A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to both MA and PhD students. These are competitive awards and include a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Most awards are teaching assistantships, although there are occasionally opportunities for research assistantships.

Apply for an Assistantship
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First Year Masters Students
Typically, first year MA’s will assist a faculty member in research or other duties during the first two full semesters. They are also expected to intern with an experienced Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) during their second semester in preparation for their own teaching assignments in their second year. During the first semester of teaching, they are required to attend a weekly one-hour course (COMM 7002) designed to help them manage students, determine grading strategies, and handle other responsibilities as the sole instructor for a course. 

First Year Doctoral Students
Typically a doctoral student will have teaching experience coming into the program, and thus move immediately into teaching two sessions of COMM 2381, Public Speaking. All first-time GTAs, doctoral as well as master’s level, are required to attend the weekly one-hour orientation course (COMM 8002) to help adjust to his or her new teaching assignments and departmental culture. Doctoral GTAs who have not had teaching experience are expected to intern with an experienced GTA for the first semester of their assistantship. 

Experienced GTAs
Those students who have taught two sections of the basic course for at least one year (two full semesters) are required to enroll in COMM 7/8003, which is a series of seminars oriented around themes and problems connected with the basic course and communication instruction pedagogy.

Teaching High-Level Courses
After passing their comprehensive exams, doctoral students sometimes have the opportunity to teach courses at the 2000 – 3000 level. 

Responsibilities 

• Email: All faculty and GTAs MUST read their email messages several times a day. All announcements, alerts, and other important memorandums will be distributed via email.
• Syllabus: All 2381 instructors are responsible for designing their own syllabus; however, the syllabus should reflect the basic syllabus shell, which contains all mandatory policies, as this is a general education requirement for all students. In addition, copies of the syllabus should be available to the students online (training is provided).
• Teaching Resources: Each classroom is equipped with computers, DVD/VHS players, projection screens, and dry erase boards. In the media closets of each classroom are copies of various videos for use in the class. All GTA’s must see Ms. Rika Hudson, department secretary, for access to what they need. Furthermore, an access code is needed to operate the copy machine to make exams and necessary handouts; see Ms. Rika Hudson to set up your limited account to use the department copy machine. Other teaching aids may be available (when funds allow), such as stopwatches, grade books, chalk, dry erase markers, etc.; again GTA’s will need to see one of the secretaries for current availability of these items.

For questions about the GA application process or decision making, please contact Dr. Leroy G. Dorsey, Department Chair and Interim Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

For questions about teaching responsibilities, please contact Lori Stallings, Director of the Basic Course.