Special Education Program Affordability
Financial Support for Ph.D. Students in Special Education
The Special Education Program at Indiana University has received a grant from the Office of Special Education Programs to prepare leaders in Special Education. This leadership training grant will pay for in-state or out-of-state tuition, student health insurance, and an annual stipend. To learn more about financial support provided to doctoral students.
Can I Afford It?
Financial support is available for qualified doctoral students in Special Education. The financial support may occur in several ways. Each of the financial support options are described in subsequent sections. Responsibilities and post-graduation service obligations for each funding arrangement is also described.
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Leadership Training Fellowship & AI/RA Option
In this funding option, students receive assistance from the Indiana Leadership Training Program in Special Education (a federally funded training program) and a partial Associate Instructor or Graduate Research Assistant Position. The intent of this fellowship is to create support for students to concentrate on their graduate programs, so students are not allowed to work outside of the prescribed hours noted in the subsequent section.
Financial Support Provided: Stipend of $19,461 for the 10 month academic year, 20 hours of tuition remission for the academic year, student health insurance.
Responsibilities: As part of their doctoral training, students will devote 9 hours per week to an approved research project* and 9 hours per week to Associate Instructor responsibilities (i.e., the equivalent to 1.5 courses per year). This assignment is made through the Special Education program. As an alternative, students may be hired as a research assistant with a funded research project 9 hours per week. This arrangement is made between individual students or faculty with research grants, but must be coordinated through the director of the doctoral program.
Post-graduation Service Obligation**: Student will agree to work in special education or other disability related employment after they leave the program at a ratio of two years for each year of funding.
Availability: Funding is available to qualified doctoral students in Special Education who are citizens of the United States. Priority will be given to students in the first two years of their program. Funding will not be provided for longer than three years for any students.
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Associate Instructor Position
The financial support is provided through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Special Education Program and is intended for full-time students.
Financial Support Provided: Stipend of $12,974 for the 10 month academic year, 20 hours of tuition remission for the academic year, student health insurance.
Responsibilities: Students will devote 18 hours per week to college instruction or practicum supervision. This will be the equivalent of teaching three courses per year.
Post-graduation Service Obligation: None
Availability: Funding is available to qualified doctoral students in Special Education. Priority will be given to students in the first two years of their program.
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Graduate Assistant Position
Financial support through graduate research assistantships are arranged through faculty members having funded research projects and students.
Financial Support Provided: The stipend and amount of tuition remission is determined by the faculty investigators having the research grant and negotiated with the student.
Responsibilities: Students will devote 20 hours per week to research activities determined by the faculty investigator.
Post-graduation Service Obligation: None
Availability: Funding is dependent on grants received by faculty investigators.
*Student will complete a form describing the research project to which they will devote 9 hours per week and receive official approval from the Coordinator of the doctoral program in Special Education
**Post-graduation Service Obligation refers to an agreement by the student to work in the field of special education or related areas of services to individuals with disabilities after they graduate or otherwise leave the program. If the student does not complete the service obligation, they will have to reimburse the funding they received from the leadership training grant. This is a requirement by the federal government.
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Student Loans
In addition to fellowship and assistantship options, the university provides assistance in procuring loans to support graduate education. Information about student loans may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Franklin Hall 208, Bloomington, IN 47405-2801 (812-855-0321) or direct your browser to http://education.indiana.edu/finance.html.
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