Those seeking to renew an assistantship must have completed at least six credit hours each semester and must continue to enroll for at least six hours per semester. In addition to the financial benefits of the position, a graduate assistantship offers the student an opportunity to develop practical skills and gain valuable experience that later can be applied in a career. Graduate assistantships carry a yearly stipend and tuition reimbursement for up to nine credits for the fall and spring semesters of the assistantship. Graduate assistants must provide 20 hours of work per week to the Department of Journalism, Public Relation and Advertising from the start of registration in the fall semester through commencement in the spring semester. Assistantships are available only on main campus.
Loans are available to all graduate students through various government and university programs.
Information and applications are available from the university s Financial Aid Office. Information about the federal work-study program also is available from the same office. Application for these types of financial aid will be accepted from new students and those presently in a graduate program, but students must apply each year that they want aid. The MJ program itself has limited financial resources, although some tuition scholarships are offered. Applications are available in the SCAT Graduate Office.