Funding and Financial Assistance
Department Aid
Starting Fall 2015, the department awards TA/GA positions upon admission to the PhD program. Admitted PhD Students are offered multi-year funding packages. Department aid is not available for MA students.
PhD students working as TA's usually teach American Studies 182, 183, 184, 185, or 186. The GA has different responsibilities each semester. TAs/GAs must be registered for at least six (6) hours of graduate credit, and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in graduate work.
Advanced doctoral students at the dissertation stage may also apply to teach a 300 level course as a Teaching Associate. Teaching Associates do not receive a tuition waver. Teaching Associates must be registered for at least six (6) hours of graduate credit and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in graduate work.
Other Sources of Aid
The Office of Graduate Studies offers a limited number of financial aid fellowships and awards. Some may be held concurrently with other forms of aid. Contact: Office of Graduate Studies, Humanities 107, 505/277-2711.
The University administers National Direct/Perkins Loans and Federal Direct Student Loans and cooperates in the administration of a number of other such funds, as well as work study and student employment programs. Short-term emergency loans are also available to currently enrolled full-time graduate students. Contact: Student Financial Aid Office, Mesa Vista North, 505/277-8900.
The Student Research Allocations Committee provides money for student research projects and for travel expenses to conferences and workshops directly related to the student's degree program. Contact: SRAC, Graduate & Professional Student Association, Student Union Building (SUB), Room 1021, 505/277-3803.
Student members of the American Studies Association who have had papers accepted for annual meeting may enter the ASA-wide competition the Gene Wise-Warren Susman Prize, which includes a certificate and $500 in cash awarded for the best paper presented by a graduate student at the meeting. Annette K. Baxter travel grants are awarded to up to five graduate students in national competition, and provide reimbursement for travel expenses up to a maximum of $300 per recipient. Deadlines are in early September.
Some funding for travel and/or research is usually available through the Department's American Studies Graduate Student Association.
The Department encourages graduate students to investigate outside sources of funding for study/research. Listings of grant opportunities are available through the Office of Research, 327 Scholes Hall 505/277-6128.
