School of Communication & Journalism
Assistantship Information

Graduate teaching assistantships are available to U.S. citizens on a competitive basis. Graduate assistantships provide stipends of approximately $16,000.00 for nine months plus a tuition waiver. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of the applicant’s undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and GTA application form. Assistantships cannot be awarded until admission to the Graduate School (for the School of Communication and Journalism) has been approved.

Application Deadlines

• First round review for fall semester: February 15th 
• Second round review for fall semester: April 15th

You may apply for an assistantship as part of your application to the program. Click here to apply now. Should you have trouble applying for the assistantship online you may download the application and email it to the Graduate Program Director.

If you are offered and accept an assistantship, you will be expected to:

• Complete the paperwork for and pass a required background check.
• Attend a mandatory workshop and orientation one week prior to the beginning of classes each semester.
• Enroll in a minimum of nine hours of coursework per semester.
• Maintain a 3.0 graduate-level GPA.
• Assist in teaching courses in the School. These courses include but are not limited to:
  • COMM 1000: Public Speaking
  • COMM 3500: Foundations of Human Communication
  • COMM 3600: Foundations of Rhetoric and Social Influence
  • CMJN 2100: Concepts in Communication and Journalism
  • JRNL 1100: Newspaper Fundamentals
• Serve as a research assistant for a faculty member in the School.

At the conclusion of each semester, all GTAs are evaluated according to their quality of coursework, teaching and service. Students who do not fulfill departmental expectations will not have their assistantships renewed.

International Assistantships

International students who apply for a teaching assistantship must meet university graduate school requirements for speaking proficiency as outlined on the Graduate School’s assistantship webpage.