Arts & Sciences Teaching Assistantships in English

The English Department welcomes graduate students from disciplines other than English to join its teaching staff as A&S TAs.  Teaching Assistants in English teach most sections of the writing courses in the Core Curriculum, English 101, 102, 219, and 220. 

Teaching Assistants earn a stipend and receive tuition remission up to 12 hours per semester. During their first semester, first-year TAs at both the MA and PhD levels teach only one section in the writing program and are required to take English 537 (Teaching Composition), a graded practicum course that counts towards the required pedagogy or professional studies hours of your degree program. After their first semester, TAs teach two sections per semester. The award of a Teaching Assistantship also includes graduate student health insurance.

The Department holds an orientation and runs a training program and an evaluation process so that its Teaching Assistants will teach effectively.

A&S TAs are assigned office space in the English Department and are eligible for all the rights and privileges of an English TA, including the right to apply for special assignments in the Core Writing Program. 

Teaching Assistantships begin in the Fall semester. Application forms are available online here.  You should include two recommendation letters from someone willing to write about your potential as a teacher as well as an expository writing sample of 10-15 pages.

•Renewals, Limits, and Appeals

Teaching Assistants must be registered for 6 hours of graduate credit in both Fall and Spring semesters and 3 hours if they teach during the Summer term.

The annual renewal of Teaching Assistants is subject to their classroom performance, academic standing, and the department’s budgetary constraints.

Students in various degree programs are limited in how long they may retain their TAships: 5 semesters for MA students; 10 semesters for PhD students.  The English Department consults with a graduate student’s home department regarding academic standing and any appeals for extensions beyond these limits.  

The English Department limits its graduate students to appointments of .5 FTE.  If an A&S TA wishes to exceed this limit, the home department graduate advisor should clear the overload with the Director of Core Writing.