Assistanceships

Graduate teaching assistantships and research assistantships are available in limited numbers in the Department and are offered to students on a competitive basis. Graduate assistants spend approximately 20 hours per week assisting with teaching or research activities in the Department. The remainder of their time is generally occupied by course work and thesis research. Highly qualified applicants may be nominated for fellowships, some of which are specific to this program, or scholarships. Fellowships and other financial aid programs are administered by the Graduate School. Graduate appointments carry varying stipends and generally also carry remission of fees. Appointments to research and teaching assistantships are for 12 and 10 months, respectively. The Department, however, will cover summer salary of all teaching assistants. Please see Detailed Chart of Department and College (AGNR) Awards.

The Department encourages timely completion of graduate degree requirements by providing 2 and 3 years of full assistantship support for M.S. and Ph.D. students, respectively. The Department Chair can extend the time limit on a semester-by-semester basis if a student is making satisfactory progress in a degree program. Decisions on financial support are made separately from admission decisions. In both cases, the Department actively seeks a diverse population of students regarding gender, race, and nationality.