Department of Sociology
Back to Graduate Program
Financial Assistance
The Department of Sociology has limited funds to support students through teaching and research assistantships and instructorships. Faculty members with funded research can often support some students with research assistantships. There are a few scholarships available from sources in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School. A large number of governmental and private agencies fund dissertation research. Finding these funds takes some ingenuity, but is often worth the effort. For short term emergencies, small loans are available through the department.
The graduate program has established rules limiting the duration of financial support to maximize the number of students who can receive some assistance during their degree programs. Master's students are limited to three years of support and Doctoral students to five years. Students in the Ph.D. program with external Master's degree are eligible for an additional half year of support.
Each year, at its annual review of graduate students, the faculty evaluate the Department's current graduate students for their performance in the program. This evaluation is taken into account in the award of new and continuing financial assistance. Consideration is given to performance in and completion of course work, research and teaching accomplishments, and prior performance as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and/or graduate instructor.
All financial support is on a semester by semester basis. Having an award does not guarantee its continuation. Some funds are reserved each year for incoming students. The priority, however, is on supporting students already in the program.
Application for Financial Support
In addition to department funding, there are numerous fellowships, scholarships, and need-based financial aid programs offered by the university. Explore these options by going to the Graduate Catalog.
Applicants who meet the deadline of January 15. for financial assistance will be guaranteed consideration for funding. Exceptional applicants who miss the deadline may be considered for funding.
Teaching Assistantships
Students in the Sociology program can be considered for teaching assistantships. Based on the annual review of students, the Admissions and Placement Committee established priorities for support based on the Policy of Financial Assistance adopted 3/22/1995.
Because of the late calendar in the State Legislature for passage of the budget, the actual funds for teaching assistantships are generally now known until mid-Summer. Some award decisions are made as late as a few weeks before the opening of the Fall Semester.
Restrictions on Financial Assistance for International Students
A law of the State of Missouri specifies that international students cannot
hold a teaching assistantship position until they spend one semester in
residence at the University of Missouri. Before international students can
hold a teaching assistantship, they must pass a test of spoken English. The
result of these restrictions is that almost all international students
receive no financial support and no tuition waviers in their first year.
International students who apply should be prepared to fund their first year
of studies from personal sources or sources outside the University of
Missouri.
Research Assistantships
The awarding of research assistantships is the prerogative of the investigator with the research project. Selection takes account of Admissions and Placement Committee recommendations as to priority. Most important, however, is the investigator's need for specific skills. To locate these possibilities, students will need to keep alert to which faculty have research money and make their availability known.
Funds Outside the Program
Consult the Graduate
Catalog and the Graduate School research office for other possibilities.
It may also be useful to make contact with the Financial Aid office.
Dissertation Funding
There are a large number of agencies that provide funding for dissertation research. A listing of those that fit your project can be obtained with an ISIS search at the Graduate School Research office. The Office of Research in the Graduate School is available to consult on research funding. All graduate studies are strongly encouraged to seek external funding for dissertation research. It will help with your resume, and it will make departmental funds more available to your colleagues.
The Noel P. Gist Loan Fund
The late Professor Noel P. Gist established a loan fund for upper class undergraduate and graduate Sociology students to deal with short term emergencies and hardships. The fund is not intended for daily living expenses. A four person committee oversees the fund. Students wishing to apply for the fund must first meet with the Director of Graduate Studies. If s(he) agrees the need is consistent with the intention of the fund, the student can make an application stating the amount needed, the purpose of the loan, and their payback plan to the Graduate Admission Assistant. Copies of the application should be given to the Admissions and Placement Committee, who will approve or disapprove the request. Loans are for relatively small amounts.
312 Middlebush Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-6100
(573) 882-8331
Fax: (573) 884-6430