Assistantships and Funding

Please note: graduate assistantships are only offered to students who enroll in the fall semester. If you are seeking an assistantship, please make sure to apply for the fall semester (not the spring).

Students will be invited to apply for the assistantship after they receive admission decisions from the department. Currently, all assistantships begin in the fall semester.

To ensure full consideration for a graduate assistantship, complete your application to the M.A. program by January 15. You will receive an invitation to apply for the assistantship once you receive the admission decision.

The assistantship is competitive. As part of the evaluation process, applications may include an online interview with committee members. Assistantships are offered only to students starting in the fall semester.

Once you are invited to apply for an assistantship, complete and submit the Application for a graduate assistantship and other required documents indicated in the invitation. Please do not send your assistantship application until you receive the invitation to ensure your file is correctly reviewed.

Once completed and signed, send your application by email to Graduate Director Shupei Yuan at syuan@niu.edu or mail it to:

Department of Communication
211 Watson Hall
Graduate Office Support Specialist
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115

Visit The Graduate School's website for additional funding opportunities and detailed cost information.

If you have questions, please email communication@niu.edu.

Graduate Advising

Shupei Yuan, Ph.D.
Graduate Director
syuan@niu.edu
815-753-7106
Reavis Hall 117