Financial Aid Opportunities

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate School-Based Assistance

A limited number of Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships are directly available through the NMSU Graduate School.  The listing of the available support opportunities can be found here.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

A limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships are available for qualified students.  Some of these Graduate Teaching Assistantships are awarded to the top incoming students based on  their application material. 

For a student applying for the Ph.D. program, the department can provide guaranteed financial support in the first year in the form of teaching assistantship if the applicant satisfies the following conditions

• has already obtained a MS in EE or an equivalent degree,
• has a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale or equivalent in his/her MS program or has a GPA at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale or equivalent and having published research papers.

Financial support after the first year can be provided in the form of research assistantship or a combined teaching/research assistantship, which the student shall arrange with individual faculty members in the Klipsch School. 

Additionally, Graduate Teaching Assistantships may be awarded to current students based upon a faculty member's recommendation to the Department Head.  The faculty recommendation must include:

1. Name of the student, email address, degree sought (MS or Ph.D.) and anticipated graduation date.
2. How this student is contributing to the faculty member's research program research (this is only important if the faculty member is offering to match the teaching assistantship with a research assistantship of equal or greater hours).
3. The courses that the faculty member feels this student is best suited to cover as a laboratory instructor.
4. An assessment of the student's oral communication skills. Note: if the student's first language is not English, they will either have to pass the ITA screening exam or pass the ITA course COMM485 before they can be hired as a laboratory instructor.  New TA's that need to be screened must arrive at the Klipsch School prior to the first week of classes so that the screening can be arranged.  Generally this is done in the two weeks prior to classes starting and must be coordinated with the department.  Students who cannot be screened usually do not have an assistantship opportunity for that semester.

If a student desires a teaching assistantship, they must complete an application for financial support and obtain three confidential letters of reference prior to being hired.  This material should be sent directly to the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, not the Graduate School.  For International Students, the offer of a Teaching Assistantship is contingent upon passing the screening examination given at the start of each semester by the Department of Communication Studies.

Note: Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to report for work at the Klipsch School prior to the start of classes -- on the same date as faculty report (see the NMSU Academic Calendar).  They are expected to meet with their assigned class and be available to assist in determining final grades through the last day of Finals Week.  Any Teaching Assistant who is not present between these dates is subject to losing their Assistantship in the current and future semesters.

Deadline for Consideration: MSEE or PhD students wishing to be considered for guaranteed Teaching Assistantships must have their completed application for the assistantship and admission submitted to NMSU by January 15 of each year.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships Time Limits

Graduate Teaching Assistantships require that the student maintain a GPA > 3.0, and make adequate progress towards an EE degree. 

1. For MS students, ECE Department teaching assistantships are limited to four semesters.
2. For Ph.D. students with MS degrees, teaching assistants are expected to conform to the following time-table:
   1. Pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam within 2 semesters
   2. Pass the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam within 4 semesters
   3. Pass the Dissertation Defense within 5 semesters
3. For Ph.D. students without MS degrees, teaching assistants are expected to conform to the following time-table:
   1. Pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam within 3 semesters
   2. Pass the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam within 6 semesters
   3. Pass the Dissertation Defense within 7 semesters

Graduate Research Assistantships

A limited number of Graduate Research Assistantships are available for qualified students.  Generally, a RA is awarded by a faculty member who has external research funding and requires a student with specific skills or subject knowledge.  Graduate Research Assistantships continue as long as the faculty sponsor has adequate funding and is satisfied with student's performance.  They also require that the student maintain a GPA > 3.0 and make adequate progress towards an EE degree.

Note: Graduate Research Assistants are expected to report for work at the Klipsch School prior to the start of classes -- on the same date as faculty report (see the NMSU Academic Calendar).  They are expected to perform their assigned research duties through the end of Finals Week.  Any Teaching Assistant who is not present between these dates is subject to losing their Assistantship in the current and future semesters.