School of the EnvironmentGraduate StudiesFinancial Support

Financial Support

Financial support for graduate students is most commonly available in the form of either a teaching assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA). Students supported on TAs or RAs typically have 9-month (academic year) appointments that include a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a living stipend.

Summer research funding is supported on a student-by-student basis by faculty advisors, fellowships, and grants.

Prospective and current students requesting funding should contact their faculty advisor. New students should note the request for funding on their graduate application.  Available fellowships are listed below.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are state-supported, half-time, nine-month positions available to students with strong academic records. Students who have been awarded a TA position will receive a letter stating the term of that appointment. Graduate students on teaching assistantships work approximately 20 hours per week in teaching laboratory sections, grading homework, or answering questions during office hours. Teaching assistants may aid in courses that are in their sub-discipline areas.

Research Assistantships

Research assistantships are funded by external agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institute for Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and a variety of other state, federal, and non-governmental sources. If you have been awarded an RA position upon admission, you will have already received a letter with information regarding the terms of that appointment and the faculty member who has agreed to provide funding. Graduate research assistantships are half-time appointments, and may in some cases, but not always,  be paid during the summer months in addition to the academic year. In many cases, the results of the work are applied to the research assistant’s thesis.

Hourly Wage Positions

The selection process for awarding graduate teaching and research assistantships is highly competitive. For students who are not awarded research or teaching assistantships, hourly wage positions may be available to provide partial financial support through the School of the Environment. Students should work closely with both the graduate coordinator and their academic mentor to stay informed of future funding opportunities.

Scholarships

School of the Environment offers a variety of internal scholarships to both graduate and undergraduate students. Every spring semester we solicit applications for internal awards; students must apply for these scholarships in order to be eligible.

For more information please contact:

Graduate Program Coordinator
(Pullman/Puyallup/Tri Cities)

Zoeii Freeman
soe.academics@wsu.edu

Graduate Program Coordinator
(Vancouver)

Diego Murillo
diego.murillo@wsu.edu

Associate Director of Graduate Programs

Dan Thornton
daniel.thornton@wsu.edu