Graduate Assistantship Program

Each year, the Department of Psychology employs graduate assistants. These graduate students assist faculty members with both teaching and research. Graduate assistants perform a wide variety of duties, depending on faculty needs and on the assistant’s skills and background. Graduate assistants cover classes for absent professors; show videos to classes; monitor tests; grade homework and tests; enter, code, and analyze data; test participants in experiments; tutor students; score measures of psychological assessment; keep track of departmental test kits; conduct library searches; assist in teaching laboratory sections of classes; etc. No one graduate assistant is expected to be able to perform all of these duties.

The Graduate Studies Committee in the Psychology Department selects graduate assistants from a pool of applicants each spring and fall. Students are not automatically considered for an assistantship. Students must complete a graduate assistantship application, a FAFSA application, and all materials required by their graduate program to be considered for an assistantship.

Obtaining a graduate assistantship in the Psychology Department is a very competitive process.  Not everyone who is accepted into the program and applies for a graduate assistantship will receive one.  Factors such as letters of reference, relevant research experience, GRE scores, college GPA, and specific skills are taken into consideration when selecting graduate assistants. With the approval of the Department Chair, the selected students begin their assistantships the following fall or spring semester.

Graduate assistants are evaluated each semester by the faculty members to which they are assigned and by the Graduate Studies Committee. If these evaluations are favorable (and if positions continue to be available), graduate assistants may serve in the department for up to 4 semesters (2 years).

Deadline to Submit Materials

Application materials due by:
March 1 (Fall semester)
October 1 (Spring semester)

Required Application Materials & Financial Aid Info

Please complete and submit the following by the deadline date. Students seeking graduate assistantship should complete the following items:

1. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
2. You must complete the MTSU Graduate Assistantship Application
   Please be sure to include a current telephone number and your preferred email address on this form.
3. You must submit all materials required for your graduate program application by the deadline.

Selected students will be notified by the Department. Questions about the status of your application should be directed to Dr. Kim Ujcich Ward at 615-898-2188 or by email: Kimberly.Ward@mtsu.edu