Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are offered throughout the university and in the SSW. These include graduate teaching, service, and research assistantships, which are supported by state appropriations, federal funds, private grants, and contracts. Information about available graduate assistantships is available from students’ programs, assistantship supervisors, the Office of Student Employment, and via Handshake, the online job portal for students.
Tuition waivers for Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) do not require pre-approval from Eberly College. Tuition waiver requests should be submitted by the hiring department supervisor.
Tuition waivers for Graduate Service Assistantships (GSAs) require pre-approval through Eberly College. To request approval, the hiring supervisor must submit a request via the Eberly Graduate Assistant Tuition Waivers form that includes a copy of the job description on Handshake. Tuition waivers for GSA positions are approved on a case-by-case basis and should be closely related to the student’s program of study or future career plans. Please note that these waivers cover university tuition only, not college tuition and other fees.
Per university policy, GA positions are available only to full-time, on-campus MSW students.
Students can find out more information on the WVU Graduate Assistantships website, the WVU Graduate Assistantship Tuition Waiver website, and the Eberly Graduate Waiver Policy Website.
Students can also subscribe to the Student Employment Listserv to receive weekly listings of Graduate Assistantship positions as well as student employment opportunities. Visit Student Employment website for additional information.
Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program
The Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) program supports MSW students to focus their training on integrated behavioral health practice across the lifespan. Trainees funded under the RIBHT receive $10,000 in stipend support for completing their advanced field placement within the WVU MSW program. Students interested in participating in the RIBHT program must complete an application after which the finalists will be asked to attend a brief interview with the coordinators of the program. Students can find out more information about this program on the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program for MSW Students webpage.
Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project offers tuition and monthly stipends to BSW and MSW students who are interested in pursuing work in the field of child welfare. Students must agree to work with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) for their field placements and for a time period after graduation. For more information about the Title IV-E program, students can visit Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program for Students.
Scholarships & Stipends
Scholarship and stipend awards are also sometimes available to MSW students. These can help to support extra expenses related to academics and/or field. The SSW sends out information to students about available scholarship/stipend awards to students each year along with instructions for how to apply. These are typically awarded each spring, but timelines may vary depending upon the award.
Outside Employment
Students are permitted to engage in outside employment during their tenure in the MSW program, and the SSW places no formal limits on the number of hours students may work while in the program. However, it is strongly advised that students discuss their outside employment obligations with their academic advisors to ensure that they are allotting sufficient time to complete their academic coursework and field internship hours.