Graduate Financial Support at Wayne State University
There are a variety of sources of financial support for students in the Graduate Program
in Public Administration. Some of these sources of support are based in the Department
of Political Science. Others are obtained through the Office of Scholarship and Financial
Aid.
Department of Political Science:
The following are available through the Department of Political Science. Several
(Rumble, Sarasohn, Housing Allowance) are available only to doctoral students. The
deadline for application for a Rumble, Sarasohn, Graduate Teaching Assistantship,
Graduate Research Assistantship, and Housing Allowance is March 1. See the
application below.
Rumble Fellowship
There are about two of these available each year awarded to doctoral students. Typically,
one is a “recruiting” Rumble used by the Department to recruit an applicant to the
doctoral program coming from another college/university. The other is an “internal”
Rumble that may be awarded to an applicant already at Wayne State University and
admitted to the Ph.D. program. The Rumble Fellowship benefits include paid tuition, a
stipend, and health care and dental benefits. Rumble Fellows also are awarded a graduate
teaching assistantship in their second year of study.
Sarasohn Dissertation Year Fellowship
There is typically one of these available each year. It is awarded to a doctoral student
who has finished all of his/her examinations and has completed and obtained approval for
the dissertation prospectus. Its purpose is to provide financial support for a single year to
help doctoral students complete the dissertation. The benefit is a stipend.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)
These number about 13. MPA, MA, and Ph.D. program applicants/students may apply.
Typically, only several GTAs each year are awarded to MPA students. Assistantships
benefits include paid tuition, a stipend, and health care and dental benefits. Awards are
for a single year; however, GTAs may reapply for additional years but are limited to
serving two years (master’s level students) or three years (Ph.D. students). GTAs
generally help with the teaching of mass lecture sections of PS 1010, American
Government and Politics. Experienced GTAs may be assigned independent sections of
PS 1010 or to other introductory courses. Summer teaching opportunities may be
available. All GTAs are expected to make good progress in their degree programs and
must comply with restrictions on outside employment.
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRAs)
Several of these are generally available each year depending upon levels of internal and
external research money or other awards held by departmental faculty members. Benefits
are similar to those awarded to GTAs. Those interested in graduate research
assistantships should contact the Director of the Graduate Program in Public
Administration, the Graduate Director, and individual faculty members regarding
opportunities.
Housing Allowance
Several small housing allowances are given to doctoral students living on or near to the
central campus.
Alfred M. Pelham Scholarship
This is a scholarship awarded annually at the Public Administration Awards Banquet. It
is given by the Department of Political Science upon recommendation of the MPA
Committee to an exceptional MPA student in honor of the late Alfred M. Pelham, a
prominent civil servant in the City of Detroit several decades ago.
David H. Shepherd Scholarship
This is a scholarship awarded annually at the Public Administration Awards Banquet. It
is given by the Department of Political Science upon recommendation of the Shepherd
family and the MPA Committee to an exceptional MPA student in honor of the late
David H. Shepherd, a former mayor of Oak Park. MPA students intending a career in
public service may apply for this award.
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid:
There are a number of scholarships and other forms of financial aid available through the
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Those interested should visit the following
website:
http://www.gradschool.wayne.edu/current/finaid.asp
Department of Political Science
APPLICATION FOR GRADUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Name: ______________________________________ SS#:_______________________
WSU ID: ___________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________email:____________________
Michigan resident? yes___ no___
U.S. Citizen? yes____ no____
Country of citizenship_________________
Permanent resident? yes___ no___
Please check and write in year you first registered in the graduate program in political
science/public administration.
Fall
Winter
Spring/Summer
Which program are you enrolled in?
MA
MPA
PhD
GRE Score
_____
Verbal
______
Quantitative
V+Q
Writing Test
______
______
______
Undergrad GPA ____
Current
GPA
List below all intuitions attended, beginning with the most recent. Use an additional page if
necessary to list all institutions of higher learning you have attended. Attach transcripts for any
institution not currently on file in the Political Science Department
College/University
Degree Awarded
Date
Department
GPA
List below all scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and other awards that you have received,
attaching additional pages as necessary.
Award
Institution
Dates held
List below relevant employment and professional experience relating to your degree objective,
attaching additional pages as necessary.
Position
Address
Dates held
Indicate all awards for which you wish to apply:
Rumble Fellowship (Ph.D. only)
Liberal Arts & Sciences Doctoral
Fellowship
Sarasohn Dissertation Year Fellowship
Graduate Teaching
Assistantship
Graduate Research
Assistantship
Housing Allowance
Attach a short description (less than one page) of your educational background and objectives.
Indicate your past academic and research accomplishments as well as new projects you plan to
accomplish. We encourage you to include important academic projects that demonstrate your
creativity, originality, and capacity for independent research and study.
Department of Political Science
COMPLETE THIS FORM ONLY IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THE WSU POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROGRAM.
Credit hours completed toward program at end of current term ___________
Grade point average in Political Science courses at Wayne State __________
Plan of work filed?
 yes Please attach copy of approved plan of work to this application
 no
NB: Application will not
be considered until an approved
Plan of Work is on file in the department
M.A. Students Only:
Ph.D. Students Only:
Written comprehensive exam completed?
 yes
 no
Oral preliminary exam completed?
 yes
 no
Written qualifying exam completed?
 yes
 no
Oral qualifying exam completed?
 yes
 no
Number of years on teaching assistantship: ___________________
Number of courses you have taught in CLL or during Spring/Summer term: ________
Number of years you have held a research assistantship: _____________
Number of years you have held a Rumble or other Wayne State fellowship _________
Number of years you have held any other fellowships: _____________________
Have you applied for an external fellowship for next year?
 yes
 no
If so, where? _______________________________
Have you helped prepare a research grant proposal?


yes
no
Applicants who have previously served as a graduate teaching assistant in the department should
submit copies of student course evaluations.