Assistantships, Internships and Other Opportunities

Graduate Teaching Assistantships may be awarded to students who demonstrate readiness to become teachers in freshman- and sophomore-level English courses. Graduate Teaching Assistants must undergo a pre-semester orientation and attend mentoring meetings twice monthly with the GTA mentor and fellow graduate teachers. GTAs are also required to enroll in English 5519. Normally M.A. students will receive a maximum of two years of GTA funding, Interdisciplinary-Ph.D. students will receive a maximum of three years of GTA funding, and those who do their M.A. and Interdisciplinary-Ph.D. in the department will receive a maximum of four years of GTA funding. These terms are contingent upon a successful yearly review of performance in the classroom and adequate academic performance. M.A. students who have completed 21 hours or more of coursework may not have their assistantships renewed without making a special appeal to the graduate committee justifying the need for continuing support. All GTAs must submit a brief statement of their intent to renew their GTA position to the graduate committee each year before the February 15 admissions deadline.

APP Tutoring Assistantships may be awarded to students who demonstrate a strong ability to work well with a diverse student population and who are reliable in an environment that demands excellent organizational skills. An ability to work independently as well as within small group and classroom settings is essential. Participation in Writing Center tutor training and meetings is required. The APP GT appointment is for one semester but is renewable for up to two years.

Through the resources of the metropolitan media, as well as the on-campus facilities of the national literary journal New Letters and literary publisher BkMk Press, students may gain experience in writing and editing. With the approval of the supervising faculty, students may intern with these on-campus media for credit and also may serve on the staff of the student literary journal, Number One.