Working as a graduate teaching assistant, or GTA, is a great way to help pay for graduate school while also gaining valuable experience in your field of study. A graduate teaching assistant helps a professor with a variety of tasks, including teaching classes, grading exams or homework, hosting tutoring or discussion sessions, and maintaining regular office hours. It is usually necessary to indicate your interest in becoming a graduate teaching assistant on your graduate school application.
Some graduate students are working on master’s degrees, while others are working on doctoral degrees. For those interested in becoming a graduate teaching assistant, each university may have different requirements. Some universities, for example, will require graduate teaching assistants to have a master’s degree in their field and be working toward a doctorate, while others may only require graduate teaching assistants to have a certain number of graduate credits in their field.
After you’ve determined the educational requirements for becoming a graduate teaching assistant and indicated your interest on your application, you’ll almost certainly need to meet with the department as well as the professor with whom you’ll be working for an interview. In this interview, it’s critical to come across as professional and knowledgeable, as well as to demonstrate your willingness to work as a graduate teaching assistant on top of your studies.
The requirements do not end once you become a graduate teaching assistant. In order to keep their jobs, most universities require teaching assistants to maintain a certain GPA. Your job may be offered to someone else if your GPA falls below a certain threshold, such as 3.0. Each university’s teaching assistants may be expected to do different things; for example, some may be expected to lecture and teach an entire course, usually at the freshman level. Others may simply be expected to fill in for the professor when he or she is unavailable, or to proctor exams in class and provide office hours for students with questions.
Keep in mind that while working as a graduate teaching assistant can be extremely lucrative, it can also be extremely stressful, especially during midterms and finals. Keep in mind that while you will most likely have your own exams and papers to prepare for, all undergraduate students will most likely require assistance at this time. Becoming a graduate teaching assistant can be a great choice during graduate school for those who can manage their time well and enjoy working with other students. It can also help you make excellent contacts to use down the road.