In-state graduate students can expect to pay about $412 per semester hour, making a three-credit hour course approximately $1,236.  Out-of-state students will pay $1,001 per credit hour, totaling $3,003 per three-credit hour course.  Special student fees may increase the amount you will need to pay.  Visit the Treasurer’s website for more information.

Graduate School Dean Amy Thompson McCandless encourages all of our graduate students to “fill out your FAFSA, update all of your financial aid applications with the new tuition amount, and contact us to learn about more opportunities to help fund your education.”

We met yesterday with the Office of Research and Grants Administration to explore various grants, fellowships and scholarships available to graduating seniors and graduate students.  We now have access to a 28-page document full of nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships.  Not only that, but as a graduate student, you have access to the Associate Dean of the Honors College who works with you every step of the way to create a solid application.  With her help, our students have secured NSF Fellowships, Knauss Fellowships, and Fulbright Awards.  All graduate students are encouraged to contact Trisha Folds-Bennett to learn more about these opportunities and to get started.  Also, look for upcoming grant writing & fellowship/scholarship application workshops this Fall.

As I learn about other opportunities, I update our website accordingly so be sure to check there on a regular basis.  The Career Center is also a good resource for College of Charleston students, as is their online job search engine, CisternOnline.

If you are a full-time student, you should also consider an assistantship.  Assistantships are often related to your study or area of specialization, and are available in one of three forms: a graduate assistantship, research assistantship, and teaching assistantship.  College of Charleston offers abatements on a first-come, first-serve basis for out-of-state students, so we encourage you to apply early.  And if you are applying for an abatement in the Fall, you should make sure you’re covered for the entire academic year and secure your abatement through the Spring semester.  Otherwise, funding will most likely run out, and you will not be able to secure an abatement for the second half of the year.

Again, there are ways to help pay for your master’s degree.  If you’re not sure how, there are plenty of people to talk with: your program director, the Graduate School staff, the Career Center, the staff at ORGA, and Financial Aid.

Related posts:
Update from Australia
Moving to Charleston?
SC High Court Orders Governor Sanford to Take Stimulus Money

Pop Quiz:

Are you a U.S. Citizen?

Will you have a bachelor’s degree by August 1, 2009, but not have a doctorate degree as of October 19?

Have you considered studying, teaching English or conducting research abroad?

Did you answer all yes? Then you can be a Fulbright Scholar!  As Wikipedia states, “the Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in 144 countries and with 51 commissions.”

Joe Pollock, a Master of Science in Marine Biology candidate, was awarded one of just 13 coveted Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarships in Australia last year.  You can read about his adventures on our blog.  College of Charleston also has several Fulbright Fellows among its faculty.

A full list of Fulbright grants are available online.  As you can see, there are multiple opportunities to which you can apply.

The deadlines for 2010/11 Fulbright Awards are:

1 August 2009 for Fulbright traditional lecturing and research grants or for Fulbright Distinguished Chair awards worldwide
1 November 2009 for the summer German Studies Seminar and for spring/summer seminars in Korea and Japan for academic and international education administrators
1 February 2010 for the U.S.-Germany International Education Administrators Program
Rolling deadline for the Fulbright Specialists Program

Visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/howtoapply.html for further information.

“I have always wanted to have a rewarding career and there’s one thing that has always been a constant reward in my life-education,” Van Koughnett said. “Seeing a student learn to respect a new animal and its environment for the first time is a rewarding experience, but I believe that I could successfully bring a hands-on approach to a formal biology classroom as well.”

The Tennessee native is currently earning a Masters of Education for Science and Math, with Biology Secondary Certificate at the College. Van Koughnett is a USC McNair Scholar, US Environmental Protection Agency GRO Undergraduate Fellow, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She values the importance of giving back to the community and has participated in Hurricane Katrina Relief programs and worked with underprivileged grade-school children.

(From the Office of Media Relations)