Application Information
The Department of Geography provides a wide range of financial support for graduate students working on MA, MS, and Ph.D. degrees. In this file, the major sources of support are listed. Unless otherwise noted, the awards may be made to entering or continuing graduate students.
Fellowships
Herbert and Maurine Slutsky Fellowship
Created to honor the contributions of two distinguished alumni. Funds provided by donations from alumni and friends.
Howard G. Reopke Fellowship
Honors the memory of the late Professor Howard G. Roepke who taught in the department from 1954 until 1985. Funds provided by donations from alumni and friends.
Charles S. Alexander Graduate Fellowship for Women in Geography
Created by the late Professor Charles S. Alexander, who taught in the department from 1953 until his retirement in 1986, to help promote the completion of doctoral dissertations by women. Restricted to women at the dissertation stage. Funds provided by a bequest from the estate of Professor Alexander and additional contributions from alumni and friends.
Joseph and Marion Russell Fellowship
Created in 1989 to honor the contributions of the Russells to the department over four decades. Professor Joseph Russell was the first Head of the newly-established Department of Geography in 1945.
Marion G. Russell Fellowship in Geography
Established in 1991 by Joseph A. Russell to honor the memory of his late wife, Marion. Normally given to a continuing student to allow full concentration on coursework and thesis/dissertation completion.
Fred W. and Demetra Foster Fellowships
Up to four fellowships awarded competitively. Created in honor of Emeritus Professor Fred W. Foster and his late wife. Professor Foster taught at Illinois from 1949 to 1977.
University Fellowships
Provided each year by the Graduate College on a competitive basis.
Teaching Assistantships
Fifteen to eighteen half-time assistantships are available each year on a competitive basis. Duties involve conducting quiz or laboratory sessions associated with the major introductory classes.
Teaching Associates
Available only to senior graduate students; the student is assigned to teach one of the introductory classes and supervise the teaching assistants.
Research Assistants
Office of Computing Resources for Education in the Social Sciences (CRESS)
One geography graduate student is nominated each year to provide consulting and research support in the CRESS. Usually awarded to a returning graduate student for a period of two years.
Faculty Assistantships
Each year, many of the faculty receive support from the Graduate College Research Board, the National Science Foundation, other federal and state agencies and private foundations too, hire graduate students to work on research projects. The number available each year, and the prior training required of the assistants varies; the larger percentage of these assistantships are awarded to returning students.
Assistantships in Illinois State Surveys, CERL
The State Water Survey, Geological Survey, and Natural History Survey are located on campus. Since several scientists in these agencies have adjunct appointments in the department, they have often hired geography students to work on projects as research assistants. The U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) is located three miles from campus; several students with interests in cartography, remote sensing, and geographic information systems normally work as research assistants at CERL.
Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL)
A joint venture with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, REAL will provide several research assistantships to students in the doctoral program. The assistantships will be oriented to the development of regional analytical models in the Midwest. The expectation is that the work associated with the assistantship will serve as the basis for the doctoral dissertation.
Tuition and Fee Waivers
All students offered fellowships, teaching or research assistantships will receive a tuition and partial fee waiver.
Other Awards
Many resident graduate students have been successful in obtaining assistantships from other departments, most notably Urban and Regional Planning, Agricultural Economics, Economics, and Civil Engineering. The number of these appointments varies each year.
Please note that the Application Deadline for awards for Academic Year 2002-2003 is February 13, 2002.
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