Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosts its annual Graduate School Fair October 23. Prospective graduate students can receive information about graduate programs, graduate admission requirements, graduate student services and financing a graduate education, including graduate assistantships and competitive graduate awards.
The Council of Graduate Schools notes: “Master’s degrees are key for future employment and career advancement. Employment in occupations that typically require a master’s degree for entry will increase by 22 percent between 2010 and 2020, much greater than the 14 percent increase expected for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
There will be two chances to meet with faculty and staff members: from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge.
Representatives from each of the graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, Schools of Nursing, Business, Engineering, and Education, Health and Human Behavior will be available to speak with prospective students.
In addition, representatives from the Graduate School, Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Testing Services will be present to talk about topics such as flexible options, funding and the track to graduation.
“Whether you are a full-time student coming back for your master’s degree or a working student who needs to go part-time, we have options for you,” said Jerry Weinberg, Graduate School dean and associate provost for research. “We have online programs, traditional programs and courses available during the daytime, evening and on the weekends.”
Weinberg noted the University offers more than 500 graduate assistantships that include tuition waivers. Each assistantship provides the chance for students to conduct research or gain practical work experience. SIUE also awards competitive graduate scholarships.
“SIUE is an active research community, where faculty members obtain funded grants from major agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, NASA, the National Endowment for Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and many other prestigious agencies,” said Weinberg.
Master’s level graduate students from the regional states of Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wisconsin will pay the same tuition rate as those students from Illinois.
As an incentive for prospective students, the graduate school application fee is being waived to participants who apply at the fair. This is a $30.00 value.
Free parking will be available in Lot B, which is next to the Morris University Center.
For more information or to pre- register, visit the graduate fair registration page through the SIUE Office of Admissions. Interested students may also call (618) 650-2741 or email graduateadmissions@siue.edu.
Photo: Shelly Robinson, program coordinator for Graduate Studies and Research at SIUE, visits with a prospective graduate school student.