CAPPA Graduate Assistantship

QUALIFICATIONS

• Students must be unconditionally admitted to a CAPPA graduate program or a degree-seeking graduate student in good standing with the program.
• Maintain at least a 3.0 graduate grade-point average
• Assistantships are highly competitive. Admission to the program does not guarantee funding.
• Student must successfully pass a criminal background check.
• In addition, student whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency with an acceptable score of:
  • At least 23 on the TOEFL speaking subtest or
  • a score of at least 7 on the speaking section of the IELTS or
  • passing the UTA Developmental English course

• Public Affairs and Planning Doctoral programs require:
  • GPA of 3.6 and
  • graduate coursework competency demonstrated through GRE scores prior to admission:
    
    • GRE Verbal: a minimum score of 153
    • GRE Quantitative : a minimum score of 144
    • GRE Writing: a minimum score of 3.5

The TOEFL, IELTS, and GRE scores should be sent directly to UT Arlington by ETS or IELTS. The English proficiency requirement will be waived for non-native speakers of English who possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution.

DEVELOPMENTAL ENGLISH PROGRAM

This 10-week program, offered by the UT Arlington English Language Institute, emphasizes oral presentation skills and accent reduction. Registration is in 402 Hammond Hall, and the charge for the course is payable at the time of registration. Contact the English Language Institute at 817.272.2730 for details, including the current class schedule and charges.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

A Social Security Number (SSN) is needed to facilitate employment in the U.S., including student employment, and to file a U.S. tax return. Please refer to the Office on  International Education to determine your SSN eligibility and for instructions on how to obtain one. Please note that it may take 4 - 6 weeks to receive your SSN. 

Graduating international students may not work past the last class day of their final semester due to visa regulations unless they have obtained an extension of work authorization through the Office of International Education.

COURSE LOAD

Full Assistantships (20 hours of employment per week):  Graduate Assistantships may register for and must complete:

• At least 9 semester hours during the Fall and Spring semesters
• At least 6 semester hours during the summer semester

Partial Assistantships (10 hours of employment per week):  Graduate Assistantships may register for and must complete:

• At least 6 semester hours during the Fall and Spring semesters and
• At least 3 semester hours during the summer semester.

All Graduate Assistantship candidates must comply with the minimum enrollment standards of their academic unit.

FUNDING

Stipends for graduate assistantships vary by program and level of education completed. Assistantships are assigned on a semester-to-semester basis and are not assured during the summer term.

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT

Graduate Assistantships are made on a per-semester basis. GRA appointment dates are typically September 1-January 15 for the fall, January 16 - May 31 for the spring, and June 1 to August 31 for the summer. The appointment dates may vary based on funds availability and faculty need. Graduating international students may not work past the last class day of their final semester due to visa regulations unless they have obtained an extension of work authorization through the Office of International Education.

CONTINUATION OR RENEWAL OF APPOINTMENT

Although a student may be appointed initially to a graduate assistantship for a full academic year, continuation of the appointment beyond the first semester is subject to the following conditions:

• To continue or renew an appointment, the student must be in good standing in the University. A student on academic probation (GPA below 3.0) is not in good standing, and therefore, will automatically lose his or her assistantship.
• The student must be making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree.
• The student must have performed assigned assistantship duties satisfactorily in the preceding semester(s) as determined by the department in which the assistantship is held.

Some assistantships require maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA assessed annually such as most 20-hour a week assistantship within the Department of Public Affairs and Planning. Check the individual award for conditions.

TYPES OF ASSISTANTSHIPS

There are several types of assistantships available to graduate students at CAPPA. Specific job descriptions are available from the hiring department. Students interested in assistantships need to apply through the application portal on this page.

School of Architecture

Graduate Distinguished Assistantship (GDA)*
Graduate Assistantship (GA): Research, Teaching, Administrative

Program of Landscape Architecture

Graduate Assistantship (GA): Research, Teaching, Administrative

Department of Public Affairs and Planning

PAPL DDA – Public Affairs and Planning Dean’s Distinguished Assistantship*
Dean’s Doctoral Assistantship
Graduate Assistantship (GA):  Research, Teaching, Administrative

BENEFITS AND RESIDENT TUITION

Students assigned to work 20 hours per week assistantships, and for at least 4.5 consecutive months (usually one long semester), are eligible for basic insurance benefits. Dental, vision, coverage of dependents, and other optional benefits are available at an additional cost to the student and must be signed up for within the first 31 days of employment. Out-of-state resident students appointed in benefits-eligible titles of 20 hours, or more are eligible to be charged at the in-state tuition.

Tuition Support*

Select assistantships receive reduced or full tuition support, as a benefit of employment, if qualifying conditions are met.