What is the value of an assistantship? Approximately $33,000. When you are supported on an assistantship you take home about $1,500 per month and we pay your tuition and health insurance! You will be expected to become a resident of the State of Washington as soon as you are eligible (after one year).

Is health insurance included? Yes.

Who pays tuition? Washington State University will pay your tuition while you are on an assistantship.

Is there financial support during the summers? Yes, assuming you are making satisfactory academic progress, you will have support throughout the summer.

How many hours a week are expected on a teaching assistantship? The usual duties of an assistantship involve teaching two laboratory sections per week, usually around 20 hours including office hours.

Do TA’s get training or orientation? Yes, your assistantship begins one week before the first day of classes and your orientation and training are held during that week. You will learn how to teach, have a refresher course in safety and first aid, be advised about which courses to take, and have an opportunity to register for classes. You will also be able to interact with our current students and attend a social event to meet the faculty and go to a picnic with our current students.

What sort of jobs do WSU Chemistry grads get after graduation? Some of our alumni are heads of international corporations and Deans and Chairs of Chemistry Departments around the country. Most recently our graduates have gotten jobs in the state crime lab, post-doc teaching positions and in many industries.

Do graduate students have the opportunity to travel to, and present their research at national meetings? Yes! Students are encouraged to participate in such activities. Research advisors frequently pay for a student to attend national meetings. Our graduate students are often awarded competitive travel grants to attend international meetings.

When does a student join a laboratory and start research? Students are encouraged to meet with all faculty and speak with current graduate students to determine where they might like to work.Students must be in a lab by the end of their second semester. Some students are able to start research during the summer before they begin attending classes.

What is the normal size of the incoming class of chemistry graduate students? Approximately 20.

What is there to do in Pullman? Pullman is a small town within a day’s drive of snowboarding, alpine and cross-country skiing, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, river rafting, boating, Glacier National Park, the Pacific Ocean, Hell’s Canyon and Canada. For city lovers, Seattle is about five hours drive while Spokane and Coeur d ‘Alene are only 90 minutes drive.Washington State University is also home to PAC-12 sports and recreational facilities. Moscow Idaho is eight miles accross the border.