Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Scholarships

The department offers Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Tuition Scholarships (GTS) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA). The application deadline for Fall Semester admission in the Master of Science (M.S.) in Earth and Environmental Sciences program is February 28. Financial support is awarded on a competitive basis to M.S. students. Submission of a complete application prior to the deadline is highly recommended for financial award considerations.

Graduate Teaching Assistantship

A Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) is awarded on a competitive basis and carries a stipend for the academic year (2 semesters: Fall and Spring) and a full tuition fee waiver. The GTA award will typically begin in September, and is intended as a two-year commitment; the GTA award will continue in the second-year (2 semesters: Fall and Spring) contingent upon the student's satisfactory academic performance in the first year. The GTAs will also be awarded a tuition fee waiver for the Summer Term, after the completion of the first academic year.

The GTA award can be combined with an Early Start Fellowship award that provides tuition and a stipend for the summer term (May-August) before the first academic year begins, and to students interested in a research project. The Early Start Fellowship award offers the opportunity to become involved in a research project and other assignments for one semester (Summer Term).

A Graduate Teaching Assistant is required to work 20 hours per week for 15 weeks during the fall and spring semesters of the first and second years.

Graduate Tuition Scholarship

Graduate Tuition Scholarship (GTS) awards are awarded on a competitive basis and provide a partial tuition fee waiver. However, the award does not carry any stipend or duties for the awardees. The GTS award may begin in the Summer or Fall term, and the award is often intended as a one-year commitment, with continuation contingent upon satisfactory performance.