We do not admit students who intend to work in areas in which we cannot adequately advise them, and we do not admit more students than we expect we can support. The department and the faculty have an excellent track record in this regard. During your first year in the Ph.D. program, therefore, you must forge a working relationship with a faculty member who is willing to supervise your dissertation research and, if you do not have other funding , able to provide you with financial support. They do expect you to knock on theirs, however, so don't be shy. A strong student-advisor relationship is essential to securing support after the initial year, so it is never too early to initiate this relationship.
Research assistantships appointments are normally for one year at a time.
While details may vary, a typical assistantship includes a stipend, full-time tuition, and health insurance. The basic stipend amount is enough to support a person living in this location, although many students find it more financially comfortable to share housing. Your advisor also will provide you with equipment and with travel funds to attend conferences, at the advisor's discretion. Textbooks are not covered. Master's students generally are not supported by the department.