TAs and RAs

Departmental financial aid may be available in the form of Teaching and Research Assistantships and University Fellowships. The application deadline for Fellowships and for Teaching and Research Assistantships is December 1 as part of your application.  We assume that all applicants are interested in available departmental funding.

Some students, given adequate Department funding and good performance, may be supported as TAs, GPTIs, RAs, or with Fellowships, or some combination of these awards typically for two years for the M.A. and 3 years for the Ph.D. However, acceptance to graduate study does not imply a promise of financial aid in any form. Those earning an M.A. in the Department and who are allowed to continue in the Department for a PhD may normally be given a maximum of 5 years of support for both degrees.

TAs and RAs

Teaching Assistantships (TAs and GPTIs)

These are awarded on a competitive basis by the Department. TAs are typically responsible for labs or recitations in large lecture courses; either full or partial awards may be given. The 2016-17 compensation for a full TAship (which is called a 50% TA and works approx. 20 hours per week) is $9536.88 per semester, plus up to 18 semester hours of tuition (a TA must be enrolled for at least 5 credit hours each semester). Graduate Part-Time Instructors (GPTIs) are Ph.D. students who have full course responsibility. The 2016-17 compensation is $11,022.56 per semester (approx. 20 hours of work per week), plus up to 18 semester hours of tuition (a GPTI must be enrolled for at least 5 credit hours each semester). A Ph.D. student may be either a TA or a GPTI. M.A. students are not normally considered eligible by the Graduate School for a GPTI.

Research Assistantships (RAs)

These are available on a competitive basis, depending on grants to faculty members; either full or partial awards may be given. You may speak directly with faculty to find out if they have any RA positions available. The 2016-17 compensation for a full RAship (which is called a 50% RA and works approx. 20 hours per week- usually for 9 months-Sept to May) is approximately $2119.31 per month, plus up to 18 semester hours of tuition (an RA must be enrolled for at least 5 credit hours each semester).

Stipend Information

See the Graduate School Funding Adminstration page. Scroll down the page to the Instructional Positions (TA & GPTI) section and choose the appropriate link – GPTI Salary Spreadsheet or TA Salary Spreadsheet. The next section down, Non-Instructional Positions (RA & GA) has the GA & RA Salary spreadsheet.