The Geospatial Science Program offers three types of financial support to highly qualified graduate students. These are research and teaching assistantships and study awards. Such support provides valuable opportunities for faculty-student professional collaborations that enhance academic learning, career choices, and professional development.
Research and Teaching Assistantships provide assistance to a faculty member or members in the conduct of their research or their courses and help students to develop their own teaching skills. Assistantships are competitive – eligibility includes a minimum GPA of not less than 3.0 and preferably 3.5 at time of entry and during continuation of the Program, as well as a combined GRE score of preferably not less than 1200, as well as related evidence of academic and communications skills at the time of application.
Assistantships typically are awarded starting in the Fall semester with the award covering the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Assistantships require registration for at least 9, and possibly 12, credit hours of coursework per semester, as prescribed by the UTD graduate catalog and the Geospatial Science Ph.D. Program degree plan, and as advised and permitted by the Geospatial Science Program Head.
Assistantships are awarded and renewable, contingent on satisfactory academic and assistantship performance and availability of funds, for a maximum of 99 semester credit hours of graduate coursework. This means enrollment, as well as strong and timely progress, in the Geospatial Science Ph.D. Program and in its courses, as prescribed by the UTD graduate catalog and the Program degree plan, and as determined by the Program Head or, if a research assistantship, then the faculty Principal Investigator who holds the research grant. All assistants also are expected to know relevant university policy and procedures and important dates and holidays as listed in the University Schedule of Classes.
Assistants may receive one of three tiers of monthly stipend – approximately $1100 per month up to 30 semester credit hours of graduate coursework – approximately $1200 per month between 30 and 60 hours (which may include an earned MA or MS degree) – and, approximately $1300 per month between when a student passes the doctoral examinations (usually at 60 hours) and teaches his/her own course up to a maximum of 99 semester hours. Regardless of tier, fully funded students also receive in-state tuition and fees for approximately 9 credit hours of coursework per semester up to 10 consecutive semesters. Assistantships, together with required coursework, constitute a full-time position – this means that assistants do not hold employment outside of the university.
Geospatial Science Study Awards program makes up to 3 study awards per year to students who pursue the Master of Science or the Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences. These awards are based on:
- an entry-level GRE score of 1150 (combined verbal and quantitative) or other equivalent indicators of academic performance and potential;
- previous experience with GIS in academic or non-academic environments;
- a statement of a long-term career goal that is facilitated by GIS graduate education at UTD;
- a statement of how an award makes study at UTD possible;
- the availability of other sources, in addition to the award, that can be used to support graduate study at UTD;
- the maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.5 throughout progress in the Program.
To be considered for financial support, simply indicate your interest in an assistantship when completing your application for admission. To maximize your chances of an award, all application materials should be received at UT-Dallas by February 15th for admission for the following Fall semester. Please note that awards are generally limited to students seeking the Ph.D. degree. Any additional questions may be addressed to:
Ronald Briggs, Geospatial Science Program Head
Email: briggs@utdallas.edu
Telephone: (972) 883-6877
or
Rita Medford, Geospatial Science Program Assistant
Email: rmedford@utdallas.edu
Telephone: (972) 883-4932
Inquiries about other forms of financial aid should be directed to the University’s financial aid office.
- Updated: September 12, 2007
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