Most of the Department's graduate students are supported by Teaching Assistantships. These are awarded solely on the basis of merit (regardless of citizenship or other factors) and provide both a full waiver of tuition fees (for up to 12 hours of graduate level course work) and a stipend to cover living expenses. Master's students in good standing may anticipate two years of such support while doctoral students may expect up to six years, assuming an acceptable rate of progress toward the degree is maintained. For particularly meritorious applicants, the assistantship may be supplemented with a special merit award of up to $2000.
In the academic year 2005-2006, the nine-month assistantship stipend was $10,000 for Master's candidates and $13,000 for Ph.D. candidates. With optional summer support included, these figures rose to approximately $12,000 and $16,000 respectively. (While not guaranteed, support during the summer months has traditionally been available for all students in good standing who requested it.) Because of the relatively low cost of living in Toledo (especially compared to U.S. cities on the east or west coasts), these stipend levels have proved adequate to provide a relatively comfortable standard of living for our students.
Teaching Assistants are eligible to receive a subsidy toward the purchase of the University of Toledo Student Health Insurance. They are also eligible for a faculty/staff parking permit and charged at a lower rate. Payroll deduction plans are available for student insurance and parking passes.
Depending on the level of their experience and their facility with English, assistants are involved in a variety of activities related to the Department's undergraduate teaching mission, including grading, tutoring, leading recitation sections and the actual teaching of a course. Teaching assistants are expected to spend up to 20 hours per week on these activities. This experience is expected to be a valuable part of the student's graduate education that will contribute to their preparation for a professional career.
Applicants for admission to the MA, MS and PhD programs of the Department are generally automatically considered for assistantship support. However, interested applicants would be wise to include either a specific written request for consideration or a completed Graduate Assistantship Application with their admission application. Awards are usually made in early February and March for the upcoming Fall term but there is no formal deadline and applications will generally be considered as long as there are positions unfilled.
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