Financial Support

Departmental assistantships and fellowships are made on a competitive basis, based on consideration of an applicant's professional background, academic record, and particular skills, as well as the needs of the department. Assistantships generally include a stipend and waiver of tuition and fees. Over half of our entering class receive merit-based assistantships upon entry into the program. Many others find that once they arrive on campus they are able to secure research assistantships or other assignments from faculty in DURP or other units. In most semesters, 70 to 80 percent of MUP students have research or teaching assistantships with tuition waivers. Each year several students also obtain jobs with planning agencies in the area.

Research & Teaching Assistantships

Those students receiving departmental assistantship offers upon admission are given specific appointments by the Department Head, in consultation with the MUP and Bachelor's program coordinators and the rest of the faculty. Enrollment in a minimum of 12 hours of graduate level credit per semester and a minimum of 3.00 GPA while in the program are required to hold an assistantship. Most MUP assistantships are "25 percent" appointments, which means that they require ten hours of work per week. Evaluation of performance by the student's immediate supervisor, normally a faculty member, is the usual basis for continuation or reappointment.

Fellowships

Highly competitive applicants are considered for several fellowship offered by the Department itself (e.g., the Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship) and the Graduate College. Fellowships provide a waiver of tuition and most fees and a stipend similar to a 25 percent assistantship, but without a requirement for work.

Note that all applicants are automatically considered for both assistantships and fellowships in the admissions review process.