Resources

Graduate Assistantships and Financial Aid

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers several forms of financial assistance to its students including:

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate students may apply for assistantships that include a full tuition waiver and a stipend ranging from $4,500 to $6,000 per academic year. Applicants must first be accepted to the School of Graduate Studies, and then must audition and interview. Design students must interview and present a portfolio of design work.

Scholarships in Theatre

COFAC New Student Scholarship
Students who receive these awards must be new entering students (graduate or undergraduate). If graduate students, they should have an outstanding undergraduate record and be accepted into the graduate program and not on probation. Students should also possess some outstanding talent in the area of art, music, theatre, voice, or dance. This is a new award that began in the fall of 2007. The amount of the award varies but is approximately $1,000.
The Mary Ewing Award in Theatre
The student must be either an upper division theatre major or a second year graduate student. Gaduate students must have a GPA of at least 3.5 and must have completed at least one full year of graduate work. This is a scholarship of $500 and preference will be given to a Macomb resident. If there is no candidate from Macomb, a McDonough County resident will be given second preference; if no McDonough County resident is eligible, a student with a permanent residence in West-Central Illinois will qualify.

Employment Opportunities

For students who qualify for the Federal Work Study program, the student receives an allocation from the university and works on an hourly basis in a variety of jobs including the costume shop, scene shop, department office, and box office. The program is administered through the university Financial Aid Office.

At times there are part-time jobs available in the department office. Some jobs are also available in Summer Music Theatre. Interested students should contact the Department of Theatre and Dance office.

Other Assistance

For information on loans, university scholarships and other financial assistance, contact the Graduate Studies Office.