Financial Support and Opportunities
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships (GAships) in English are awarded competitively to students accepted into any of the department’s graduate programs. First-year students are generally awarded a teaching assistantship and teach two sections of ENG 110. Graduate students do have the opportunity to teach other courses, including ENG 100, 203, 210, 215; however, these courses are reserved for returning GTAs or those with previous teaching experience. Courses are assigned based on: (a) teaching experience; (b) individual faculty recommendation; (c) Graduate Committee recommendation; (d) department need; and/or (e) whether or not an instructor has fulfilled a prerequisite for the teaching the course (for example, only GTAs who have taken ENG 621 may teach ENG 100). You may also divide your assistantship between teaching and other responsibilities like working in the Writing Center or ELI, as an assistant to the Director of Composition or Graduate Director, or as an editor/writer for Ozarks Watch. These positions depend upon need and usually require a separate interview. The Graduate College also keeps a list GAship opportunities across campus.
Applying for a GAship: Assistantships are awarded for an entire academic year starting in the Fall. Students interested in such assistantships are encouraged to complete their applications by February 15.
See Application Procedures and Materials for more information.
GAship Requirements: GAs are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of graduate course work (500-level or above) during each semester of appointment and must maintain the minimum GPA required for Graduate School enrollment.
First-year Graduate Teaching Assistants (“GTAs”) must enroll in ENG 620 for the Fall semester and ENG 603 in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If your grade is below “C” in either ENG 620 or 603, you will be required to take the course(s) again. In addition, you may also become ineligible for a GAship.
