Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are offered to many students admitted into the M.A. program. Most assistants are assigned to teach laboratory/discussion sections associated with our formal undergraduate courses, but some assist various faculty members in research activities. Although the work load per week varies, it should not exceed 20 hours, and usually averages less.
Stipends
The stipends for the 2009-2010 year are $11,851 for nine months and a summer scholarship of $1,800. These are awarded on a competitive basis and are renewable for a second year subject to availability of funds and your maintaining satisfactory progress toward the MA degree. Graduate assistantships include a waiver of tuition and instructional fee.
other assistantships
In addition Geography Department assistantships, some students find assistantships in other units of the university. For example, assistantships are available in Residence Life, Recreational Sports, and the University Libraries for students with particular skills in these areas. Students interested in such assistantships should contact the appropriate units at the university.
scholarships
The Graduate School offers Grants-in-Aid, which provide a waiver of the instructional fee and out-of-state tuition surcharge (if applicable) but do not provide a stipend. Students interested in such support should apply to for it when the application for admission is submitted. Applications are available from the Graduate School.
Fees
The University general fee and metro fee (approximately $1730 per academic year) is not waived although graduate assistants are only expected to pay half of this fee. Students are also expected to pay technology and facilties fees ($372 per academic year). Health insurance fees are not waived. The exact level of financial support for the 2007-2008 academic year has not yet been established. The stipend will almost certainly increase as it has done every year for at least the past decade. The general fee and insurance premium are also subject to increase. Supplemental Graduate Academic Achievement Scholarships of $2,500 are available from the Graduate School for outstanding applicants. These scholarships are allocated on a competitive basis and are nonrenewable.
Research Funds
Significant support is available to graduate students to defray research expenses related to the Master’s degree. In most cases, through a combination of internal and external funding sources, we are able to provide $2,000 to $5,000 per student in research funds. In recent years our students have used this support to conduct field work in Brazil, Chile, Dominica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Tanzania, and numerous locations in the United States.