For the Ph.D. degree, assistance may be given for a maximum of four academic years (or 8 semesters). For the combined M.A. and Ph.D., assistance may be given for a maximum of six academic years (or 12 semesters).

Assistant Instructors (AI) are awarded to persons who have a Master's degree and teach classes unassisted. Assistant instructorships currently pay $15,250 for half-time employment for the academic year (September through May). Half-time graduate student employees receive the same health insurance as faculty and staff for the academic year and summer at no cost to the student. Spouses and families can be covered at an additional cost and is deducted from the student's salary. Students may add visual and dental insurance at an additional cost. Normally, assistant instructors are asked to teach two introductory level undergraduate courses each semester, in areas such as professional communication skills, Speechmaking and Society, team based communication, organizational communication, and interviewing. Usually, the department has 25 AIs performing these duties.

Note: The salaries and fellowship amounts cited in this section are for Fall 2008, and are subject to change. We include this information to give you a rough estimate of potential income.