Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified applicants who hold a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Stipends are for the entire year. All awards include a tuition scholarship program that covers the costs of in-state and out-of-state tuition. In addition to departmental awards, nonservice University fellowships are available. To ensure prime consideration, application for appointments or awards should be submitted by February 1 for fall admission. Assistants can sometimes be added later whenever openings develop.

Assistants work with faculty in conducting classes, grading papers, and doing library research. They may also serve primarily as research assistants in ongoing research programs.