About 75 percent of full-time matriculated graduate students in exercise and sport sciences hold assistantships. An assistantship provides a nontaxable scholarship, which is applied to the tuition bill, as well as a taxable salary for carrying out assigned duties.

Graduate assistants work in the labs, clinics, and on the field. Specifically, assistantships are available in the following areas depending on availability and year-to-year needs:

• Anatomy & physiology lab teaching assistant
• Kinesiology lab teaching assistant
• Biomechanics lab teaching assistant
• Exercise physiology lab teaching assistant
• Sport psychology teaching assistants
• Research assistants
• Wellness clinic supervisor & exercise specialist
• Intercollegiate sports assistant coaches
• Certified strength & conditioning specialists
• Certified athletic trainers

To be considered for an assistantship, applicants must have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher. Typically, assistantships are awarded for two semesters and require a commitment of 12-15 hours a week. In addition, each graduate assistant is assigned to a supervisor. To be considered for an assistantship you must complete the graduate assistantship application through online through the Office of Admission. 

Athletic trainers must be certified by the time their assistantship duties start, strength and conditioning specialists must be NSCA-CSCS certified (or equivalent), and wellness clinic supervisors must have fitness training experience and preferably ACSM or NSCA certification. Coaches must have at least collegiate level playing experience or equivalent. Be sure to identify the sport(s) you are interested in. International students may have different certifications or levels of playing experience. If in doubt, please contact the Graduate Program Chair.

Occasionally, graduate assistantships are available elsewhere on campus, such as the library or academic support services. It is up to each student to inquire to these departments and offices as the Graduate Program Chair may not be informed about what is available and what is not.