In a time of financial uncertainty for higher education and educational endeavors in general, the Penn State College of Education, in partnership with the Penn State Graduate School, is creating a new program of support for the college's most competitive doctoral students in the field of education.
The Dean’s Graduate Assistantships for Engaged Scholarship and Research in Education will support highly qualified doctoral students in any of the college’s full complement of graduate programs, which include adult education, comparative and international education, counseling psychology, counselor education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, educational psychology, educational theory and policy, higher education, instructional systems, school psychology, special education, and workforce education and development.
The College of Education is able to create this new funding thanks to its ongoing commitment to continuing professional development, gains in internal efficiency, increases in external funding and a partnership with the Penn State Graduate School.
Up to seven assistantships are available for graduate students who will begin their studies in 2010. Additional students will be brought into the program each year for the next four years, allowing for up to 28 students to benefit from the program at any time. The program will provide two years of financial support to highly qualified graduate students, with the expectation of two more years of support through external research grants.
Dean David H. Monk anticipates two strong benefits to the college from this program: the addition of top graduate students to research teams throughout the College of Education and the ability of the college to compete effectively with peer institutions for the most talented students seeking to begin their doctoral studies.
“In addition to the obvious benefits to the college, this program opens the door for talented individuals to become the next generation of researchers who will improve all levels of education and human services in the years to come,” Monk said.
Students who wish to be considered for the assistantships should apply for the program of their choice in the Penn State College of Education and complete any assistantship application instructions specified by their program.
For more information, visit http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/academic-programs/graduate-programs/ online.