Graduate Student Employment

English and Writing graduate students at Portland State University have a variety of possibilities for employment and professional development. Listed below are some of our employment opportunities.

 Graduate Assistantships: We have a very limited number of teaching assistantships available in which you teach in a variety of contexts: teaching composition courses at all levels, tutoring in the writing center, assisting faculty in writing intensive courses, and assisting faculty in English courses. Depending on what your primary focus is, you may also teach courses in creative writing, technical writing, or literature, or gain administrative experience by serving as assistant director of writing. As a graduate assistant (GA) you receive both tuition remission and a stipend for three terms throughout the school year, along with tuition remission for summer term. In recent years we have also been able to offer some employment in the summer though this is not guaranteed. Graduate assistantships are two-year appointments, with your contract renewed at the end of the first year provided your performance is satisfactory. Hence, you should only apply for a graduate assistantship at the time you apply to the graduate program. Applications for assistantships can be found in the department office and are due February 1st when you apply to the graduate program for fall term. Contact Hildy Miller for more information.

 Writing Intensive Course (WIC) Assistant: In these positions you assist faculty across the curriculum in teaching the writing of a content course. Responsibilities may include such activities as reading drafts, leading writing workshops, or doing presentations on writing. To qualify for a WIC position you should take either English 413/513 Teaching and Tutoring Writing or English 414/514 Introduction to Composition Theory. WIC assistants receive a stipend but not tuition remission. Contact Greg Jacob for further information.

 Writing Center Tutor: In this position you tutor students in one-to-one sessions.To qualify for a writing center tutorial position, you should take English 413/513 Teaching and Tutoring Writing. Tutors do not receive tuition remission but do either tutor for a stipend or for credit. Contact Dan DeWeese for more information.

 English Assistant: In this position you assist faculty in teaching the content of their courses. Responsibilities may include such activities as reading drafts, leading discussions, and lecturing. To qualify for an English assistantship, you should be in your second year of graduate study so that you have already experienced several graduate courses. English assistants do not receive tuition remission but may receive graduate credit. Contact Hildy Miller for more information.

 Literary Arts Council Coordinator: The Literary Arts Council is a student-run organization that coordinates on-campus readings of nationally known authors. The LAC Coordinator works closely with the English Department administration and graduate students to attract high-quality authors. The position holds a stipend and a tuition remission. Contact litac@pdx.edu for more information.

 EGO Coordinator: In this position you coordinate the activities of the English Graduate Organization, which includes professional development meetings, readings, informal workshops, and social events. The coordinator does not receive tuition remission but does get a stipend. Contact Hildy Miller for more information.

 University Studies Mentor: Graduate Mentors are hired as Graduate Teaching Assistants to assist in faculty-led classes. They receive graduate tuition up to 9 credits and a monthly stipend. For more information on Mentoring in University Studies, see the University Studies website. For information on Graduate Assistantships in general, see the Graduate Studies website.

 Chiron Course Instructor: Chiron courses are credit classes are taught by students for students. They're listed under "Interdisciplinary Studies" in the Schedule of Classes. In addition to the teaching experience gained, student instructors receive a small teaching stipend. For more information, see the Chiron Studies website.

 Work Study Positions: If you qualify for the work study program, you may apply for a variety of jobs posted by the English department, including writing, website development, and office work. See the Work Study listings for information on these jobs.