College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

About the school

Iowa State University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a collaborative, vibrant community of faculty, students and staff, committed to learning, research, and innovation. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences supports student success and engages in path breaking research across a wide range of fields with its 21 departments, one professional school, 49 majors, and over 20 cross- disciplinary programs.
LAS is the academic home for nearly a quarter of ISU’s student body and provides most of the university’s core required courses, which means nearly every Iowa State student takes courses in LAS. The school prepares students for success as global citizens and innovators of the future in high-demand fields like data science, artificial intelligence, climate science, and genetics.The college celebrates and encourages interdisciplinary collaborations that enable innovations, entrepreneurship, and research that positively impacts communities and the world.

Where is the school located?

The college is known for its award-winning research and campus facilities. The details of the campus of Iowa State University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are:

Life at College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

LAS offers students various opportunities like Study Abroad, Leadership Experiences, Student Organizations, and Learn by doing. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers different ways to gain experience in research and leadership at Iowa State. The LAS Ambassadors are a group of like-minded students who want to help prospective students and their families during campus visits. The LAS Student Council and LAS Pulse members work with college leaders to help strengthen its relationship with the thousands of students it supports. The LAS I+E Academy, part of the ISU Start Something network, provides hands-on learning experiences for students interested in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students are encouraged to build community with other innovators as they become changemakers for the world. They can make lifelong connections and develop leadership skills as a peer mentor, ambassador, council member or other role!

Additional benefits of studying at College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

There are several student organisations that help students lean into creativity and cyber skills. From ISU Theatre to the Sports Media Club, students can participate in more than 800 ISU student clubs and organisations. Study abroad programs at LAS offer memories that last a lifetime, with competitive scholarships and fellowships to help make travelling and studying abroad affordable.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Council is an organisation of students, one from each academic department, specialised, and pre-professional program, whose purpose is to promote the interests of students within the college. The council meets both as a whole and as supporting committees, formed to address specific issues.

Admissions criteria

[Guidance for US Schools] The admission requirements at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are as follows: - A bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university before beginning graduate studies. International degrees must be comparable to a US bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or university regionally accredited/recognized by the Ministry of Education in that country. - GRE scores (optional) - Official copies of academic records for application review. - A minimum cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B grade). - The English proficiency requirements are as mentioned below: - Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) 79 - Pearson Test of English (PTE) 53 - Duolingo English Test 105 (approved through spring 2025 semester)

Job placements

LAS Career Services is a top-notch team that can partner with students to search for an internship, pursue career opportunities, or prepare for a salary negotiation. The college hosts thousands of employers at the campus career fairs and can connect students with opportunities to engage with potential employers and professional schools. Here is how the LAS career services help students form their careers: - The departments and LAS Career Services team have relationships with employers who love hiring Cyclones for internships. The college also offers scholarships for students engaged in unpaid internships. - Students enrolled in the LAS Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I+E) Academy explore innovation and entrepreneurship while collaborating with their peers, professionals, and mentors. - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty and staff encourages students to complete successful careers after graduation and invests in a robust Career Services program to help students leverage their skills and knowledge into careers. - Programs like Languages and Cultures for Professionals combine language learning with intensive cultural exploration and internships in another country to prepare students for careers in a global workforce.