Professional, Funding & Publishing Opportunities
Conferences and Journals
Presenting at conferences and publishing scholarly work is a great way to enrich your experience as a master's student. The following link lists our recommendations for academic conferences, professional organizations, and journals where you can submit your work.
I loved attending the College English Association conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It was my first time presenting at a professional conference. Not only did I get the opportunity to share my own research, but I was also able to learn from other scholars and professionals. It was a powerful experience, and it would not have been possible without program funding.
—David Robb, Master of Arts in English student
Conference Travel Funding
Grant proposals should be approved before any travel arrangements are made. We encourage you to present your papers at professional conferences in the United States and overseas, and we can underwrite up to $750 in travel costs following the submission and acceptance of your travel proposal to the program director. The Graduate Student Fund from the Office of Graduate Studies also provides monies upon submission and acceptance of a travel proposal.
Funding is specifically for travel-related expenses and registration if you are performing or leading a presentation of your independent scholarly work at a professional or academic conference.
Past students have presented at conferences in Canada, Illinois, Texas, Nevada, Missouri, New Mexico, Taiwan, Nigeria and elsewhere.
How to Apply for Travel Funding
Conference Travel Funding Proposal (PDF)
Office of Graduate Studies Travel Award Information
Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities Student Experience Fund (Google Form)
These forms require signatures from the Faculty Mentor and MA English Program Director. Complete the form, print it, and obtain the necessary signatures. You should discuss details with the program director and/or faculty ASAP, as this process could take up to six weeks.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Graduate Instructors earn up to three credits of tuition waivers* and an adjunct salary for each course they teach. GIs are graduate students with some teaching or teaching-adjacent experience who are the instructor of record on a section of ENGL 1010 or 2010. Interested students must apply, complete a teaching demonstration and interview, and complete several training requirements before teaching. GIs must take MENG 6822 and 6823, Teaching College Writing and Teaching Practicum in their first semester, taught as a course over a semester block for three credits.
Applications are accepted twice a year for the following semesters:
- Late February/Early March for the following Fall semester
- October for the following Spring semester
Research Assistants earn a tuition waiver* plus an hourly wage for assisting English professors with their research projects. RAs are chosen annually, with the application period typically available in June for the following academic year. Federal work study eligibility is preferred, so complete your FAFSA.
Teaching Assistants earn three credits of tuition waivers* plus an hourly wage for each course they assist. TAs work under the mentorship of one of our faculty members, learning from them in the classroom and helping with grading papers, student communications, classroom operations, and more. TAs can expect to prepare and teach at least 5 class sessions on their own, under the guidance of their faculty mentor.
*Tuition waivers do not include the cost of the graduate differential or student fees