CDM Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of funding opportunities are available for qualified graduate students in all three CDM schools (Computing, Design, Cinematic Arts).

A graduate assistantship includes tuition awards for up to two courses per quarter and a small stipend (not sufficient to satisfy the financial requirement for a student visa). In addition, DePaul offers student health insurance and various types of leave.

Full graduate assistant awards require that the student work 20 hours per week and include two course tuition waivers for the quarter and a stipend of $3240. Partial awards require that the student work 10 hours per week and include one course tuition waiver for the quarter and a stipend of $1620.

Selection is based on academic merit, experience in the field, and faculty recommendations. These opportunities are very competitive. The review committees deny assistantships to many students who have high (or even perfect) grade point averages simply due to the high volume and quality of applicants.

Applicant Information

Interested candidates who are currently enrolled and pursuing a MS, MA, MFA, or PhD at CDM should review the eligibility and application requirements that correspond with their school of study. Please note that School of Computing and School of Cinematic Arts students may also apply for the School of Design assistantships.

School of Computing   School of Design   School of Cinematic Arts

To be considered for an assistantship, all required application materials must be submitted by 11:59pm on the final date for each application period.

  • School of Computing and School of Design graduate assistantships application periods:
    • Fall, Winter, and/or Spring: April 1st through May 1st
    • If there is a need to fill more assistantship positions, a second application period may open between September 15th and October 15th.
  • School of Cinematic Arts graduate assistantships application periods:
    • Fall: April 15th through May 15th
    • Winter: September 15th through October 15th
    • Spring: January 15th through February 15th

School of Computing Graduate Assistantship

Roles and Responsibilities

Select a position below to view a description of the specific role.

Eligibility

  • Graduate assistantships are available to graduate students who are currently pursuing an MS or PhD degree in the School of Computing and to combined degree students who will be enrolled in a graduate degree in the School of Computing during the quarter of the graduate assistantship. To be eligible, students must have completed at least four (4) credit hours toward their graduate degree.
  • For tutoring positions, applicants must have a 3.5 or higher GPA. MS students must have completed all Introductory/Foundation Courses in their declared program, while PhD students must have completed a minimum of four (4) credit hours toward the degree. Newly admitted students should contact an advisor to discuss the Introductory/Foundation Course requirements for their program of study prior to submitting an application for a graduate assistantship.
  • Students who hold a full-time or part-time university faculty or staff position are not eligible for a graduate assistantship. (Students who hold a student worker position may apply; total hours worked for the assistantship and student employee position combined cannot exceed 20 hours per week.)
Financial Award

Full graduate assistant awards require that the student work 20 hours per week and include two course tuition waivers for the quarter and a stipend of $3240. Partial awards require that the student work 10 hours per week and include one course tuition waiver for the quarter and a stipend of $1620.  

Due to federal regulations, any scholarship, grant or other award must be included in the student’s Financial Aid Package and considered in their total Cost of Attendance. A scholarship, grant, assistantship, stipend or award received at any time during the year may affect the student’s financial aid, including loans. The graduate assistantship may also affect the student’s eligibility for any federal, state and institutional aid they may been awarded, including any institutional tuition-restricted or need-based aid. Additionally, the tuition waivers are funded by the university, and a student cannot receive any other university scholarships or funding in conjunction with the graduate assistantship. This includes, for instance, admission-based scholarships, Corporate Partnership discounts, and the Double Demon scholarship. The student must contact the Office of Financial Aid for questions regarding scholarships and financial aid.  

Application Process

To be considered for an assistantship the following must be submitted by 11:59pm on the final date for each application period, noted below.  

  • Online application
  • Resume
  • A minimum of two faculty recommendations (Students will be required to include the names of the faculty who will be providing recommendations as part of the application.)

We recommend submitting your application as early as possible to allow enough time for faculty recommendations to be submitted by the deadline.   

NOTE: Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any changes. Students can see the status of their faculty recommendations by checking their application on MyCDM.   

Application Period

Applications for Graduate Assistantships for the Fall, Winter, and/or Spring quarters will be accepted between April 1st through May 1st of the previous academic year. Award notifications will be sent to the applicants in late July.   

If there is a need to fill more assistantship positions, a second application period may open between September 15th and October 15th. Award notifications will be sent one month prior to the start of the quarter.   

Faculty Recommendations

  • All applications must be supported by a minimum of two and up to five faculty recommendations, preferably from CDM faculty, by the deadline. CDM faculty must submit their recommendations online.
  • Prior to submitting an application, students are urged to inform faculty that they are requesting a recommendation to support their application.
  • Students will be required to include the names of the faculty who will be providing recommendations as part of the application.
  • Once an application is submitted, applicants cannot go back and add additional recommenders.

Interview

Some, but not all, positions may require a short interview to assess technical expertise and communication skills.    

Apply Now

Questions or Concerns

For more information about graduate assistantships, contact CDM-GAAdmins@depaul.edu. If you are having technical issues regarding your application, contact development@cdm.depaul.edu.   

Note: You will generally receive an answer within two (2) business days during regular business hours.   

School Of Design Graduate Assistantship

Roles and Responsibilities

Select a position below to view a description of the specific role.

