Teaching Assistantships

The program's primary method of funding its graduate students is through teaching assistantships within the Department of Communication. As with admission, financial assistance is awarded on a competitive basis. We have been able to offer assistantships to many of the graduate students we admits, but a guarantee of financial support does not accompany admission into the program.

The department typically assigns teaching assistants to provide instruction in one of its basic skills courses, although other assignments are sometimes available.

If you would like to be considered for a teaching assistantship, please request an application form and mail it to the program in care of the Director of Graduate Studies no later than March 1. As with admission, applying early enhances the probability of receiving a teaching assistantship.

The department requires applicants for teaching assistantship positions to have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.25. TAs must maintain a minimum of 3.25 GPA in graduate studies in order to keep their assistantships and enroll in 12 units each quarter. The program is currently housed in AOB-IV (left). Current plans call for the program to move to a renovated Kerr Hall in 2007 (right).

Fellowships

The Graduate Division administers the University's Fellowship and Graduate Scholarship funds. Our students compete with students from other graduate programs for these awards, which are given on the basis of merit. If you are a member of an ethnic minority group or a handicapped student we would like to call your attention to the existence of
Graduate Opportunity Fellowships. The deadline for application is January 15. Procedures and application forms can be found in the “Application For Graduate Admission and Fellowship” booklet you request from Graduate
Studies (using the enclosed postcard).

Nonresident Tuition Fellowships

Students who are not residents of the State of California are eligible to be considered for a nonresident tuition fellowship. Application information may be found in the “Application For Graduate Admission and Fellowship”
booklet; see above. Deadline is January 15. These awards, which are limited in number, cover the nonresident portion of the student's
tuition and fees. The program's nominations are based exclusively on merit.

Other Sources of Support

The UCD Financial Aid Office administers several loan, grant, and work-study programs that might be of interest to you. For more information
contact:

Financial Aid Office
1100 Dutton Hall
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616

Establishing California Residency

If you are not a resident of California, it is important that you begin to establish residency as soon as possible. As a resident of California,
you will not have to pay the out-of-state tuition fee. It is thus important that you investigate the requirements that must be satisfied to become a legal resident of the state. Guidance on doing so can be found here: