Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

See an overview of the MFCS degree and certificate options.

 

Is there an application deadline to apply?
You may apply to a program during any semester. Once all parts of your application have been received, it may take approximately 6 weeks to receive a response regarding admission.

Is the GRE exam required for application?
MFCS Comprehensive - Yes, you must submit your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores as part of your application. The GRE is a general aptitude test with three parts: verbal, quantitative, and analytical. No minimum GRE score is set. Information on test dates and sites is available at http:\\www.gre.org.

MFCS Family Financial Planning - No, the GRE is not required.

MFCS Gerontology - No, the GRE is not required.

Who should I ask to provide letters of recommendation required with the application?
Letters of recommendation should be obtained from professionals that you have worked with or from past instructors. Individuals writing a recommendation for you can do so either by completing an online form or by mailing a reference letter directly to the college.

An online form will be provided to your reference if you submit your reference's email address during the online application.

Please note that character references from family members or personal friends should not be used in place of professional or educational references.

How do I set up my Program of Study (POS)?
At the time of acceptance into the degree program, your temporary advisor will help you identify a Major Professor. Your Major Professor will then assist you in selecting a Program of Study Committee that will consist of two faculty members from focus areas within the department, and a third faculty member from another department. Your POS Committee could meet with you through a conference call or you may want to come to campus to meet your committee. You Major Professor will likely provide advising by telephone and email.

View additional information about this form and other forms necessary for successful completion of your program.

How long will it take to get my degree?
MFCS Comprehensive - If you take two courses per semester, you could complete the course work in three years. This master's program is designed to be completed in three to five years.

MFCS Family Financial Planning - Students typically complete the program in three to four years while employed full time (taking only one course each semester). Students who participate in full time study can shorten the time from start to finish. The certificate program can be completed in less than two years.

MFCS Gerontology - If you take two courses per semester, you could complete the course work in three years. This master's program is designed to be completed in three to five years.

Can I complete my degree entirely from off-campus?
MFCS Comprehensive - Yes, but you may complete the program sooner by taking courses on-campus as well. MFCS Family Financial Planning and Gerontology degrees can be completed entirely off-campus; specializations in other areas can be completed by a combination of on- and off-campus courses.

MFCS Family Financial Planning - Yes, all required MFCS FFP courses are offered online.

MFCS Gerontology - Yes, all required MFCS GERON courses are offered online.

Will my previous graduate course work transfer into my degree program, or can I pick up graduate work form another institution?
Transfer credits must be approved by your Program of Study Committee. Up to 14 graduate credits may be transferred from another accredited university graduate program (the credits must have been earned within the past five years with at least a "B" average).

At least 22 of your 36 total credits must be from Iowa State University.

May I take courses without seeking a degree in MFCS?
Yes, you may register as a graduate non-degree/undeclared student. Please note the Iowa State University transfers only nine approved credits taken in this status into a graduate degree program.

How much will a course cost?
Tuition is set by the Iowa Board of Regents or the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance for GP-IDEA courses.

How can I find out which courses are offered and when?
MFCS Comprehensive - view the course list.

MFCS Family Financial Planning - view the course list.

MFCS Gerontology - view the course list.

The Iowa State University Schedule of Classes lists both on- and off-campus courses. You can search the schedule for courses by type and department.

How do I register for courses?
New students may register by email, by mail, or in person.

Current/returning students may register by email, online through AccessPlus, or by phone.

What is AccessPlus and how do I use it?
AccessPlus is a secure and personalized online resource for accessing important and confidential university information and applications. You will receive your university bills (U-bill) through AccessPlus (no paper bills are mailed).

For assistance logging into AccessPlus, review the steps for Getting Started. For additional assistance, Contact Us.

I've never taken an online course before. How does it work?
Each course has a start and end date. One week before the course is scheduled to begin, the instructor/teaching institution will contact you with information about how to access the online course (providing you with a Login ID, Password, Syllabus, etc).

It is important to login prior to the first day of the course in order to:

• Verify that you can access the course
• Work through any introductory materials
• Insure your computer is set up properly
• Familiarize yourself with the course software

You can log into the course at any time of the day. Most instructors ask you to login 2-3 times a week. Most often there is a course textbook and you may have weekly assignments, projects, quizzes, papers, and online tests. May instructors also include discussion boards and group projects in their courses.

What are the computer requirements for taking courses online?
You must have a high speed Internet connection (256 Kbps DSL /Cable Modem or better). A dial-up connection is not acceptable.

While the specific requirements may vary by course, your computer should meet or exceed minimum requirements (be sure to work through the two computer compatibility programs provided with the minimum requirements).