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Teaching assistantships allow our graduate students to develop their skills as instructors of English literature and creative writing. As teaching assistants, students teach courses under the supervision and with the guidance of faculty members in the English Department.

DUTIES

For their first year in the New Writers Project, TAs assist a faculty member in a large lecture section, usually a sophomore-level survey of American, British or world literature, by leading weekly discussion sections, attending lectures, grading student papers, and holding conference hours with students to discuss their papers. Along with guidance from the professor, students gain valuable experience attending lectures, designing lessons, leading discussions, evaluating undergraduate writing, and meeting with students during their office hours.

During the first semester of their second year, creative writing students who have been awarded teaching assistantships usually assist in E315F, an introductory creative writing course. Teaching Assistants lead a small group of undergraduates through review sessions, discussions about craft, and several workshops in fiction, poetry or nonfiction. It is through teaching others, particularly in these workshops, that many of our graduate students gain a better understanding of their own writing.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Although no prior teaching experience is required, graduate students in the English Department must be in good academic standing and receive satisfactory TA evaluations in order to maintain their support.

To be considered for a teaching assistantship, you must meet all departmental and Graduate School requirements for admission and submit all the required application materials by the December 15 deadline. There is not a separate application for teaching assistantships. 

Appointment

The TA/AI Program makes recommendations to the chairman of the Department of English, who must approve all appointments before forwarding them to the dean for final approval. Candidates are appointed either as TA 1 (those who hold only a bachelor's degree) or as TA 2 (those with an M.A. in English or 30 hours of approved coursework). Appointments are normally made for nine months. All TAs must be unconditionally admitted to the Graduate School and currently enrolled in nine semester hours of course work. All TAs must remain in good standing academically and must make satisfactory progress in their degree programs.

Compensation

The stipend for TAs without M.A.s in 2011–12 was $13,154, and $14,490 for TAs with an M.A. or equivalent. In addition to the stipend, TAs received employee health insurance and a taxable tuition benefit of $3,784 each long semester, before taxes. TAs who are not legal residents of Texas also receive in-state tuition entitlement. Tuition and fees for a full-time English graduate student in Fall 2012 approached $3,903. The total value of the compensation was approximately $26,269 for TAs without M.A.s and $27,605 for TAs with an M.A. or equivalent.

Reappointment

The graduate program normally reappoints all TAs who make satisfactory progress with their teaching duties. The program announces these reappointments in the spring semester, as early as budgetary approval permits, for the following fall, and are subject to administrative approval.