About
Considered one of the nation’s top-tier institutions, Mizzou has a reputation for excellence in teaching and research and is the flagship university of the four-university University of Missouri System. It is one of only 36 public universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the Association of American Universities.
MU offers 149 graduate degree programs — including online degree options — and is designated a “Doctoral University with Very High Research Activity,” or Research 1 University, by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. MU offers students more academic power and advantages that come with its status as both a top research institution and a land-grant university.
Browse our Degree & Certificate ProgramsAcademic Programs
63 Fully Online Graduate Degree Programs (no campus visit required)
More than 70 Research Centers, Institutes, & Core Facilities
21 Schools & Colleges
13 graduate minors
Academic Advantages
The global demand for mathematicians, engineers, technologists, scientists and health care professionals is on the rise. MU helps meet that demand with more research opportunities, strong interdisciplinary campus culture, and collaborations with educational, governmental, and corporate entities.
149
Graduate Degree Programs
5930
Graduate Students Enrolled
1091
International Students
83 Countries
821
Students from Underrepresented and Underserved Backgrounds at MU
Mission and Values
The mission of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri is to advocate for, support, and advance graduate and postdoctoral education.
Guided by our mission, we provide campus-wide leadership for:
Student and postdoctoral experiences:
Provide support that is responsive to their needs to facilitate success;
Coordinate professional development opportunities;
Pursue university and external partnerships and funding opportunities to develop innovative structures in support of their success.
Scholarly excellence for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars:
Bring people together across disciplines to develop new interdisciplinary programs and opportunities;
Foster discovery, creativity, and innovation;
Promote responsible and ethical conduct of teaching, scholarship, and creative works;
Encourage engaged scholarship.
Support from recruitment through career transition for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars:
Collaborate with units across campus to support their strategic enrollment and completion goals;
Promote use of individual development plans;
Strengthen retention through on-boarding and targeted mentoring programs that enhance student and postdoctoral scholar success;
Make diverse career pathways visible, viable, and valued.
Integrity of academic programs:
Promote excellence, equity, and quality in graduate programs;
Partner with graduate faculty and staff to uphold policies and procedures that reduce barriers to academic success.
Inclusive excellence:
Empower all students and postdoctoral scholars to meet the opportunities of a global society;
Support and advocate for inclusive recruitment and retention practices;
Develop and sustain safe and inclusive graduate and postdoctoral communities.
Values
Respect
The Graduate School will maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment that values differences in thought and mission. We will promote equity and fairness to best support graduate education.
Responsibility
The Graduate School will provide campus-wide leadership, as well as resources and support, to promote the success of students and their graduate programs.
Discovery
The Graduate School will provide and facilitate curricular and professional development opportunities for students and mentors that enhance a commitment to continuous improvement and life-long learning.
Excellence
Using continuous quality improvement practices, the Graduate School will proactively lead in the use of best practices for student success and transparency of data and information.
Economic Impact
The University of Missouri has been designated by the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University (IEP), recognizing MU for its successes in innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.
Flexible curricula ensure Mizzou’s graduate students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of a dynamic workforce. Beyond coursework, our graduate degree programs offer professional development to help students hone their workplace-ready skills. Pick any discipline, and employers will tell you Mizzou’s advanced degree holders add value to the workplace.
See How Mizzou Measures Up
Interdisciplinary Research
A Mizzou hallmark: Our highly collaborative research culture. Graduate students have numerous opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research within and across schools and colleges.
As the state’s first land-grant institution, Mizzou’s research mission is tightly connected to teaching, outreach, service and economic development. By graduation, Mizzou students are prepared to conduct transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in academic, government, not-for-profit, and industry settings. Many of our graduates have become leaders in their chosen disciplines.
More About Interdisciplinary Opportunities
More Teaching Opportunities
Many of MU’s academic programs offer graduate students the opportunity to apprentice as instructors or teaching assistants. To further prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to enter academia, we offer aspiring educators a Minor in College Teaching and professional development programming, including a Preparing Future Faculty course. Students who tap into these opportunities become competitive for academic positions at community colleges, regional intuitions, liberal arts institutions, and research universities.
Learn About Teaching Resources
Professional Development Programming
For graduate students who will pursue careers outside of the academy, the Graduate School offers professional development programming to help students prepare for and navigate non-academic careers.
Career Exploration
Internships, Global Engagement & Real-World Opportunities
Many degree programs help students gain professional work experience prior to earning a degree through internships, externships, study abroad, and community engagement.
For example, students in the Truman School of Public Affairs land prestigious internships in the federal government, the United Nations, and national non-profit organizations; those in the health professions gain experience at the MU hospital and clinics; journalism students may work for the University’s NBC-affiliate TV station, newspaper, or National Public Radio affiliate; and MBA students are required to complete real-world projects throughout the curriculum.
Examples of Graduate Student InternshipsFinancial Support For Graduate School
Many of MU’s academic programs offer teaching and research assistantships to help students defray the costs of education and provide invaluable experience to prepare them for future careers. Other means of financial support include fellowships, travel grants, and awards.
Find Information on Financial SupportAn Inclusive & Civil Campus Environment
The Division of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity is the catalyst for enhancing institutional diversity with collaborative partnerships and strategic efforts. Mizzou also is home to specialized centers and offices that provide student support, including the MU Veterans Center; the Multicultural Center; the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Resource Center; and the Women’s Center.
More on MU DiversityThe Disability Center provides academic accommodations and student support. Additional services are available through the Adaptive Computing Technology Center, and the Assessment and Consultation Clinic. Disabled veterans may also contact the MU Veterans Center for information.
Learn About the Disability Center
Research
In the last 2 years, MU research expenditures have increased 11%. As expenditures increase, graduate students benefit from more opportunities to engage in scientific and creative innovation and discovery. This is one of the hallmarks of studying at an AAU institution.
MU is one of the top-ranked universities in the world for plant science research. With 120 plant scientists, 18 agricultural research centers statewide, and MU Extension innovations for farmers, Mizzou is improving global food security. MU fosters an entrepreneurial culture where students own their intellectual property, manage an angel investment fund supported by the Kauffman Foundation, participate in the Entrepreneurship Alliance talent incubator, and win venture and pitch competitions. Graduate scholars also contribute to a deeper understanding of the human condition and celebrate beauty through the arts.
The University of Missouri’s research facilities include:
- Interdisciplinary research centers for life sciences, health, and oral tradition.
- Eleven core research facilities.
- The most powerful university-operated nuclear research reactor in the U.S.
- The state’s largest library collection.