Eligibility

  • Graduate assistantships are available to graduate students who are currently pursuing an MS, MA, MFA, or PhD degree in the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media and to combined degree students who will be enrolled in a graduate degree in CDM during the quarter of the graduate assistantship. To be eligible, students must have completed at least four (4) credit hours toward their graduate degree.
  • Students who hold a full-time or part-time university faculty or staff position are not eligible for a graduate assistantship. (Students who hold a student worker position may apply; total hours worked for the assistantship and student employee position combined cannot exceed 20 hours per week.)
Financial Award

Full graduate assistant awards require that the student work 20 hours per week and include two course tuition waivers for the quarter and a stipend of $3240. Partial awards require that the student work 10 hours per week and include one course tuition waiver for the quarter and a stipend of $1620.  

Due to federal regulations, any scholarship, grant or other award must be included in the student’s Financial Aid Package and considered in their total Cost of Attendance. A scholarship, grant, assistantship, stipend or award received at any time during the year may affect the student’s financial aid, including loans. The graduate assistantship may also affect the student’s eligibility for any federal, state and institutional aid they may been awarded, including any institutional tuition-restricted or need-based aid. Additionally, the tuition waivers are funded by the university, and a student cannot receive any other university scholarships or funding in conjunction with the graduate assistantship. This includes, for instance, admission-based scholarships, Corporate Partnership discounts, and the Double Demon scholarship. The student must contact the Office of Financial Aid for questions regarding scholarships and financial aid.  

Application Process

To be considered for an assistantship the following must be submitted by 11:59pm on the final date for each application period, noted below.   

  • Online application
  • Resume
  • A minimum of two faculty recommendations (Students will be required to include the names of the faculty who will be providing recommendations as part of the application.)

We recommend submitting your application as early as possible to allow enough time for faculty recommendations to be submitted by the deadline.   

NOTE: Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any changes. Students can see the status of their faculty recommendations by checking their application on MyCDM.   

Application Period for the following academic year

Applications for Graduate Assistantships for the Fall, Winter, and/or Spring quarters will be accepted between April 1st through May 1st of the previous academic year. Award notifications will be sent to the applicants in late July.   

If there is a need to fill more assistantship positions, a second application period may open between September 15th and October 15th. Award notifications will be sent one month prior to the start of the quarter.   

Faculty Recommendations

  • All applications must be supported by a minimum of two and up to five faculty recommendations, preferably from CDM faculty, by the deadline. CDM faculty must submit their recommendations online.
  • Prior to submitting an application, students are urged to inform faculty that they are requesting a recommendation to support their application.
  • Students will be required to include the names of the faculty who will be providing recommendations as part of the application.
  • Once an application is submitted, applicants cannot go back and add additional recommenders.

Interview

Some, but not all, positions may require a short interview to assess technical expertise and communication skills.   

Apply Now

Questions or Concerns

For more information about graduate assistantships, contact CDM-GAAdmins@depaul.edu. If you are having technical issues regarding your application, contact development@cdm.depaul.edu.   

Note: You will generally receive an answer within two (2) business days during regular business hours.    

School Of Cinematic Arts Assistantship

Roles and Responsibilities

Select a position below to view a description of the specific role. GA positions are quarterly unless otherwise indicated. Yearly noted with an asterisk (*) Yearly and Quarterly noted with a double asterisk(**).

Eligibility

  • SCA graduate assistantships are available to currently enrolled, degree-seeking MFA and MS students in the School of Cinematic Arts.
  • Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Students who hold a full-time or part-time University faculty or staff position are not eligible for an SCA graduate assistantship (students who hold a student worker position may apply; total hours worked for the assistantship and student employee position combined cannot exceed 20 hours per week).
Financial Award

An SCA graduate assistantship may include tuition awards for up to two courses per quarter and a stipend of $3240. Most SCA graduate assistantship awards in SCA include one course tuition waiver in addition to a stipend of $1620 and require that the student work 10 hours per week. The stipend included in an assistantship is not sufficient to satisfy the financial requirement for a student visa. 

Due to federal regulations, any scholarship, grant or other award must be included in the student’s Financial Aid Package and considered in their total Cost of Attendance. A scholarship, grant, assistantship, stipend or award received at any time during the year may affect the student’s financial aid, including loans. The graduate assistantship may also affect the student’s eligibility for any federal, state and institutional aid they may been awarded, including any institutional tuition-restricted or need-based aid. Additionally, the tuition waivers are funded by the university, and a student cannot receive any other university scholarships or funding in conjunction with the graduate assistantship. This includes, for instance, admission-based scholarships, Corporate Partnership discounts, and the Double Demon scholarship. The student must contact the Office of Financial Aid for questions regarding scholarships and financial aid.  

Application Process

To be considered for an SCA graduate assistantship an online application must be submitted by 11:59pm on the final date for each application period.   

Quarterly positions may be renewed, but renewal is not guaranteed. Therefore, students must reapply each quarter. Year-long position applications open annually in spring or upon termination or resignation of existing student employees.   

NOTE: Once you submit your application you may not add or change your submission.   

Application Periods

  • Fall quarter and year-long assistantships: April 15th through May 15th.
    • Notifications for fall assistantships are made after July 1st.
  • Winter quarter assistantships: September 15th through October 15th.
    • Notifications for winter assistantships are made one month prior to the start of the quarter.
  • Spring quarter assistantships: application period January 15th through February 15th.
    • Notification for spring assistantships is made at the end of the winter quarter.
Interview

After submission of the application, students may be invited to interview with a faculty committee to discuss the position. The interview may be necessary to assess your technical expertise and communication skills.   

Apply Now

Questions or Concerns

For more information about graduate assistantships, please contact MFAAdmins@cdm.depaul.edu.   

If you are having technical issues regarding your application, contact development@cdm.depaul.edu   

NOTE: You will generally receive an answer within two (2) business days during regular business hours.   

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