Graduate Assistantships offer Full Funding

For virtually all full-time students, the M.A. in English Program is fully funded. Students receive funding through a combination of Graduate Assistantships held by the English Department and partnerships with other offices on campus, which provide valuable professional experience that supplements their graduate coursework. Graduate Assistants receive a full tuition waiver and a stipend for their two years in the program in this multifaceted assistantship structure.

Please go to the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for your program of study. 

Teaching Year

(This may be year one or year two, depending on the number of assistantships and the number of opportunities):

  • In the fall of the “teaching year,” students will serve as teaching assistants in an undergraduate course for English majors, usually in a section of ENG 299, Writing About Literature. This will offer students the opportunity to lead some discussions, do minimal grading, and work closely with the instructor, all while reviewing the important building blocks of the discipline. Instructors will submit a short assessment of each teaching assistant’s performance at the conclusion of the semester.

  • In the spring of the “teaching year,” students will serve as discussion section leaders in a larger course. Each student will lead an independent discussion section once a week and grade assignments for the section, while norming grades and working closely with the instructor of the course. At the same time, students will register for ENG 605 (Professional Seminar in Literature Pedagogy), a 3-credit course designed to inform and supplement their experience as discussion section leaders.
Non-teaching Year

(This may be year one or year two, depending on the number of assistantships and the number of opportunities):

  • In the non-teaching year, students will be assigned to work a non-teaching role designed to build a broader experience in the discipline and in allied professional contexts. The placement of these positions (15-20 hours/week) can vary from year-to-year, but in the past students have gained experience in academic publishing, libraries and archives, writing instruction and support, digital humanities, podcasting, undergraduate mentoring, and university academic programming. Every effort will be made to match student interests and experience with the appropriate non-teaching experience.

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