Research Assistantships
Faculty in the department have research grants that support research assistants (RAs). Faculty members choose RAs on an individual basis, but the most important criterion is the student's ability to contribute to the professor's research program. Ordinarily, students are given a research assistantship only after they have been in the graduate program for at least one term and have taken at least one class from the professor.
After advancing to candidacy (see doctoral program), doctoral students are normally supported by a research assistantship with their dissertation adviser and may be able to use the work supported by the assistantship as a part of their own research.