In the second and third years of the MLA program, Georgia students are eligible for donation-funded scholarships and fellowships from the College of Environment and Design itself. These programs support various combinations of tuition, travel, and individual research. The program coordinator can assign MLA students graduate assistantships based on funding from the CED, the University of Georgia Graduate School, and outside granting agencies. Finally, some students from outside Georgia are eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers, which can be acquired based on state of residence, academic merit, or a change of residency. While every attempt is made to seek funding for graduate students, it is not guaranteed.

Academic Common Market

The SREB Academic Common Market is an agreement among some states to share uncommon academic programs at both the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Residents of participating states without an in-state graduate program can enroll at Georgia for the same price as a Georgia resident. To participate in this program, you must be admitted into a CED graduate program and obtain certification of residency from your home state’s Common Market coordinator.

In-state Tuition

Georgia residency status, with the associated in-state tuition may be available to some students. This is determined by the State of Georgia and is not controlled by the University or its departments. Provisions are listed in the University’s graduate bulletin.

Graduate Assistantships

The CED is pleased to offer a limited number of Graduate Assistantships each year. There are 3 types of assistantships, a Graduate Assistantship (GA), a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), and a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). A GA is commonly offered in the CED, and this term is used throughout this document about all types.

Qualifications All GAs must be registered for a minimum of 12 hours in fall and/or spring semesters of the assistantship or 9 hours in summer for a summer assistantship. Assistantships can only be held by academically accomplished students with a GPA over 3.0. Additionally, GTA qualifications can be found https://ctl.uga.edu/grad-student/ta-policy/. Other qualifications may be required for GRAs, as needed by the faculty.

Expectations GA work could include a wide variety of tasks, from assisting with research for faculty publications to teaching or assisting a faculty member with teaching, to working with CED staff or staff in other University departments on essential operations. GAs are expected to bring a high degree of professionalism to their assistantship work, just as they are to their academic work. Assistantships are opportunities for the student both to receive funding and to receive additional training related to their program of study.

The number of GAs offered varies with the college budget and program enrollments. Assistantships are usually for one semester. They greatly reduce tuition and pay a stipend. In exchange, the GA typically works 13 hours/week for the College, its faculty, or its partners. GAs cannot work over 20 hours/week. Students who receive an assistantship are not eligible for scholarships or additional work hours. Students who fall behind on hours or are unable to complete their assistantship may lose their funding. Students with unsatisfactory or unprofessional work on a previous assistantship will be ineligible to receive further assistantship support.

Procedures Once a year in spring semester, students are given the opportunity to apply for GAs for the following academic year. Applications are distributed by the graduate administrative staff by March 1 and are due via email to graduate administration by April 1. Faculty are asked about their needs, including the skillsets they require. CED GAs are then assigned by the graduate coordinator of each program, in consultation with the graduate administrative staff, on the basis of merit, recruitment & retention, and fit. GAs are typically promised to students by the end of spring semester for the next academic year, though the exact assignments are not usually handed out until the week before classes start in the fall. Exceptions to this process are GRAs that are given by CED faculty through external grant funds. These assistantships are intended to provide research assistance for a faculty member. Students are encouraged to discuss their interest in working for those faculty whose scholarly expertise aligns with the research interests of the student.

CEDAA Graduate Fellowship

Established in 1985, the College of Environment and Design’s Alumni Association continues to support a graduate fellowship endowment. This fund provides financial support to incoming graduate students that are NEW to CED. Currently, one funding award is provided annually to each of the three graduate programs. Selection is made in the late summer/early fall, and determination of the award is made jointly by the Dean and the respective graduate program coordinators. Students who receive the award are expected to remit thank you letteres to the President of the College’s Alumni Association and attend Alumni Weekend activities each spring