Graduate Assistantships

Most Graduate Assistantships carry a waiver of tuition, a waiver of many of the fees, and a stipend of $3,682.20 per semester for a 10-hour-per-week position. In a typical year, a significant majority of students receive some form of assistantship, whether it is a teaching assistantship (TA), graduate assistantship (GA), or research assistantship (RA). However, in no way can the Department of Sport Management guarantee funding to all accepted graduate students. An application form to determine interests and abilities in an assistantship will be sent when a candidate is invited for an admissions interview.

Generally there are several graduate assistantships available within the department. These assistantships entail a variety of responsibilities, including:

- working with professors in teaching undergraduate courses
- assisting the department in adminstrative functions such as undergraduate advising and alumni affairs
- assisting faculty members on a specific research project

When invited for an admissions interview, more information will be provided regarding the selection process for these positions. Graduate Assistantships may also be available in other departments on campus and at Amhert College and Mount Holyoke College. The selection process for these positions is entirely the responsibility of the hiring program or department.

It is recommended that a student plan and prepare to attend the University of Massachusetts without a graduate assistantship. In addition to the competitive nature of the positions and budgetary considerations, frequently, decisions are not made until the middle of the summer prior to a student entering in the fall.

Financial Aid Office

Specific information concerning non-athletic assistantships can be obtained by contacting:

Director of Financial Aid,
Whitmore Administration Building
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-0801 

 

Financial Assistance for Minorities

Aside from graduate assistantships that may be offered through the University's Athletic Department, the Department of Sport Management, other departments on campus, other area colleges, the Office of Minority Graduate Student Recruitment also offers assistantships. The OMGSR helps departments by providing financial assistance on a competitive basis in order to allow departments to meet their affirmative action goals for graduate student enrollment. Most financial assistance awarded through this process carries a full tuition waiver. For more information, call the OMGSR at (413) 545-5284. The NCAA also offers scholarship aid through its Women's and Ethnic Minority Enhancement Program.