Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistant Funding Opportunities for Furman University Graduate Students
Furman University offers paid Graduate Assistantship opportunities through student employment positions on campus, which include Furman University Institutes, the Center for Innovative Leadership, academic programs and other campus initiatives.
Graduate Assistantships are not aligned to any specific course, but they provide income and professional experience, facilitate networking opportunities across campus and in Greenville, and may complement your master’s-level learning. Some Graduate Assistants may be engaged as lab assistants in their disciplines, as peer tutors or in functions that support student success. Others may be placed as research assistants or in other professional capacities at the university.
Graduate Assistants are students first. Hiring offices are expected to accommodate all class schedules and promote flexibility for students to complete assigned projects. Assistantships are designed to provide hands-on, collaborative experience within the Furman community. As such, all assistantship work is expected to be completed in person, on campus.
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Graduate Assistantships are a way to reduce the cost of your graduate education while providing real-world work experience. -
Graduate Assistantships typically include 15–20 hours of regular, in-person work per week during the semester.
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Graduate Assistantships are available to all full-time graduate students in any graduate program at Furman University.
Opportunities for Students
Graduate Assistantships are not aligned to any specific course, but they provide an opportunity to offset the cost of tuition and provide professional experience, facilitate networking opportunities across campus and in Greenville, and may complement your master’s-level learning. Some Graduate Assistants may be engaged as lab assistants in their disciplines, as peer tutors or in functions that support student success. Others may be placed as research assistants or in other professional capacities at the university.
Information for Employers
Graduate Assistantships can help your department in a variety of ways. Graduate students typically have prior professional work and life experiences that situate them as responsible and focused team players. Graduate Assistant opportunities don’t necessarily have to align with a student’s program of focus, but when they do, the experience can be a compelling complement to the student's focus of study. The Office of Graduate Studies coordinates all Graduate Assistant student employment, but each office/program supporting Graduate Assistantships manages its hiring processes.
Current Graduate Assistantships include placements like:
- Center for Innovative Leadership – Video Production and Editing
- Office of Graduate Studies – Social Media Marketing
- Communication Studies – Media Lab Assistant
- M.A. in Strategic Design – Graphic Design Lab Assistant
- Auxiliary Services – Graduate Assistant for Marketing
- Office of Graduate Studies – Graphic Designer
- M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy – Research Assistant
- On Discourse – Website Development
- M.A. in Strategic Design – Design TA
- Cothran Center – Planning and Execution of Programs
- Shucker Center – Workshop Facilitation and Event Planning
Meet a Graduate Assistant
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Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "My Graduate Assistantship offers a great opportunity to work with a team that is not only professional and encouraging but also genuinely supportive of my academic and professional growth. They understand the demands of being both a student and a graduate assistant and consistently encourage me to excel in both areas."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "A Graduate Assistantship is a great way to gain experience, grow professionally and offset the cost of education while still focusing on your studies. It’s a rewarding experience that prepares you for future career success. My GA position has allowed me to collaborate with professionals in my field, attend special events and gain leadership experience that will benefit me long-term. I’ve also had the chance to work on meaningful projects that make a real impact."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "I wanted experience working within the MASD program, as well as an opportunity to teach and help my peers. It has allowed me to practice working with the Adobe Creative Suite, improving my skills while also helping others."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "A Graduate Assistantship has provided a great opportunity to earn money toward my tuition while gaining real-world experience in my field of study. The convenience of working with people who understand my class schedule coupled with the projects I get to work on make it the perfect part-time job."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "During my Graduate Assistantship, I have become more efficient in my technical skills and discovered that my initial designs are rarely the strongest—often, the best work comes from pushing an idea even further. In the process, I have also expanded my professional network and made valuable relationships with coworkers."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "Aside from the financial assistance, I applied for my Graduate Assistantship for the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Criss, a powerhouse in her field. I may go on to a doctoral program, and I need more formal scholarly research experience. It’s incredibly challenging, which I appreciate. I am working in a discipline I am not very familiar with, so this has been a great way to immerse myself in public health."
Meet a Graduate Assistant
“ "My Graduate Assistantship has provided an opportunity to work in a professional environment that fosters my academic and personal growth. By applying what I’m learning in class to real-world scenarios, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of my studies while cultivating professional skills that will prepare me for future career opportunities."
Frequently Asked Questions
Each term, available Graduate Assistantships are advertised to all enrolled graduate students and admitted graduate students planning to enroll. New assistantships or assistantships that become open after this time frame are advertised as they become available.
Every Graduate Assistantship is different. Each job description outlines the skills expected of applicants.
Graduate Assistants are students first. Hiring offices are expected to work around all class schedules and to promote flexibility for students to complete assigned projects. Graduate Assistants are likewise responsible for maintaining regular hours on-site and working with the hiring office to make an approved weekly schedule at the beginning of each semester of employment.
Graduate Assistants are paid as hourly student employees. The pay for each assistantship is determined by the hiring department/program, and the pay structure should be listed on the job description.
Furman University does not employ graduate students to teach undergraduate courses. Some Graduate Assistants may be engaged as lab assistants in their disciplines, as peer tutors, or in functions that support student success. Others may be placed as research assistants or in other professional capacities at the university.
Students must be admitted and enrolled full-time in a Furman graduate program to be eligible to apply for an assistantship. For more information, click here. If students have specific questions about applying for a Graduate Assistantship, contact Helen Reynolds, assistant director of graduate studies, who manages the Graduate Assistantship program at [email protected].
Information for employers can be found here. If you have specific questions about employing a Graduate Assistant, contact Helen Reynolds, assistant director of graduate studies, who manages the Graduate Assistantship program at [email protected].
Contact Us
For more information about Graduate Assistantships, contact Helen Reynolds, assistant director of graduate studies, at [email protected].