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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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You’re a Cyclone in the making

In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, curiosity drives new ideas, real-world skills, and career preparation. This is where passions and plans merge, explorers and innovators collaborate, and the arts and humanities, sciences, and technology intersect. Here, you’ll do and create, supported by a strong community. You’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in any field. Through your journey, your unique mix of interests will fuel progress and shape a future that’s entirely your own.

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What Can I Study?

Majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) range from biology to history to psychology, with over 50 options. You can creatively pair majors and minors to pursue unique career paths, prepare for graduate school, or plan for a future in health, law, or medicine.


Meaningful careers in the making

Whether you want to intern with ESPN, make biomedical discoveries as an undergraduate researcher, launch your own podcast, or design the lighting for a musical, you’ll find opportunities here to take you from the classroom to your career.

Earn a degree that can take you anywhere and join thousands of Cyclone alumni around the world who are making their mark.

  • three students smiling at the ISU football game in Dublin

    Going global

    Sports media students traveled with Iowa State football to Ireland and gained professional experience in conducting interviews, producing sports segments, and creating social media content.  

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  • Photo of Layk holding filing boxes

    Layk

    Layk found the perfect internship for his fascination with the past – organizing the archives of an important figure in Iowa history.

    Read more about Layk
  • Photo of Maya France smiling in front of a Start Something banner

    Maya

    Maya is developing data-driven career experience with the help of global internships and innovation and entrepreneurship oppportunities.

    Read more about Maya

We’ve got your back

We believe in learning and working together. Iowa State has many people and spaces that support your academics, well-being, and personal growth. No two Cyclones are the same, so diverse options let you choose what’s helpful.

Individual support

From peer mentors to LAS Career Services, you can find partners to guide you on your way.

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Community support

Make meaningful connections through help rooms, LAS learning communities, and many other programs.

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Well-being

Iowa State’s student health and wellness programs, from mental health resources to recreation services, help students thrive.

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Photo of a female student with an Iowa State cap on

Iowa State has prepared me in every possible way academically, professionally, and personally. Through challenging coursework, hands-on research, leadership roles in clubs, and community involvement, I’ve developed the confidence and skills I’ll need as I move forward. After graduation, I’ll be attending medical school, a dream of mine since I was little, and I truly believe Iowa State helped turn that dream into a plan.

Kirsten, ’25 biology

a student works on research in one of the main labs on campus

Undergraduate research

Cyclones publish papers, work in innovative faculty labs, present at national conferences, and gain practical techniques and professional skills for meaningful careers. Here, you can pursue what makes you curious, from investigating how diseases spread to studying what rocks can reveal about our climate.

Experiences for learning, laughing, and lending a hand

Finding your people is just as important as finding your passion. Write for the Iowa State Daily, join the Political Science Club, or perform in a music ensemble.

student taking a photo during a study abroad trip

Lifelong memories in the making

Start something in LAS

Your big ideas can change the world. Nurture your inner innovator and entrepreneur with support from energetic faculty and staff in the Start Something LAS program. Explore and expand your ideas in the Start Something LAS Academy, based in the Student Innovation Center. You’ll find courses and hands-on experiences that can help you expand your perspectives and impact on the world.

  • Jared Anderson

    Jared Anderson

    As a leading innovator in the field of separation science, Professor of Chemistry Jared Anderson and his research team are helping keep your food and medicine safe.

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  • photo of a student smiling and looking to the upper right

    Ezra

    Ezra’s innovative drive led him to develop an app that improves students’ speechwriting through AI analytics and voice and body-language feedback.

    Learn more
  • photo of a Start Something student smiling

    Amanda

    Amanda wants to start a non-profit organization that connects her community and is using her innovator’s mindset to get started.

    Learn more

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