If you’re wondering how much a Master’s degree in Writing with a specialization in Book Publishing might cost, this handy tuition estimator is exactly what you need. When it comes to paying for your graduate degree at Portland State University, everything you need to know is available on the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs website. This website covers the three main types of funding assistance that are available to graduate students: financial aid, scholarships, and graduate assistantships.
Unfortunately, the graduate program in Book Publishing does not have any dedicated financial aid or scholarship arrangements, so applicants for these two forms of financial assistance will be entering the general pool of prospective PSU graduate students.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are budgeted yearly and are reliant on funding. Typically, the graduate program in Book Publishing offers two graduate assistantships that are available only to second-year students, and one graduate assistantship that is available to an incoming student in odd years (i.e., 2019). Graduate assistants receive a stipend and a 9-credit tuition remission in fall, winter, and spring terms.
Many non-academic divisions of the university also offer graduate assistantships, including, for example, University Communications, Campus Recreation, University Housing, Office of International Affairs, Women’s Resource Center, Queer Resource Center, and Student Health and Counseling. Sometimes these non-academic graduate assistantships are listed on the Office of Graduate Studies website, but not always. Unfortunately, there is no truly comprehensive, centralized listing of these non-academic graduate assistantships; some programs/departments may only list this information on their own website.
Second-Year Graduate Assistantships
The second-year graduate assistants are appointed for only one year and serve as assistants to the Director of Publishing and Ooligan Press’s Publisher, aiding in fundraising, outreach, and event planning for the program. Given the nature of their responsibilities, these two graduate assistants must be second-year students. However, since graduate assistantships always run from the beginning of Fall term until the end of Spring term, if someone starts in the Spring term, for example, then it’s possible that he/she could get a graduate assistantship beginning in their second term of study (i.e., Fall term of the following academic year).
Incoming-Student Graduate Assistantship
The incoming-student graduate assistant is appointed for two years, contingent on satisfactory academic progress and available funding. Currently, this assistantship is only awarded to an incoming student in odd years (i.e., 2019). The incoming-student graduate assistant will, in the first year, typically tutor in the Writing Center for one quarter, and teach WR 115: Introduction to College Writing or WR 121: College Writing for two quarters. In the second year, the incoming-student graduate assistant will typically teach each quarter, though may opt to spend a quarter in the Writing Center.
Other Funding Opportunities
University Studies Peer Mentor
University Studies Peer Mentors come from all academic backgrounds and work with Freshman Inquiry and Sophomore Inquiry courses. Mentors plan and facilitate 50-minute mentor sessions for these courses. Mentors serve as friends, colleagues, and teachers, helping undergraduate students learn the academic ropes. All new mentors must enroll in a four-credit Education course that is offered in the Spring term and a two-week training prior to the start of Fall term. Mentors work 10–20 hours per week. Mentors receive both tuition remission for up to 9 credits per term and a stipend for the academic year. For more information, go to the University Studies website.
On-Campus Work
An on-campus job that is greater than half time can result in a significant tuition reduction. These jobs are posted on the Careers Center website.
Dennis Stovall First Edition Award
Honoring the founding director of both the graduate program in Book Publishing and its student-staffed publishing house, Ooligan Press, the Dennis Stovall First Edition Award is given once a year to the student who best exemplifies the publishing program’s mission. In particular, the panel of experts judging student applications for the Dennis Stovall First Edition Award look for evidence that the student has both breadth and depth in his or her publishing education. The award is bestowed at the English Department’s end-of-year capping ceremony. See our Donate page for past winners.