MFA in Media, Technology, and Entertainment: Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Purpose of the Graduate Assistantship

The graduate assistantship in the School of Communication & Multimedia Studies plays an integral role in fulfilling the mission of the School. Graduate assistants function to help the School meet its teaching and research goals in at least two ways: (1) by allowing the School to offer its undergraduate course work in an effective manner, and (2) by creating a coherent School culture which fosters a productive learning, teaching, and research environment for both faculty and graduate students while establishing a positive environment for our undergraduates as well.

The graduate assistantship is a mutually beneficial arrangement between the graduate student and the faculty of the School. The graduate assistantship assignment constitutes more than clerical or secretarial support for the faculty. An assistantship is equivalent to a professional apprenticeship. The student will gain knowledge and insight about college teaching, research, and/or related academic duties by developing a close working relationship with one or more full time faculty members, by observing experienced educators at work, by gaining teaching experience in the classroom or lab, or by assisting in production-related research and development.

Graduate Assistantship Requirements

Graduate assistants must be fully admitted, full time graduate students in the School of Communication & Multimedia Studies. Students must submit an application indicating interest in an assistantship. Graduate teaching assistantship applications are reviewed and recipients are selected by the program’s graduate faculty, with approval from the Associate Director of the School.

Graduate Assistantship Workshop

All new graduate teaching assistants are required to attend the School's graduate assistant workshop offered prior to the fall semester of each academic year.

Graduate Assistantship Assignments & Workload

The workload of the total graduate assistantship assignment for one semester averages 20 hours a week. Assistantship assignments are determined by the program’s graduate faculty in consultation with the Associate Director of the School.

Graduate Assistantship Duration

Students receiving graduate assistantships in the School of Communication & Multimedia Studies are granted an assistantship for one academic year, which may automatically be renewed for a second year as long as they remain in good standing with the School. Summer assistantships are optional and are available based on funding.

Graduate Assistantship Compensation

Graduate assistants receive a stipend during the academic year as well as full tuition benefits based on the established guidelines of the Graduate College. Graduate assistants are subject to the applicable policies of the Graduate College and the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, which include maintaining full-time graduate student status and remaining in good academic standing. Guidelines for graduate assistantships are posted by the Graduate College.