We're glad you've decided to look around the College of Design and discover what we have to offer. This part of our Web site is devoted to those who may be interested in enrolling in one of our undergraduate (bachelor's degree) programs. (If you want to know more about our graduate programs, please go to the Graduate Programs section.)

 

Information on admissions, scholarships, financial aid options, campus visits, our first-year curriculum, learning communities, orientation, and other important topics may be found in the list of links to the left. The online math placement assessment is available through the Student Services Office. Information on all of our majors and curricula may be found by clicking on the Departments & Programs link here or at left.

 

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Student Services staff:

Michelle Rasmussen, mrasmuss@iastate.edu, (515) 294-0732

Shellie Hosch, shosch@iastate.edu, (515) 294-6983

The Iowa State University College of Design is one of only a half-dozen design schools in the country where the same mix of disciplines (architecture, landscape architecture, community and regional planning, graphic design, interior design, and studio arts) is housed in the same college, under the same roof.

 

As a new student in our college, you can wait a year to choose your major and it won't affect your graduation date. In fact, our fastest-growing program for first-year students is Design - Undeclared: students who are undecided about what design field they want to study. The College of Design is unique because all freshmen enroll in the Core Design Program, which means you share a set of classes during your first year that help prepare you to be a design major - any design major.

 

In the Core Design Program, you learn about all of our departments and programs, and you learn skills that can be used no matter which area you decide to enter. Even if you're sure right now that you want to be an interior designer or an architect, you may find yourself more interested in studio arts or planning once you know what they're all about. And even if you don't change your mind, you'll have a better understanding of the other fields you're likely to encounter on an internship or when you graduate and get your first "real" job. Most design firms employ people with a variety of skills and backgrounds, from architects and landscape architects to interior designers and graphic designers. Knowing what these people do and knowing how to work with them on a design team will be important assets.

 

Best of all, at the end of your first year, you can apply to any or all of the college's professional degree programs.

 

Sound good so far? Well, we're just getting started!

 

Small class sizes, lots of opportunities 

The College of Design is home to about 1,800 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. We're a small college at a big university, and you can enjoy the best that both have to offer.

 

You can connect right away with others who have similar interests by signing up for one of our two design learning communities.The Design Exchange and Design Collaborative are open to all first-year students enrolled in the Core Design Program. They're a great way to make friends and meet faculty members, and they can provide a support network that will help you make the best of your first year in college. Space is limited, so if you're interested, contact the coordinator for an application. >> More about learning communities at Iowa State University

 

The studio method is our primary form of instruction. This provides a powerful way to develop and refine your creative abilities through inquiry, critical thinking, synthesis and application of knowledge. Most classes in the College of Design are studios ranging in size from 15 to 20 students. Because of small class sizes and the structure of the work environment, the studio also helps foster close relationships with other students and faculty. Studios meet for long, concentrated periods of time, combining lecture and discussion with hands-on participation.

 

Among the hundreds of student organizations you can join at Iowa State, several are specific to the interests and majors of College of Design students. Joining a club is a great way to connect with other students who share your interests and may provide opportunities for leadership and career development. >> More about art- and design-related student organizations