Financial Support
Financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships and fellowships is available within the Department on a competitive basis. The following general information on external fellowship opportunities is also available.
Teaching assistantships (TAs) are awarded by the Department to qualified outstanding students. All students will be considered and a decision will be made upon reviewing their complete applications. Students are expected to successfully complete a TA workshop that is held once a year, typically two weeks prior to the start of the Fall semester. In addition to the TA workshop, students are required to complete ESL 5323, Academic Research and Writing, during their first semester of enrollment. Current students are not eligible for TA consideration unless they complete the ESL course. Maintaining a teaching assistantship is also dependent on the student's satisfying departmental laboratory writing requirements.
Research assistantships (RAs) are awarded by faculty members with research funding. Students are encouraged to contact faculty members within their area of interest(s) to learn more about their research activities and possible support. Normally, research assistantships are extended to students following classroom experience with the sponsoring faculty.
Fellowships are also available within the Department. Fellowships are generally used to supplement existing TAs and RAs:
- Regular admission to the graduate program
- GRE score
- Statement of research interest
- Letter of support from a faculty member within the Department
The deadline for applying is February 1 and students will be notified by March 1.
Any graduate student being employed as a Graduate Assistant may not be employed more than one-half time (20 hours per week) total employment by the University as a whole. Any student so employed must notify all departments involved before accepting such employment by more than one department within or outside of the Bagley College of Engineering. Any student paid less than $600.00 per month, is paid on a wages basis and not considered a graduate appointment.
Financial support will not be available to students who are admitted on provisional basis or to students who are on probation (overall GPA below 3.0). In addition, support is subject to removal for graduate students with grades below B on any of the courses.
