The Department of Geology and Astronomy offers scholarships to encourage students to major in Geology or in Earth and Space Science Education and to reward current majors for outstanding academic achievement.

The Department is soliciting applications for two Earth and Space Science Undergraduate Scholarships. Sucessful candidates will receive $1000.00. The scholarships will be only awarded to those who have shown true academic achievement, who can adequately provide a statement of their career goals, and based on financial need. Preference will be given to those students who have not previously received department scholarships and who demonstrate and articulate their strengths, objectives, and needs most effectively. The final awards will be decided by majority vote of the department faculty.

Eligibility: Applicants must be currently-enrolled majors in the B.S. Geoscience of B.S.Ed. Earth and Space Science programs at West Chester University. Those interested must submit a completed application form to the department chairperson, Dr. Marc Gagné. Applications may be obtained either through download at the BlackBoard student web site, this website or through an e-mail request through Dr. Martin Helmke at mhelmke@wcupa.edu. or Dr. Joby Hilliker at jhilliker@wcupa.edu. All applications must be turned in by 5 PM, Friday, November 13th, 2009, in order to be considered.

{Applications can be found here. Application, ESS Undergrad. Scholarphip, 2009.}

Other undergraduate scholarship opportuinties such as research assistantships in specific areas of geology, astronomy, meteorology or oceanography may be available as well. Please contact individual faculty members for more information.

The Department of Geology & Astronomy offers a graduate assistantship with tuition waiver on a competitive basis for half-time (6 credits) and full-time (9 credits) graduate students in the M.A. in Physical Science program. 

Graduate assistantships are available in the department on a limited, competitive basis. Those interested in such a position should speak with the department's Graduate Coordinator and follow the application procedures outlined in the University's Graduate Catalog. Graduate assistants should expect to participate in a variety of pedagogical processes and scholarly activities under the direction of a specific faculty member.

The Graduate Assistant (GA) position duties include:

1) demonstrating progress on his/her thesis research. The GA thesis research will usually be conducted in conjunction with the research program of faculty member(s) of the Department of Geology and Astronomy.

2) contributing to the department in activities that are beneficial to the professional development of the GA. Examples include but are not limited to, acquisition and curation of teaching collections; maintaining, operating and teaching other students in the use of departmental equipment; assisting in classroom instruction and field trips. The GA should not be used for clerical and duties that have little value in the professional development of the GA (such as grading).

3) Full-time assistantship requires students be enrolled for at least 9 graduate credits and receive a tuition waiver for 9 credits and work for 20 hours per week for their graduate assistantship duties. Half-time assistantships requires students be enrolled for at least 6 graduate credits and receive a tuition waiver for 6 credits and work for 10 hours per week for their graduate assistantship duties.

For reappointment a GA candidate should submit a summary of their duties during their previous appointment, and describe the progress they have made towards completing their thesis.