A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified applicants to provide support for tuition and a modest living. Once awarded department funds for an assistantship, the student making satisfactory progress on her/his assignments and in course work can expect a maximum of two years financial aid at the MA. level and/or three years at the Ph.D. level. Actual funding from year to year depends on the availability of funds and student performance.

Teaching assistantships are awarded on the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions and Records Committee and the Department Chair. Individual project directors and faculty researchers are responsible for selection of their Graduate Research Assistants from a pool of qualified students who have been admitted to the program.

Assistantships generally require twenty hours of effort a week in addition to course work. Graduate assistants may be rotated in teaching and research assignments to maximize the educational value of the assistantship experience. To the extent possible, assistants are involved in research design, measurement and data collection, data management and analysis, and project design and evaluation.