Technology Education / Integrative STEM Education
Graduate Assistantships Overview
The Technology Education and Integrative STEM education programs at Virginia Tech offer graduate assistantships each year, to assist with research projects and general program activities. Graduate assistants work 20 hours/week on their assistantship responsibilities while enrolling full-time in the graduate program. Because research projects may be funded at any time during the year, graduate assistantships may begin in either the Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. It’s helpful to have your graduate assistantship application (see application section below) "on file," in the event that an assistantship opportunity opens up at an odd time of year. Most graduate assistantships begin and end with the academic year, but some assistantships run 12 months and others pay wages in the summer. For additional opportunities, see the "Other Opportunities" section below.
Qualifications
A master's degree and/or teaching experience in a STEM or related field is preferred. Most graduate assistantships are filled with doctoral candidates, but some assistantships may be filled with well-qualified master’s degree candidates.
Salary & Tuition Waiver
Full-time graduate assistants earn approximately $1,450-1,650/month depending upon the graduate assistant’s current degree level. Assistantships may run 9 or 12 months, depending upon the funding source. In addition, graduate assistantships generally provide tuition waivers for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Wage Positions
Some graduate students are paid hourly wages (e.g., during summer months). These wages vary with the funding source and nature of the work, from approximately $15-$25/hour. Typically, these wage positions are not accompanied by tuition waivers.
Starting Date
Most graduate assistantships begin approximately August 15, but funded projects may hire graduate assistants with starting dates at any time during the year.
Graduate Assistantship Applications
Students interested in being considered for graduate assistantships in the Integrative STEM Education / Technology Education programs should submit a resume and cover letter to Mark Sanders, Program Leader, 300 War Memorial Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0313. Apply early—graduate assistantships that begin in the Fall semester are usually filled by the end of April; sometimes sooner. In addition, candidates must apply to the Technology Education / Integrative STEM Education Graduate programs. All Virginia Tech graduate degree program applications are submitted online. Applications and related information may be accessed from: http://www.grads.vt.edu/admissions/applying.
Other Opportunities
Technology Education / Integrative STEM Education graduate students often possess a wide range of skills and expertise (e.g., teaching, computers/hardware/software, laboratory management, etc.) that allow them to be hired by many different departments and programs across the Virginia Tech campus. While the faculty may be helpful in suggesting possible places to apply, many of these graduate assistantship and employment opportunities are landed by students who aggressively seek out these opportunities (e.g., on the Virginia Tech Personnel Web site, talking with department heads across campus, etc.). Graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities may open up any time during the year.
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