Student Support

Academic advising

The first level of support is your academic advisor. Your academic advisor is there to help you make the most of your experience at Iowa State from the beginning.  Academic advisors help prospective students and their families learn about the program, help new students become oriented to the department and university, and support current students throughout their time in the program if they have questions, concerns, or seek help planning for the future.  Your advisor can support you by connecting you with resources on campus and in the community and by helping you to develop decision-making, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills.

Several faculty and graduate students also have office hours available for additional assistance.

Career planning

As a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), or College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) you have the support of an entire career services team available to you. From creating your first resume to finding your first internship or negotiating a job offer, the LAS Career Services and CALS Career Services teams will help you jump start your career, before you graduate.

Scholarships

Scholarships are offered through both CALS and LAS. In addition, the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies offers specific scholarships and aid for students in the department.

Take a look through our scholarships page for more information on individual scholarships and links to other fellowship and grant opportunities. Deadlines for each scholarship varies with the award.

Sociology help center

Need help with a Sociology 134 assignment? Visit Room 118, East Hall for tutoring and assistance.

Connections

Iowa State is home to many different learning communities, including the Criminal Justice League Learning Community that is open to all first-year criminal justice undergraduate majors. You will join a group of about 35 first-year students in two shared classes and a seminar where you will learn about your major, crime and the societal and criminal justice response to it, on-campus resources and activities, and future careers.

You will connect with faculty and students both in and outside the classroom through activities like lively in-class discussions and fascinating field trips to local criminal justice agencies.

You will imagine your future career and the steps necessary to achieve your goals by visiting Iowa State’s career fairs and discovering possible internship and job opportunities. You will collaborate with an academically successful peer mentor, who is a junior or senior in the criminal justice major. To join, simply sign up during class registration at summer orientation.

You can also join one of hundreds of different clubs and organizations by finding one that piques your interest at the official Iowa State Student Organizations website.

The university also provides a comprehensive network of academic support, health and safety resources, and supportive communities.