The Graduate Program

Department and University Resources

The following is a list of resources that will help students negotiate arrival to campus and survival as teachers and scholars. Many of the resources below include information on money for research and travel to conferences to present research, as well as information regarding many of the organizations on campus and sponsored by the Graduate School.

• The English Graduate Student Organization (EGSA) is the officially recognized body representing graduate students in the department. Members sit on major departmental committees, and the department consults with officers of EGSA on matters of concern to graduate students. EGSA sponsors an annual conference at which students and faculty from Mizzou and elsewhere present scholarly and creative work. EGSA also organizes year-beginning and year-ending social events to which all department members are invited. The EGSA web page includes many resources of interest to students arriving to campus for the first time, and to students who have been here for a while. The site includes sample comprehensive examination lists as well as information about the university and community. Students maintain profiles on EGSA's graduate student profiles page.

• The Graduate Student Caucus of the Modern Language Association is the graduate student wing of the national professional organization for university faculty in English.

• Preparing Future Faculty: PFF organizes programs each year for graduate students to hone their teaching. Participation is a privilege and is well worth pursuing. This involves GRS 9010 and 9020 for 1 credit hour each semester. PFF Fellows visit a mentor at a partner institution 1-2 times per semester, and participate in monthly class meetings and professional development/career workshops.

• Minor in College Teaching: This program provides professional accreditation for teaching and involves 12 credit hours beyond major program; 6 hours of core courses, 3-6 hours of Teaching Practicum, 3 hours of Teaching Electives, Teaching Portfolio

• Program for Excellence in Teaching: Sponsored by the University of Missouri, this organization is responsible for the College Teaching Seminar, TeachNet, Multicultural Community Hour, Early Feedback, Class Observations, English Language and teaching courses for International Teaching Assistants, Teaching Renewal Conference

• Online Teaching Manual: This offers practical suggestions for beginning teachers including topics such as handling crises in the classroom, lectures, labs, first day of class, classroom management, communication, problem based learning, etc.

• Educational Technologies at Missouri: Online early feedback, Course management tools (Blackboard & Web CT), Web page design assistance for courses, Instructional design, Access to resources on instructional technology.

• Campus Writing Program: Workshops for TA’s in Writing Intensive courses, Resources on Writing, Writing Intensive course evaluations

• Graduate Student Organizations

• Graduate Student Association: Including information about travel awards given by GSA

• Graduate-Professional Council: Including information about travel scholarships given by GPC

• Association of Black Graduate and Professional Students

• Graduate Students as Parents: Contact Kristy Wendt at kdwtgc@mizzou.edu 

• Resources through the Graduate School

• Graduate Student Support Program (Health Insurance and Fee Waivers)

• Contact:  Karen Gruen  GruenK@missouri.edu  573-884-2326

• Bulletin Board of Funding Opportunities: a database of external Fellowships

• Career and Student Development Resources: Resources on job searches, writing, relationships in graduate school, financial aid, etc.

• Professional Presentation Travel Scholarships: Doctoral students who have successfully completed doctoral comprehensives and been admitted to doctoral candidacy are eligible for a maximum of $250 Professional Presentation Travel Scholarship. See details for deadline dates and specific requirements under Application for Professional Presentation Travel Scholarship

• John Bies International Professional Presentation Travel Scholarships and International Dissertation Research Travel Scholarships: Doctoral students who have successfully completed doctoral comprehensives and been admitted to doctoral candidacy are eligible for a maximum of $1500 to defray transportation expenses associated with travel to international professional meetings or defray international transportation expenses associated with dissertation research. See details for deadline dates and specific requirements under John Bies International Professional Presentation Travel Scholarship and International Dissertation Research Travel Scholarship. 

• Dissertation Research Travel Scholarships: Doctoral students who have successfully completed doctoral comprehensives and have been admitted to candidacy are eligible to compete for a maximum of $400 for Dissertation Research Travel Scholarships to defray transportation expenses associated with dissertation research. See details, deadline dates, and specific requirements under Application for Dissertation Research Travel Scholarships at their web site. 

• Graduate Student Extramural Fellowship Incentive Program: Graduate students who successfully obtain nationally competitive fellowships of $10,000 or more annually are eligible for a 5% bonus for each year of the award.  See specific requirements at their web site. 

• MU Counseling Center: The Counseling Center assists students who are having difficulties with their experiences at MU.  Services include individual, couples, and group counseling, crisis intervention, biofeedback and stress management, testing, outreach presentations, and consultation to university departments, faculty, and staff.  The Counseling Center has also begun offering a Dissertation Support Group. 

• Statistics Help: The Social Science Statistics Center provides MU graduate students with assistance with projects, theses, and dissertations.  Check their web site for a description of their services.

• Computer Information. IATS Everything Technology Guide or Help Desk  573-882-5000

• Software training courses: Offered at no charge to students. See: http://iatservices.missouri.edu/training/catalog.html

• Library Tours: Graduate students newto the MU campus (and those teaching for the first time) will find it useful to take one of the library tours offered at Ellis Library.

• Writing Help: The Learning Center Writing Lab offers free, fifty-minute writing consultations for MU graduate students.  Graduate students may come for help with short papers, seminar reports, letters, or vitas.  To make appointments, call the Learning Center Writing Lab at 573-882-2493.

• International Center: Funding opportunities, International fellowships and scholarships, Curators Grants-In-Aid Program for International Students, News and Resources.