The Department offers a number of graduate assistantships on a competitive basis each academic year. Recipients of graduate assistantships receive a stipend and a tuition waiver. Assistantship duties vary based upon the assignment. Some typical assignments have included:

• Teaching -- teaching sections of the university required basic public speaking course. Students are required to participate in a orientation prior to the beginning of school. Graduate assistants are responsible for all aspects of the course they are assigned (lectures, testing, evaluating speeches, calculating grades) under the supervision of the basic course director.
• Coaching the Speech Team -- The department supports a speech team that travels regionally and nationally to tournaments. Graduate assistants assigned to the team coach and travel with the team.   
• TV News/Sports Production -- The Radio/TV Center provides significant opportunities for students in the various programs of the department. The station operates a television station, radio station, two cable radio stations, programming on two cable channels, and PSA production for regular cable broadcasts on campus. The station, with the support of the department employs a number of graduate assistants as producer/directors, news and sports directors, and radio station managers.
• Multimedia Laboratory Manager -- The department maintains a computer laboratory in the department. The day-to-day operations of the lab are the responsibility of a graduate assistant.
• Health Communication Project Administrator -- The department participates in the I Sing the Body Electric program that uses the arts to promote healthy lifestyle choices. This project employs one or two graduate assistants each year, working with interns, coordinating project tours, and working as a project administrator.
• Presidential Scholars -- Presidential scholars are a specialized set of assistantships that are designed to provide additional support for graduate departments/schools during the academic year and offer an additional opportunity to attract a top graduate candidate or candidates to the program. The highest priority for Presidential Assistantships is support for the teaching mission of the University.

Graduate assistants are limited to an 18 to 19 clock hour per week workload. All assistants in the department receive a stipend of up to $800 per month for 9 months and include a graduate tuition waiver for a fall, spring, and summer term.

Students who work in the Radio/TV center may be supported through a Grant-in-aid and a Talented Student Award. Students who receive these awards will receive a tuition wavier equivalent to 12 semester hours in instate tuition for Fall and Spring semester and $2000 per semester stipend.

To apply for an assistantship, you need to complete an Application for a Graduate Assistantship. This form is in addition to the application to graduate school. The form should be sent directly to the graduate coordinator.