Graduate assistantships

Students in the M.S.Ed. program gain experience in higher education and student affairs through graduate assistantship or internship positions, full-time positions, and/or practicum placements. Without this essential practical experience, students would miss out on the opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom. 

Applicants who are not already working in higher education or student affairs as a bachelor-level professional must be hired into a 20-hr/week paid assistantship or internship at UW La Crosse or one of our partner institutions.  

During the recruitment process, candidates who are not already working full-time may apply to various positions, as available in each cohort type.

ON-CAMPUS cohort graduate assistant (GA) positions, available at UW La Crosse:

BLENDED cohort graduate student internship (GSI) positions, available at UW River Falls:

  • A graduate student internship (GSI) typically consists of 20 hours per week during the academic year. Compensation is $15.50 per hour, approximately $11,780 for each academic year.  Additional paid hours are required for on-boarding and professional development the summer prior to the start of classes and, in some cases, employment is also available the summer between the two academic years.
  • Blended cohort students pay the same tuition rate, regardless of state residency.  
  • GSI positions at UWRF also benefit from:
    • summer professional development workshops prior to classes starting
    • $200 professional development budget
    • use of a laptop computer
  • GSI positions for 2019 - 2021 are available in:
    • Career Services
    • Center of Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging
    • College of Business & Economics academic advising
    • New Student and Family Programs
    • Residence Life (4 positions)
    • Student Conduct and Community Standards
    • Student Involvement (2 positions)
    • Student Life at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC)
    • Student Support Services academic advising
    • University Center Operations (3 positions)
  • Position descriptions for UWRF internships are posted on their Graduate Student Internships site.  A brief overview of all positions at UWRF is also available here.

ONLINE cohort graduate student internship (GSI) positions:

  • While the online program is designed for those already working full-time in the field, we also support students in half-time paid internships with one of our partner institutions.  These include:
  • *"anticipated" refers to a position that current students are in or may be applying for.  By January 1, 2019, we expect to know exactly which positions will be funded and open for incoming students. 
  • A graduate student internship (GSI) typically consists of 20 hours per week with a 9- or 10-month salary. 
  • Online cohort students pay the same tuition rate, regardless of state residency.  
  • The next cohort begin positions in summer 2019 and courses in late May 2019. 

Our goal is to provide a single application experience for students, such that they will only need to submit their resume/statement once, in our application. We share students' resume/statements with the assistantship / internship providers that prospective students select in their application.

Interviews for both the academic program and the position can take place at our Visit Day at UW La Crosse (February 14), a Visit Day at UW River Falls (February 22), the Oshkosh Placement Exchange (Feb 28 - Mar 3), or virtually.