Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Assistantships

Our program only makes admission offers to students that we can fund through our nine-month departmental graduate assistantship (GA). Please note that as a state university we cannot guarantee funding for future years that students are in the program; however for the last 20 years (or even longer) all students who wanted an assistantship received it. The full-time GA positions involve students working 20 hours per week.

These GA positions in the first year typically involve either teaching the introductory to psychology course (i.e., 102 teaching assistant [TA]) or supervising undergraduates in your mentor’s research lab (i.e., 485 TA). Here’s a little more detail about these positions:

• The 102 TA positions are a great way to gain teaching experience. TAs teach their own sections of PSYC 102 using a common syllabus and exams as well as shared power point slides. During the first semester in this position, the group of 102 TAs take a course with the faculty member coordinating 102 and are supported throughout the teaching process.
• Students who are PSYC 485 TAs typically supervise 1-5 undergraduate students who are either taking our undergraduate independent study course (i.e., PSYC 485) or who are volunteering in the lab to gain research experience. These undergraduate students tend to be highly motivated and our graduate students enjoy working with them. In addition to supervising these students, the PSYC 485 TA becomes actively involved in the ongoing research projects happening in the lab.

Other GA positions, typically assigned to more advanced students, include:

• TA for a faculty member teaching our undergraduate clinical lab course (PSYC 413).
• TA for our graduate level cognitive assessment course (PSYC 640).
• Teaching their own sections of Abnormal Psychology, with faculty support (PSYC 316).
• Grant-funded research assistant positions.

In year four and beyond, instead of receiving a departmental GA, students typically are assigned to a paid clinical externship, where students provide clinical assessment and/or intervention services at an agency or institution in the Northern Illinois region. These positions are typically for 12 months.

Students with graduate assistantships or a clinical externship receive a stipend (currently $2,050/month in our department) and have their instructional tuition waived. Note that NIU’s non-instructional tuition (what typically would be called fees) is not waived. This non-instructional tuition is based on the number of credit hours students are enrolled in. When course loads are heavier (i.e., years one and two of the program), this non-instruction tuition is typically about $3,000 per year. There is limited summer funding, but some students do receive summer assistantships through faculty grants or departmental TA opportunities.

Fellowships

The Graduate School offers a limited number of fellowships awarded on a university-wide competitive basis to graduate students whose performance has been outstanding. These awards include University Fellowships for students working on the M.A. degree and Dissertation Completion Fellowships.

More information on these fellowships can be found on the Graduate School website.