Graduate research assistantships, teaching assistantships and research fellowships are available on a competitive basis. Over 30 students receive assistantships while several more have been hired directly by the private sector while they complete their studies.
Every student admitted to the M.S. in mathematics, M.S. in statistics and CSS Ph.D. program is considered for an assistantship. Assistantships are rarely awarded in the M.S. in data science program. See below for more information.
There is no separate application process for assistantships.
While admission to the department's graduate program does not guarantee that an assistantship will be available, the majority of students entering the three programs mentioned above in the fall semester who desire an assistantship receive one. Assistantships are typically not awarded starting in the spring semester.
It is highly recommended that applications for admission for the fall semester by those desiring an assistantship should be made by Feb. 15 (for applications to the M.S. programs) or Dec. 15 (for the Ph.D. program). Graduate assistantship decisions are generally made by the first week of March. Spring admission assistantships and fellowships are less common. If you wish to be considered for an assistantship, make sure to have your letters of recommendation address any experience you have with teaching or tutoring mathematics and statistics.
CSS Ph.D. Assistantships
- CSS Ph.D. assistantships are contracted for the nine-month academic year and require 20 hours per week of either teaching-related or research duties.
- Students receive a near-total waiver of tuition and fees, paying only the General Activity Fee.
M.S. Mathematics and M.S. Statistics Assistantships
- M.S. mathematics or M.S. statistics assistantships are contracted for the nine-month academic year and require 20 hours per week of either teaching-related or research duties.
- Students receive a near-total waiver of tuition and fees, paying only the General Activity Fee.
M.S. in Data Science
Financial assistance in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) or graduate research assistantship (GRA) is uncommon in this program. This is a professional master's degree program designed to be completed in one calendar year to prepare students for immediate entry into careers as professional data scientists, not careers in teaching or academic research. Thus, GTA's and GRA's are available to MSDS students only in very exceptional circumstances and are based on departmental need and availability of funding.