Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. In addition, top students may be nominated for University or Liberal Arts fellowships and awards. Typical financial packages include a generous stipend plus tuition and 80% of health insurance costs. Assuming satisfactory progress, this support is granted for the duration of graduate study.

Breakdown of Possible Fellowships/Awards

Graduate Assistantships

• Awarded on a competitive basis
• Teaching and/or research assignments
• Assuming satisfactory progress, support is granted for duration of graduate study
• Tuition coverage
• Covers 80% of health insurance costs
• see health insurance for more information
• semester release in dissertation year

Sparks Fellowship

• Used for students in the Humanities
• Top students may be nominated by the graduate committee
• Provided by the College of the Liberal Arts
• Provides one year off from teaching and/or research assignments
• Tuition coverage
• Covers 80% of health insurance costs
• see health insurance for more information
• semester release in dissertation year

University Graduate Fellowship

• Top students may be nominated by the graduate committee
• Provided by the Graduate SchoolProvides one year off from teaching and/or research assignments
• Tuition coverage
• Covers 80% of health insurance costs
• see health insurance for more information
• semester release in dissertation year

Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards Program

• Top students may be nominated by the graduate committee
• Provides additional funding (“top-off” funding) for duration of program
• Provided by the Graduate School
• The first year provides a reduced teaching load of one course per semester (or equivalent assignment)
• Provides a summer stipend (provided you enroll for summer session)
• Tuition coverage
• Covers 80% of health insurance costs
• see health insurance for more information
• semester release in dissertation year

Graduate Scholars

• Provided for students already awarded assistantships or fellowships
• Top students may be nominated by the graduate committee
• Provided by the College of the Liberal Arts
• Provides additional funding (“top-off” funding) for two to three years

Additional Information

• The most common type of funding is a half-time teaching assistantship. For a half-time teaching assistantship (currently 3 courses over two semesters), students are expected to work 20 hours per week on teaching or research assistant activities. That expectation holds for both semesters. Students in their one-course-instruction semester are expected to translate any hourly gain in instructional workload to the areas of research or scholarship.
• The department provides travel funding for presentations at national and regional conferences.
• You will have the option of applying for summer funding (teaching or research).
• The College of the Liberal Arts makes travel and dissertation awards available to graduate students. Dissertation awards can be in the form of a research fund or one semester release time.
• The Department makes research awards available to graduate students for pre-dissertation projects.