Qualified graduate students have the opportunity to receive funding while in the graduate program at ODU. Many of our graduate students are funded either through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA). However, students are not guaranteed a graduate assistantship, and not all interested and eligible students will receive an offer.
All funding is contingent upon the student making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degree and maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
GTA positions are available to graduate students. Criteria for the selection of GTAs include:
- Ability and willingness to tutor/teach/grade cybersecurity courses
- Current GPA (must be > 3.0)
- Good academic standing
Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits to be eligible for a GTA position. For PhD students, there may be an exception if this is your final semester, or you have passed the PhD candidacy exam. For reduced course load, file M4 (MS) or D4 (PhD) form. MS students should not be registered for more than 9 graduate credits.
Funding
GTAs are eligible to receive a tuition waiver during the semester of their position:
| Degree Program | Amount | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. | varies | up to 9 credits |
| Ph.D. | 100% | up to 9 credits |
Stipends may also be available to those serving a GTA position.
Students interested in a GTA position must apply each semester.
The Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructors (GTAI) Institute is required for all M.S. and Ph.D. students who will be working as Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructors. GTAI certification is required before the GTA is approved to teach.
- International students may also be required to take the SPEAK test.
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
GRA positions are funded through external grants obtained by individual faculty members. GRA positions are awarded at the discretion of the faculty member who will be funding the position. Stipends may vary. These positions are often reserved for PhD students.
Students are required to complete at least 6 graduate credits hours each semester while funded. For reduced course load, file M4 (MS) or D4 (PhD) form.