Kroc School Graduate Assistantship Program

Who is eligible to apply for a Graduate Assistantship (GA)?
Applicants who are newly admitted or are currently enrolled students in a Kroc School graduate program. In order to apply, the applicant must be in good academic standing.

How much financial support do I receive as a Graduate Assistant?
Students who are selected for a Kroc School GA position will receive $1,296 in funding, which will be applied toward tuition costs during the semester in which they have been selected. Assistantship awards do not cover student fees, books or other expenses.

What hours are Graduate Assistants expected to collaborate?
It is expected that students collaborate for 40 hours per semester. Please note actual hours will vary by position and are typically between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

What are Graduate Assistants' responsibilities?
Responsibilities will vary by position. Graduate Assistantships are designed to enhance student learning by collaborating with faculty. It is an opportunity to assist in research, the design of pedagogical innovations or related projects.

How many GA positions are available?
The number of GA positions is contingent on faculty demand. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for current openings. 

How can I apply for a Graduate Assistantship?
Students will apply directly to the faculty member. Faculty will review applications and make decisions based on the fit between their research and pedagogical interests and the applicant's qualifications.

Available graduate assistantship positions will be posted at the bottom of this web page.

Please note the application deadlines are as follows:

  • Fall: Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:59 PM PT
  • Spring: Friday, February 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT

Students will be notified no later than two weeks after the deadline.

May I renew my assistantship contract?
Yes, contracts are renewable pending faculty invitation.

Note to International Students: 
International students who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) will not be permitted to start their graduate assistantships until they have one in place. Students can talk to the International Center for guidance on how to secure their SSN.

Dr. Topher McDougal
Dr. Topher McDougal

Faculty Supervisor: Topher McDougal

Description/ Duties and Responsibilities:  Professor McDougal is seeking graduate assistance to help grow and enrich the Kroc School's MS in Humanitarian Action program.

The Graduate Assistant will be assigned four basic responsibilities:

  1. identify and write applications for grants to support student scholarships;
  2. organize and coordinate the student mentorship program,
  3. moderate and enliven discussion forums on the Omprakash EdGE platform,
  4. and aid a MSHA faculty member in constructing a syllabus for a new course on “humanitarian logistics”.

Secondary responsibilities may include website creation and data curation for a small arms trafficking project, and copy editing for a book project.

Qualifications: Entrepreneurial person capable of independently identifying and solving problems. An organized mind and excellent communication skills. Punctilious. Excellent writer in English. Familiarity with data management and analysis software (at least Excel, but potentially Stata, R, etc.) a plus, but not necessary.

Number of Hours: It is expected that students collaborate for 40 hours per semester. Please note actual hours will vary by position and are typically between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Compensation: Students who are selected for a Kroc School GA position will receive $1,296 in funding, which will be applied toward tuition costs during the semester in which they have been selected. Assistantship awards do not cover student fees, books or other expenses.

Application Procedure: To apply, please send the application as one combined PDF document to Topher McDougal at tlm@sandiego.edu no later than Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 11:59 PM.

Applications must include the following:
A cover letter (2 paragraphs is sufficient) outlining qualifications, experience as it relates to the position, and how obtaining the position will add to your professional goals. Current curriculum vitae/resume.