UIC offers six basic types of financial aid to graduate students: fellowships, assistantships, traineeships, tuition and fee waivers, loans and employment. UIC's Graduate College awards fellowships in recognition of scholarly achievement and promise, with several designed to expand the racial diversity in the student body by providing financial assistance to individuals from traditionally under- represented racial and ethnic minority groups. The Department of Criminal Justice also awards financial assistance in the form of tuition waivers and half time teaching and research assistantships (which also include tuition waivers). Students seeking financial assistance should file their completed applications by February 1 prior to the fall term when they are applying for admission.
Research Assistant Opportunities:
Getting graduate students involved in research studies has been one of the strongest features of the Criminal Justice Department over the past several years. Because the faculty and the Center for Research in Law and Justice have had a very strong external funding record, many graduate students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working on research projects.
Teaching Assistant Opportunities
Teaching assistantship have also been a primary means for many graduate students to gain experience in teaching while receiving financial assistance to support the costs of education. These assistantships enable students to work with faculty in the teaching of a course and to assist by leading discussions, grading exams, reading and evaluating research papers, and giving occasional lectures. Students go though an intensive two-day orientation program in the fall of each year and collaborate with faculty throughout the term.
Summer Opportunities
Graduate Assistants who qualify for a Spring tuition and service fee waiver automatically receive a summer tuition and service fee waiver if they register for at least 3 credit hours (unless they hold a summer appointment above 67%).
While the department does not hold formal graduate classes during the summer term, students may work with any professor on an independent project or assignment. Some employment opportunities occur within the department assisting on various projects, in other departments and in area agencies. Student may wish to seek employment in this manner and work with a professor to develop a project for credit if it is related to his or her area of interest.