Student Experience

Graduate student experience

Should you choose to join our department, you will contribute to a culture that is collaborative, active, and diverse. We encourage a rich intellectual life and the vigorous exchange of ideas.

Our students and faculty participate in brown bag lectures, presenting their own research. They have the opportunity to meet with visiting scholars during frequent guest lectures, conferences, and symposia. Within the university, our department is highly connected to other units and programs, making a strong and visible impact.

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Graduate Student Advisory Committee

The mission of our Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) is to listen to the needs of graduate students, to serve as a liaison between graduate students and faculty, and to coordinate various activities within the department, including social events, the annual Diálogos graduate student conference, and workshops to prep for exams and for academic professionalization.

Learn more about GSAC in our Student Portal

Learn about our Diálogos conference

Resources

  • Graduate Student Life
    The Office of Student Life is always ready to offer support to graduate student as they navigate the unique demands of graduate student life.
  • Graduate & Professional Student Government
    GPSG is the university-sponsored student government for all graduate and professional students across Indiana University-Bloomington schools and departments. 
  • The Graduate Mentoring Center
    The IUB Graduate Mentoring Center serves graduate students through programs that support successful degree completion and entry into a profession
  • Office of International Services
    The Office of International Services provides guidance to all IU Bloomington international students.
  • Student Legal Services
    Student Legal Services provide free, confidential legal advice and services for IU Bloomington students.
  • Accessible Educational Services
    Accessible Educational Services ensure all students with qualifying medical conditions get the support they need.
  • Veteran & Military Services 
    The Center for Veteran and Military Students helps veterans and military-connected students make the transition from the military to IU and provides support and resources during their time on campus.
  • Care Referral
    A Care Referral is an easy way to request help with an issue or concern, especially if you don’t know which office or department to contact.
  • Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
    Counseling and Psychological Services for all IU students.
  • TimelyCare
    Free virtual mental health support for all IU students.
  • Counseling and Wellness Clinic
    Support for mild to moderate mental health issues provided by caring staff and graduate students training to be counselors. Only $15 per counseling session!
  • SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program
    Access to professional counseling, resources, and referrals including up to six (6) face-to-face counseling sessions. Services are available at no cost to all IU employees, including student academic appointees, and their household members.
  • Office of Student Life - Health & Well-Being
    The Office of Student Life is creating a unique, comprehensive, and integrated well-being structure to proactively support health and wellness to increase student success.
  • More Mental Health Resources
    IU’s wide array of mental health resources for students.

Enrichment activities

Our graduate students also participate in and help develop a number of extracurricular and enrichment activities.

Conversation tables

Every semester, three graduate students become responsible for organizing and leading our three conversation tables, Cafezinho, Café Hispano, and Cafè Català.

Teatro VIDA

In Teatro VIDA, our graduate students select a play with the assistance of a faculty mentor and are responsible for the different elements of staging one-act plays through this community theater experience—from acting and direction to production, as well as soliciting grants to support the project.

Song Festival

Musical graduate students and undergraduates work together to produce and participate in this annual festival.

Volunteering

Our graduate students also volunteer in service learning projects and mentor undergraduate students who wish to participate in these projects.

Learn about more opportunities in our department

View our research
Check out our brown bag series
Learn about news + events