Graduate Assistantships

Students may apply for assistantships that include a tuition waiver and stipend. Assistantships do not generally entail teaching responsibilities; rather, students work with faculty on research projects. As a result, students have opportunities to serve as co-presenters at conferences or as co-authors of journal articles.

Admissions are competitive and are based on the applicant's academic record, recommendations, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, and experience. Applications from students who have pursued a variety of undergraduate majors are welcome and previous work in women's and gender studies is not required. Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarship and assistantship stipends should submit their applications by February 15. Applications for entering students who do not seek financial aid are reviewed on a continuous basis and students may enter the program in either the spring or fall semester. Both in-state and out-of-state tuition rates are reasonable.

Application Guidelines

The Master of Arts in Women's Studies program offers excellent opportunities for a variety of competitively awarded Graduate Assistantships.

What Are the Options in Assistantship Assignments?

Assistantships in women's studies do not generally entail teaching responsibilities; rather students work with faculty on research or curricular development projects. Students who assist in curricular development may conduct bibliographic research (books, slides, other media materials). Students who participate in faculty research projects also may have opportunities to serve as co-presenters at conferences, and to serve as co-authors of journal articles. Every effort is made to link students with faculty who express common research and curricular interests.

What is the Monetary Award?

Full assistantships pay a stipend of $8892 for the academic year, plus a waiver of both in-state and out-of-state tuition for the period of appointment. Assistantships are renewable for the second year of the program. On occasion, partial assistantships may be awarded.

How do I Apply?

Applicants must be fully admitted to the Graduate Program which means that you must have fulfilled grade point average requirements (3.2) and submitted all supporting documentation. Applications for graduate assistantships must be made by February 15.

The application includes two forms: the Graduate Tuition Scholarship Form and the Graduate Assistantship Stipend Form. These forms are available from the Director of the Graduate Program in Women's Studies. You may also wish to attach a brief letter to indicate specific areas of expertise or skill which might make you particularly suited for an assistantship. To facilitate a strong faculty-student match, you may also indicate (in general) areas of research expertise or interest and the name of a faculty member (if known) whose focus for teaching and research most aligns with yours. You need not repeat information contained in your Statement of Purpose. Winners are notified by the Graduate College in April. Assistantships begin in the fall semester.

What are the Requirements for Maintaining my Assistantship?

Students awarded assistantships must maintain full time student status in fall and spring semesters (9 hours minimum). Course work must apply toward the student' program of study in the M.A. degree program in women's Studies. Graduate assistants must also maintain a grade point average in good standing with the Graduate College (minimum of 3.0).

Questions: Please contact the Director of the Graduate Program in Women's & Geneder Studies at: womens-studies-grad-program@uni.edu.