University of Minnesota
Department of Writing Studies
612-624-3445
writ@umn.edu


Department of Writing Studies home page.

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Assistantships & Aid

Graduate instructorships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, and loans provide the most common form of support for graduate students. You must be admitted and in good academic standing to hold these positions, and you must be registered for at least six credits a semester to maintain your status.

Graduate Instructorships (GI) & Teaching Assistantships (TA)

Graduate Instructors teach sections of the Department of Writing Studies' undergraduate courses: typically, required courses in first-year writing and technical communication, although other teaching opportunities are available.  To be eligible for a teaching position, you must complete Writing Studies’ WRIT 5531 Introduction to Writing Instruction: Composition Pedagogy and participate in other orientation and training activities.  The department has a limited number of Teaching Assistantships, where you would help a faculty member by evaluating student papers, meeting with students, and other duties.

Research Assistantships and Administrative Fellowships

Writing Studies has a few research assistantships, usually funded through grants that faculty secure.  In this case, the individual faculty member hires the assistant.  There are a limited number of research assistantships and administrative fellowships are available for graduate students in writing studies. You may apply for graduate assistantships in other U of M departments if you meet the qualifications. The Graduate Assistant Employment Office posts openings from all University departments.

Graduate Assistant Employment Office
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/gae/
200 Donhowe Building
319-15th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-624-7070
612-625-9801 (fax)
gaoinfo@umn.edu

Center for Writing Job Opportunities

As an interdisciplinary center devoted to the practice, teaching, and study of writing, the Center for Writing encourages Writing Studies graduate students to apply for TA positions in its Student Writing Support program, as well as RA positions with the Writing-Enriched Curriculum project.  Openings are typically announced in February for the following academic year on the Center’s website.

Additionally, Writing Studies graduate students may be interested in working with a faculty or academic staff member on an Interdisciplinary Studies of Writing research grant, which could provide summer RA funding.

Graduate students enrolled in the Center’s Literacy and Rhetorical Studies minor are eligible for the travel grants and dissertation fellowships associated with that program.

Writing Studies Industrial Affiliates Program Fellowships

Every spring our students may apply for $2,000 fellowships offered by the department's Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP).  These are sponsored by companies that partner with us on a number of

initiatives.  The fellowships support research on site at the affiliates' workplace.  For more information see the IAP website.

Graduate School Fellowships

The Graduate School has "mid-career" fellowships, such as the Stout-Wallace, and Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, for students in their thesis-writing year.  These are awarded through a university-wide competition to students who are nominated by the department.  In addition to these, the Graduate School offers tuition scholarships to second-year students and modest support for research.  For information about scholarships and fellowships offered through the Graduate School, contact:

Graduate School Fellowship Office
http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/
314 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-625-7579
612-625-6820 (fax)
gsfellow@umn.edu

Other Useful Sites

Funding your graduate studies: assistantships, fellowships and loans http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Financing/index.html

Graduate Student Funding Resource
http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/funding/

For information about full-time employment at the U contact:
U of M Job Center, 170 Donhowe Building, 319 - 15th Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-2000, 612-626-7911 (fax)

The University's information site:
One Stop Student Services, 200 Fraser Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-1111