Do you need help paying for your graduate work in the Department of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology, and Counseling? Are you interested in working closely with faculty while gaining hands-on experience in your field? Our department is committed to providing practical opportunities for both professional and personal growth through our graduate assistantships.
Assistantships are available for master’s degree students and for all doctoral students. Historically, doctoral students in the department have also been funded for a third year.
TUITION AND FEE REMISSION
Ball State Graduate Assistants are eligible for partial tuition and fee remission through the Graduate Assistant Tuition and Fee Remission Program.
The amount of the remission is dependent upon Full-Time GA or Half-Time GA status.
For the 2026-27 academic year (Fall and Spring Semesters), our doctoral assistants are paid $12,500. Our master's assistants are paid $9,500. The pay for master's students in other campus offices can vary.
Responsibilities and Expectations
First-year doctoral students are required to take an assistantship, but an exception can be made for one student if necessary. (Only one entering student per year will be allowed this option.)
Master's students with assistantships in the department are typically funded for a second year, while doctoral students are typically funded for two more years; such funding is not guaranteed, however.
Students in the department engage in four different types of assistantships including:
- research with faculty members (usually your committee chair)
- practicum supervision
- professional duties in the departmental clinic (intake assessment, interviews, telephone screening, office support, etc.)
- teaching undergraduate classes or assistant teaching of pre-practicum master's course
Master's assistants in the department typically provide support to the Graduate Admissions Coordinator and the master's program directors. The assistant may also be assigned to research duties with a faculty member. Many master's students hold assistantships in other departments on campus, including Bracken Library, the Rinker Center for Global Affairs, the Learning Center, and the Healthy Lifestyles Center.
Graduate students may also have the opportunity for financial support from Ball State to present papers at professional conferences.
How to Apply
Open positions are listed in Ball State’s Workday. You should apply directly to the unit offering the assistantship. Contact the unit if you have questions about their application requirements.
Deadlines for assistantship applications vary by academic unit, but most are awarded during spring semester. It is a good idea to indicate your interest early in the application process.
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