Graduate Application Process

Thank you very much for your interest in pursuing graduate work in anthropology. For your information, our department application deadlines are JANUARY 15 for summer and fall semesters and OCTOBER 1 for spring semester. See Graduate Admissions for information on department requirements.

If you would like to request information about Iowa State University, or apply for admission electronically, please go to Graduate College Forms.

REQUIRED INFORMATION

• Graduate application (see link above).
  
• Transcripts from all universities previously attended.
  
• GRE scores
  
• TOEFL score from international students (A score of 600 is required.)
  
• Three letters of recommendation
  
• Statement of Purpose describing your career goals and reasons for choosing ISU, which should not exceed 500 words. Please address how you plan to use Anthropology in your professional career, how your educational experience in anthropology and other fields prepared you for our program, and what kinds of research you are considering for your graduate work.
  
  After collecting the required application materials, please send them to the appropriate offices as follows:

  FIRST ENVELOPE
  Office of Admissions
  100 Alumni Hall
  Iowa State University
  Ames, IA 50011-2011

  • Application and fee (DO NOT send a copy if you have applied online and paid by credit card)
  • Official University transcripts and degree statements
  • Official examination results

SECOND ENVELOPE
Department of Anthropology
324 Curtiss Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1050

• Copy of Application
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose describing your career goals and reasons for choosing ISU, which should not exceed 500 words. Please address how you plan to use Anthropology in your professional career, how your educational experience in anthropology and other fields prepared you for our program and what kinds of research you are considering for your graduate work.

If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Nancy R. Coinman, Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Education. In addition, if you haven't already done so, you may want to visit the Anthropology Homepage where you can view our course requirements.