Financial aid for sociology graduate students is available in the form of graduate assistantships. In addition to providing financial aid, these assistantships also serve as an important educational experience by offering opportunities for graduate students to work closely with faculty members in their teaching, research, and community service activities.

Normally, assistantships are awarded on an academic year basis. Students should apply to the Department by April 15th for graduate assistantships beginning the following fall semester. In order to be considered for an assistantship, however, you must already be accepted into the graduate program. Thus, those interested in an assistantship should apply for entry into the graduate program not later than February 15th.

Two application forms must be completed by each student wishing to apply for a graduate assistantship. The Departmental application form in jpeg format can be downloaded here. A second form, required by the Graduate School, can be downloaded as a Word file here. Once you have downloaded the forms, print them out, complete them, and send them to:

Department of Sociology
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1455

Summer Tutition Waivers are also available to Graduate Assistants. According to the Graduate School, "After holding an assistantship for two consecutive semesters (e.g. Fall and Spring Semester), you may apply for a Summer Tuition Waiver. The Summer Tuition Waiver does not require you to work and is available to you one time during your SIUE graduate career. This waiver must be used during the Summer term immediately following two consecutive semesters of service as a graduate assistant and there is no limit to the number of class hours for which you may register (Web-page).

Here is the link to the Summer Tuition Waiver Application.