Graduate assistantships in the Department of English are awarded on a competitive basis. Most of our graduate assistants are teaching assistants, taking full classroom responsibility for one section of composition per semester. Some graduate assistants may work in the campus Writing Lab or at The University of Akron Press.

Applications for both fall and spring appointments will be accepted until March 1. M.A. students may renew assistantships for a second year, and M.F.A. students may renew for up to three years.

Along with the application form, applicants for assistantships must submit a clean copy of a writing sample in the form of a typed essay completed in a college course (5-10 pages), two letters of recommendation, and scores from the general section of the Graduate Record Examination. Please mail all materials directly to the Graduate Coordinator in care of the English Department.

Graduate assistants must enroll as full time graduate students (9 credit hours per semester). They may not be employed outside the university for more than 8 hours per week. Teaching assistants are required to attend a one week pre-term orientation, take a teaching practicum, and teach one section of composition per semester.

Other nonacademic departments on campus may have teaching assistantship positions as well. For a list, please see Other Graduate Assistantships.