As a comprehensive liberal arts college at the heart of a major research university, CLAS offers plentiful opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration in research and creative production, as well as opportunities for developing teaching skills.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the academic home of approximately 1,700 graduate students at the University of Iowa. As the largest of the university's 11 colleges offering advanced degrees through the Graduate College, CLAS supports cutting-edge research, scholarship, and creative work through nearly 50 graduate and professional degree programs in the arts, humanities, and sciences.

Graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the research support and many opportunities for professional development offered by CLAS, the Graduate College, International Programs, and the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies.

33 %

of University of Iowa graduate students study in CLAS programs

47

CLAS programs have active graduate students

Graduate student stories

Image: Grace Lin

CLAS honors a century of religious studies with student-led conference 

Friday, October 16, 2026
What can Chicago Cubs fans teach us about religion? How do religious institutions influence social movements? What does Dolly Parton have to do with academia? These were among the questions students explored during the 2026 E.P. Adler Graduate Student Conference. The conference brought students from different disciplines together to examine the role of religion  while celebrating 100 years of Religious Studies in CLAS.
Headshot of Del Belcher

MASC alum brings student experience back to Iowa classroom

Thursday, October 8, 2026
Del Belcher, a 2023 MASC graduate, returned to the University of Iowa as an adjunct instructor, bringing his professional experience and passion for accessible communication into the classroom. His story highlights how the MASC program’s flexibility helped him connect his graduate education with his career—and now allows him to help other working professionals do the same.
A portrait of University of Iowa graduate student Harindu Rajapaksha.

Seeking sustainable nuclear energy practices

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
CLAS alumnus Harindu Rajapaksha is working to improve our understanding of nuclear waste for safer storage, recycling, and management.