Graduate Program: Part-Time Employment Opportunities
A limited number of part-time employment opportunities are available while pursuing the MS or PhD degree. These opportunities are available in the form of graduate teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, and biweekly payroll assignments.
It is important to note that graduate assistantships are awarded only to students who have exhibited a high level of scholarly achievement. This is done to ensure that the student can complete a rigorous and high-quality graduate program while carrying out the responsibilities inherent to an assistantship. Assistantships differ from scholarships or fellowships, which are based solely on merit and are designed to promote academic excellence. Students who receive assistantships or biweekly payroll assignments are expected to exhibit the same degree of commitment, responsibility, and accountability as any other staff member employed by the University. Continuation of part-time employment shall be contingent upon adequate progress in the respective degree program and maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.0, and is renewable on an annual basis.
Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships
In the Department, both teaching and research assistantships may be available to students, providing them the opportunity to work in one or more departmental programs to enhance their training. In return for the financial support, students are expected to provide a minimum of 10 hours of service per week for a ¼ time assistantship and 20 hours of service per weeki for a ½ time assistantship. Duties associated with the assistantships are outside of the student’s thesis or dissertation research responsibilities. The number of assistantships available in any given semester varies based on funding levels of the Department or individual faculty members.
Our current Departmental assistantships provide an annual support of $13,525 for the MS and $16,232 for the PhD, paid in 12 monthly installments. The assistantships also include a waiver of tuition and provide health insurance coverage. All of the above is subject to change and thus applicants should contact their prospective mentors/major professors regarding the most current information.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
Graduate Teaching Assistants work under the direct supervision of a faculty member in instructional activities such as helping prepare lectures, teaching discussion sections, conducting laboratory exercises, grading papers and maintaining class records. Appointments are normally on a ¼ or ½ time basis. GTA’s are provided by the Department, which has a limited number available, and are allocated by the Department Head, based on recommendations of the Animal Science Graduate Committee and consideration of other factors relevant to the Department’s programs. Depending upon the number of commitments to current students, GTA’s may or may not be available for incoming students.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
Graduate Research Assistantships at the MS and PhD levels are typically ½ -time assistantships. The GRA is not considered an hourly wage but is rather a stipend provided to qualified students to further the Department's research program. Duties associated with a graduate research assistantship are in addition to the student’s thesis or dissertation research responsibilities. It is generally expected that when Graduate Research Assistants are not in class, they will be at work and available to assist their major professor. As with GTA’s, the Department has a limited number of GRA’s available, and depending upon current commitments, GRA’s may or may not be available in a given semester. Departmental GRA’s are allocated by the Department Head, based on recommendations by the Animal Science Graduate Committee and consideration of other factors relevant to the Department’s programs.
A number of graduate students are also supported through GRA’s from research grants awarded to individual faculty members. These GRA’s are allocated by the faculty member to qualified graduate students, based on specific criteria associated with the funded research and/or the professor’s research program. To learn about the availability of grant-supported GRA’s, prospective students must communicate directly with graduate faculty members who conduct research within the prospective student’s area of interest.
Bi-weekly Payroll Assignments
Graduate students may also be hired on a part-time basis to assist in teaching, research, or extension activities. These students are paid on an hourly basis and have specific duties and schedules associated with their employment. Availability of part time employment is dependent upon specific needs and budgets of the Department or faculty member.
Fellowships
A number of fellowships are offered by the University that are not directly related to the Department of Animal Science, but for which students in the Department may be eligible. These fellowships, assistantships and other funding opportunities can be viewed at Graduate School funding page. These awards are for full-time study at UT Knoxville, and awardees are selected on the basis of high achievement, broad intellectual ability, and potential for significant career contributions.