Mathematics

How and when are Graduate Assistantships Awarded?

On February 1 of each year the Graduate Committee of the Department of Mathematics will consider all completed applications and make some initial offers of assistantships. The committee will consider all information provided by the student but must have three letters of recommendation and a transcript of grades at the minimum. The Committee will continue to make awards until all openings have been filled. Typically, all assistantships are awarded and accepted by the end of April, however, we encourage you to apply even beyond this date, since occasionally positions become available.

What duties are expected of a Graduate Assistant?

Common Graduate Assistant duties include teaching recitation sessions for classes such as Precalculus, Calculus, or similar, and grading, running help sessions, etc for a maximum average of 20 hours per week.  Some GAs may be assigned to teach their own section of Calculus I.

What does the Graduate School expect from a Graduate Assistant?

In order to maintain your Graduate Assistantship, the Graduate School requires that you take a minimum of 9 (and a maximum of 14) graduate hours. The Department of Mathematics further requires that you take at least 9 hours of graduate classes offered or approved by the Department. Further, you must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.00.

What are the benefits of being a Graduate Assistant?

Graduate Assistants are paid a competitive stipend. Further, they are assigned an office in the department where they can study and work, and they can use computer labs in the department at any time of the day.

What costs will a Graduate Assistant need to pay?

A Graduate Assistantship only covers the stipend and tuition waiver. The student will need to pay a portion of the General Fee as well as miscellaneous fees. The payroll office will allow a Graduate Assistant to pay these fees in installments and the installments can be taken from the GA’s paycheck.

Note that room and board, text books, and living expenses are not paid by the assistantship. These expenses are the responsibility of the student. 

What do you need to submit to the Department to be considered for an assistantship?

If interested, please indicate on your application for admission that you wish to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship. No separate application is required.

When should you get your application materials to the Department?

The target date for applications is February 1. The Graduate Committee starts making decisions on admission and Assistantships in early February and makes an initial round of offers at that time. Applications will be accepted and considered until all open positions are filled.

Do you need to be admitted or to apply to the Graduate School to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship?

Yes. Graduate assistantships can be held only by current graduate students.

Location Information

If you are awarded an assistantship, the Department will require that you be on campus the week before school starts. Miami usually starts the Fall semester in the last week of August. You will be required to attend a “teaching seminar” course for which you will receive credit.

All Graduate Assistants will be assigned an office in the Department, close to the offices of all faculty members.