The Department of French & Italian is committed to providing full funding to all graduate students. Students who accept our offer of admission therefore receive fellowships or assistantships that cover tuition and provide eligibility to enroll in excellent comprehensive health insurance and other benefits. Funding for Fall 2025 and beyond is projected to be guaranteed for a minimum of 5 years of study for students entering with a B.A., and a minimum of 4 years for those entering with an M.A. Moreover, it has been our departmental practice to continue to offer funding beyond guarantee as possible for students in good academic standing.
Teaching assistantships, the most common form of support in our department, offer the pedagogical experience and training necessary to be competitive on the academic job market. Students with teaching assistantships in our department are earning a minimum of $29,157 during academic year 2025-2026. The teaching assignment is usually one course per semester, but double sections (two sections of the same course) can also be requested by domestic students for an increased stipend, when available. While the guarantee of support means students in good standing will receive funding, the exact assignments are based on need, merit, and experience. Generally, a graduate student will, over the course of study, hold a variety of the following positions, which are available every semester:
| Fall and Spring Teaching Assignments | Stipend per semester (2025-26) |
| Italian 101, 102, 203 or 204 (50% appointment) | $14,578.50 |
| Head TA (50% appointment) | $14,578.50 |
| Italian 101, 102, 203 or 204 – Two sections (75% appointment) | $21,867.75 |
| Head TA – Two sections (75% appointment) | $21,867.75 |
| Summer Teaching Assignments | Stipend for Summer 2025 |
| Italian 201 (8-week session) (34.5% appointment) | $4,629 |
Students may also have the opportunity to teach more advanced courses, such as Italian 322, depending on departmental need. Note that all stipend amounts described here are as of Fall 2025 and that they typically increase each year. It should also be noted that international students are not eligible to teach double sections at this time due to visa restrictions; they are, however, eligible for all other teaching assignments listed above.
There are also fellowships available from several sources on campus each year, including the Chancellor’s fellowship, which starts at around $14,578 per semester. Graduate Research Scholar (GRS) Fellowships are also available to foster meaningful connections and provide participants with an integrated support network. GRS members are supported holistically in their academic and pre-professional growth. The department also offers a number of monetary awards every year, for academic performance and for teaching.
DEPARTMENT LECTURER HIRING POLICY
The Department of French and Italian occasionally hires dissertators for lectureships when there is a need. It is the policy of the Department to limit the hiring of short-term lecturers to a maximum period of three years. Employment as a lecturer in either semester of an academic year counts as one of these three years. -Graduate Studies Committee, 03/14/2007