Graduate Assistantships (MA)

The Department of Sociology awards teaching assistantships to doctoral students in the applied sociology program.  On occasion, there is funding available to master's-level students in sociology who are also planning to pursue the doctoral program in applied sociology at UofL.  These are awarded on a competitive basis, usually for one academic year (i.e., two semesters). These assistantships provide a 10-month stipend (August 1 through May 31), along with full-time tuition reimbursement and student health insurance during the fall and spring semesters for which they are awarded. (Occasionally, assistantships are awarded for one semester, in which case the stipend and tuition reimbursement are granted for that semester only.)

In exchange for the stipend and reimbursement, students are expected to provide 20 hours weekly of service to the department in the form of teaching assistance to a faculty member teaching a lower-level sociology course.  Teaching assistants often attend the weekly lecture(s), help the supervising faculty with grading and tutoring, and also oversee their own "discussion sections" related to the lecture. These assistantships are given to students in the program who have excellent GPA and GRE scores and are believed to have the ability to provide excellent instruction in the classroom.  (Do note that the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS) prohibits students from holding additional employment while serving as a graduate teaching assistant.)

Assistantships may be renewed for a second year but such renewals will not be honored unless, by the beginning of the new appointment (August 1) the student has: (1) an academic record free of "I" and "X" grades (except for thesis,internship, or independent study credits), and (2) begun the process of assembling his/her thesis or practicum committee and chair.   Those serving on an assistantship are expected to register for no less than nine, and no more than twelve, credit hours per semester unless fewer hours are required for graduation.  NOTE:  Students who are funded by an assistantship during their first year and wish to continue their assistantship during their second year must submit a letter of interest including the information listed below by the following deadlines.

Interested students must:

  • submit to the Graduate Admissions Office their application materials by January 5 for the following fall semester and October 1 for the following spring semester.
  • submit to Dr. Jonetta Weber their CV/résumé and a letter of interest indicating (a) that they wish to be considered for an assistantship and detailing why they would be a good candidate for an assistantship.

The Sociology Graduate Admissions Committee may also request an interview with assistantship candidates.  Awards are generally determined by April 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.  NOTE:  Students must submit a letter of interest for each upcoming semester (fall and spring) for which they are interesting in being considered for any available assistantships.

For more information on available assistantships, contact Dr. Jonetta Weber or (502) 852-8028).