Graduate Assistantship Information for U.S. Students
People seeking admission into our program have the option of also applying
for a graduate assistantship. Graduate assistants assist in the instruction of
Communication 101 -- the required course in public speaking. A full-time
graduate assistant is assigned three sections. As a part of this enrollment, you
participate in a training program about the teaching of Communication 101
(typically the week prior to the beginning of the Fall Term) and participate in
periodic meetings between the 101 Coordinator and other graduate assistants. Graduate assistants have their own office space and access to computers. In the fall of 2012 the stipend for a graduate assistantship is $15,930 for the academic year (which includes an out-of-state tuition waiver). We typically are able to offer 8 assistantships each year. For the 2013 school year, we will have 3-4 openings for assistantships. Non-resident full-time tuition (9 credits per semester) in 2012 was $8,924 per semester, resident full-time tuition was $4,358 per semester. Thus, a graduate assistant with an out-of-state tuition waiver would save over $9,000 a year on tuition (compared to a student without the out-of-state waiver).
Instructional Assistants: 2 versus 3 Year
Option
For students with assistantships, the graduate program in the Division of
Communication allows students to declare a 2 or 3 year plan for completing their
degree. This option must be declared at the beginning of the
graduate student’s first semester of graduate work as an
instructional assistant. People with assistantships must take a minimum
of 4 graduate credits each semester.
2 Year Option
Full-time graduate students with assistantships typically enter the program
with the intention of completing the degree in 2 years. This means a student’s
plan of study would be organized in the following manner:
- Fall semester 1st year: 9 credits (i.e. 2 graduate seminars and one “slash”
course)
- Spring semester 1st year: 9 credits
- Fall semester 2nd year: 6 credits (i.e. one seminar and one slash course,
colloquium)
- Spring semester 2nd year: (6 thesis credits)
3 Year Option
Some graduate students with instructionasl assistantships may decide for
individual reasons to complete their degree in 3 years. In order to meet the
requirement that a person with an assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of
4 graduate credits, the 3 year option results in a student taking 1 additional
graduate credit (a total of 32 credits) to complete their degree. A student
choosing the 3 year option would have a plan of study which would be organized
in the following manner:
- Fall semester 1st year: 6 credits
- Spring semester 1st year: 6 credits
- Fall semester 2nd year: 6 credits
- Spring semester 2nd year: 6 credits
- Fall Semester 3rd year: 4 credits (i.e. 3 thesis credits, 1 colloquium
credit)
- Fall semester 3rd year: 4 credits (i.e. 4 thesis credits)
It is important for every graduate student to plan carefully for how they can
successfully complete the degree. If you are unsure of which option is best for
you, please be sure to discuss the 2-3 year option for the graduate
assistantship with the graduate director.
An important note: All application materials must be submitted by
March 1st for full consideration for admission into the program for the fall
semester. People who apply after the March 1st deadline will be
considered--but only if there are available openings following the regular
acceptance process. We only accept students into our program during the fall
semester.
If you have any questions relating to our program, please e-mail Chris
Sadler
csadler@uwsp.edu or call
715.346.3898.