Master of Arts in Professional Communication (MAPC)
Financial Aid
Teaching award winner Amy Jessee in her classroom
 MAPC student and teaching award
winner Amy Jessee in her classroom.
Most first-year students are awarded assistantships and we take care to match students with assistantships that fit their career interests.  You will automatically be considered for an assistantship when you apply to the program unless you request otherwise.  (You may not wish to be considered for an assistantship if you plan to pursue the degree part-time while continuing to work full-time in your current job.)

Graduate assistants pay substantially reduced tuition and receive a health insurance subsidy.  Please consult the Graduate School’s website for the most up-to-date information on rates. 

Graduate assistants also receive a salary.  In 2007-8, first-year assistants earn $11,374 for the fall and spring semesters. Second-year teaching assistants earn $13,724 for the fall and spring semesters.  Students have the opportunity to serve as graduate assistants in the summer, and these positions typically pay $1,500.  Graduate assistants are expected to work 15-20 hours each week during the fall and spring semesters and 10 hours each week during the summer.

First-year assistantships include:

Teaching. First-year assistantships focused on teaching generally involve helping students one-on-one in the Writing Center.  Students receive special training for these positions. 

Production.  MATRF staff members produce deliverables for clients.  Most deliverables are websites, though some are print publications.  These graduate assistants also staff the MATRF facility during open hours.

Research.  Some first-year students work one-on-one with a faculty member on research projects.

Program management.  Some first-year students work one-on-on with a faculty member on administering a program.  For example, the MAPC program director has a graduate assistant who helps with communication-related activities such as recruiting students, keeping in touch with alumni, planning events, writing website content, and so forth.


Second-year assistantships involve teaching English 103, the undergraduate composition course. Students receive extensive training prior to teaching and are supported with a practicum and mentor program while teaching.  Second-year students may also choose to seek assistantships outside the English Department.

Students who wish to take classes in the summer may apply for a summer assistantship.  Most of these assistantships involve working one-on-one with faculty members on research projects.

For information about loans and fellowships, please consult the Graduate School's website.  Students who are not South Carolina residents and do not receive an assistantship should also look into the Academic Common Market, which may enable them to pay in-state tuition.