
Program Coordinator
657 Ross Hall (office)
603 Ross Hall (campus mail box)
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa  50011-1200  USA

voice:  515.294.6518
fax:  515.294.6390
e-mail:   enscigradoffice@iastate.edu

Application Deadlines

The Environmental Science program accepts applications on an ongoing basis and so has no fixed deadlines; however, applicants seeking financial support are encouraged to apply as early as practical prior to their planned term of entry.  Applying early ensures full consideration for all possible financial awards.

Those seeking priority consideration for all potential financial support programs for fall term entry (August)
are advised to submit a complete application by 1 February.

Financial Assistance

Students are supported by research assistantships and teaching assistantships administered through their home departments.  A limited number of fellowships are available to highly qualified applicants through the Environmental Science program.  For more information on funding opportunities, please contact the
Program Coordinator.