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Ways to Finance Your Master's Degree
Federal Financial AidIf you are interested in applying for a federal educational loan, please contact MU's Student Financial Aid Office at 1-800-225-6075 if in Missouri. Outside of Missouri, call (573) 882-7506. You can also write to Financial Aid, 11 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate AssistantshipsBoth research and teaching assistantships are available on a competitive basis to graduate students who are able to contribute special skills to the mission and work of the school. Research assistants support faculty members in their research or creative projects, or sometimes in service activities. Teaching assistants typically perform teaching-related activities such as guest lecturing, writing and grading exams, and meeting with students. Sometimes teaching assistants may also be involved in service activities. Usually, graduate assistantships are not assigned to first-semester students. International graduate students may not be appointed to teaching assistantships their first semester on campus. According to university policy and Missouri law, all graduate students who received elementary and secondary education in a country where English is not the official language must participate in a language screening before receiving any type of teaching assignment. Graduate assistants usually work 10 hours a week. Assistantships carry a waiver of the resident and non-resident educational fees. (The waiver does not include supplemental fees, i.e. student health, student activities, computer, journalism fee, etc.) Waivers only cover courses that are directly related to the plan of study. Students must be enrolled for at least nine hours and no more than 12 hours while working as an assistant. Acceptance of a graduate teaching or research assistantship in the School of Journalism is contingent upon eligibility. Eligibility requirements include:
ScholarshipsThe School of Journalism has one of the largest scholarship programs. Graduate students must be accepted into the program to be eligible for a scholarship. The Admissions Committee automatically makes recommendations for scholarship awards for applicants. No application form is necessary. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified by letter. To receive the scholarship, you must be enrolled full-time (i.e., at least nine hours a semester). Scholarships are generally awarded for two semesters (Fall and Winter). Scholarships will be renewed for the Winter term provided that you remain enrolled full-time, earned at least nine credit hours during the Fall term and received a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Should you receive a graduate assistantship, your scholarship will be rescinded. Scholarship offers must be accepted by deadline in order to ensure your scholarship funding. Not accepting by the required deadline may jeopardize you receiving a scholarship. Scholarships will not be deferred to a later term per the Journalism Graduate Studies policy. FellowshipsMU's Graduate School offers a number of fellowships to first-time graduate students, including the D.R. Francis Fellowships and the William Gregory Fellowships as well as the Marshall Fellowships for underrepresented minorities. These are campus-wide awards and are highly competitive and require a very high grade point average and GRE scores. The Journalism Graduate Studies Center will select qualified candidates and send their nominations to the Graduate School. For more information on the fellowship programs, please contact the MU Graduate School. In addition to the above information, here are links to a few documents that might provide additional avenues for you as you search for funding for your graduate program:
MU Graduate School
http://gradschool.missouri.edu/ MU Student Financial Aid http://www.sfa.missouri.edu/ |
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| Revised: 20 March 2007. Copyright © 2008 The Curators of the University of Missouri | Contact the J-School | |
