Interdepartmental Graduate Programs

 You can ride the wave of innovation—or you can jump out in front of it. At Iowa State, the leading edge of innovation is found in fields that transcend the boundaries between traditional engineering disciplines. If your drive to innovate knows no bounds, look into our programs in…

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

The bioinformatics and computational biology major is one of the largest such PhD programs in the nation, both in terms of students and faculty strength and diversity of research. Students have the opportunity to conduct research in all major research areas of computational molecular biology, including genomics, structural genomics, functional genomics, and computational systems biology. Students train in a highly interdisciplinary environment under faculty with expertise spanning both computational and life sciences, with access to some of the most modern experimental platforms. Several engineering faculty are actively involved in the program. (CBE, ECpE, MSE , ME)

Biorenewable Resources and Technology

The graduate program in biorenewable resources and technology (BRT) offers students advanced study in the use of plant- and crop-based resources in the production of biobased products (fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy). This multidisciplinary program offers MS and PhD degrees and a minor to students with other majors. The curriculum is designed to encourage students to obtain co-major degrees in biorenewable resources and technology and a more traditional discipline. The BRT program also offers a graduate certificate that provides students from a wide variety of science and engineering backgrounds an exposure to advanced study in biorenewables.

Environmental Science

The environmental science major provides a technically rigorous, quantitative, and integrated approach to the study of environmental systems. Given the magnitude and complexity of our environmental problems, there is a growing need for graduates trained in the integrated analysis of environmental systems. The environmental science curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions of leadership in this rapidly changing field. In addition to work in their chosen area of specialization, students are afforded a broad exposure to the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of environmental systems and the specialized training necessary for integrated analyses of these systems. (ABE, CCEE)

Executive Engineer Dual Master's Degree Program
The University of Iowa’s Henry B. Tippie School of Management and Iowa State University’s College of Engineering offer an Executive Engineer Dual Master's Degree Program especially created for mid- to upper-level engineering managers and executives like you. In 30 months, you’ll earn graduate degrees from two prestigious institutions—a master of engineering in systems engineering (MESE) from Iowa State and a master of business administration (MBA) from Iowa.

Human-Computer Interaction

Driven by unprecedented technological progress, the relationship between humans and increasingly powerful, portable, interconnected, and ubiquitous computers is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and significant fields of technical investigation. With more than 60 researchers, representing all the colleges in the university, Iowa State is expanding its focus to become a leader in HCI research. (AerE, ABE, CCEE, ECpE, IMSE, ME)

Information Assurance (MS only)

Today more than ever, the security of America’s information networks is critical to the security of the nation. Iowa State’s information assurance program offers students a rigorous, cutting-edge education in this area, preparing them to address not only the technological aspects of information assurance, but also questions of policy, law, and ethics that are of prime importance to the field. (ECpE, IMSE)

Sustainable Agriculture

Students in the Graduate Program for Sustainable Agriculture study agroecological principles and the social relations underlying sustainable farming and food systems while gaining practical experience with sustainable production methods. The program seeks to balance depth in disciplinary knowledge with broader, systems-level thinking. It integrates the technical and social sciences through a sequence of team-taught interdisciplinary courses emphasizing higher-order critical thinking skills and active, collaborative approaches to learning. Students choose classes from six crossdisciplinary areas to complement their core training. (ABE)

Systems Engineering (MEngr only)

This program in systems engineering is designed to enable engineers from any discipline to develop the analytical abilities needed to design, evaluate, and build complex systems involving many components and demanding specifications. The program will extend students’ abilities to work across disciplinary boundaries and help you to develop the management capabilities needed to excel in today’s work environment. An all-coursework with no final oral option is available. (AerE, ECpE, IMSE, ME)

Toxicology

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary education and training. Faculty expertise and laboratory facilities are available in the areas of analytical chemistry, animal and avian protection, aquatic toxicology, bacterial toxins, behavioral toxicology, biochemical toxicology, bioremediation, biotransformation of toxicants, cancer research, cellular toxicology, developmental toxicology, drug metabolism, endocrine disrupters, environmental chemistry, food safety, forensic toxicology, groundwater and aquatic risk, insect toxicology, instrumental analysis, lab information management systems, molecular and genetic toxicology, mycotoxins, neurotoxicology, nutritional toxicology, parasitology, pesticide research, plant pathology, regulatory toxicology, retinoids, teratogenicity, and veterinary toxicology. (ABE, CBE)

Transportation

The perspective of many disciplines is needed to solve the complex questions facing transportation systems today, and students come to Iowa State’s interdisciplinary program in transportation with backgrounds as varied as the program itself. This diversity enriches the academic experience, allowing students to see the strength of interdisciplinary approaches to planning, operating, managing, and maintaining the next generation of transportation systems. (CCEE)

CprE student lands NSF fellowship four months into grad school

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Aerospace Engineering

Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering

Chemical and
Biological Engineering

Civil, Construction, and
Environmental Engineering

Electrical and Computer
Engineering

Industrial and Manufacturing
Systems Engineering

Materials Science and
Engineering

Mechanical Engineering