Doctoral Assistantships

Doctoral Teaching Assistantships

The Department of Sociology awards graduate teaching assistantships each year to doctoral students in sociology on a competitive basis, usually for one academic year (i.e., two semesters).  Assistantships provide a 12-month stipend (July 1 through June 30), along with full-time tuition reimbursement and student health insurance during the academic year 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 or, occasionally, research assistance.  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 or research assistance to a faculty member.

Assistantships may be renewed up to three years but such renewals will not be honored unless, by the beginning of the second year appointment (August 1) the student has: (1) an academic record free of "I" and "X" grades (except for independent study credits), and (2) begun the process of assembling their dissertation 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.  (Therefore, applicants seeking funding for fall, 2019 must submit their materials by January 5, 2018, while those seeking funding for spring, 2020, must submit their materials by October 1, 2019.)
  • submit to Dr. Jonetta Weber their CV/résumé and a letter of interest indicating (a) that they wish to be considered for an assistanship and detailing why they would be a good candidate for the position.

The Doctoral Admissions Committee may also request an interview with assistantship candidates.  Awards are generally determined by March 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.

If you have any questions, please contact , Director of Academic Services.