Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

The Department of Geography and Geology offers teaching assistantships to students enrolled in the Geology Master in Science program. Students must request these assistantships on the application, and selection will be based on an evaluation of academic records, recommendations, experience, and other relevant criteria. Each teaching assistant will be assigned duties by the lab coordinator and graduate coordinator.

The duties of assistantships will require no more than 20 hours per week, including time spent in laboratories and in preparation. Duties will generally involve preparing for and helping in the teaching of two or three 100, 200 or 300 level laboratories and/or performing preparation work for the laboratory. Other duties may be assigned as appropriate. Teaching Assistants are expected to be on campus and available for work assignments one week prior to the beginning of classes, and to remain on campus through the period of final examinations. Arrival delays or early departures must be approved by the department chair.

Teaching assistantships are typically awarded for one academic year. Master's students may normally expect to have an assistantship for a second year, however, this is based on continued availability of funding. Continuation of the teaching assistantship past those time periods is permissible (but not guaranteed) providing performance as a teaching assistant is acceptable and that satisfactory progress towards the appropriate degree has been made. Students failing to perform their duties satisfactorily may have their assistantship revoked any time.

Teaching assistantships starting fall 2008 are valued at $10,000 for the 9-month academic year but are paid over 10 months. To receive full consideration for a teaching assistantship, applications should be received by February 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester.

Research Assistantships (RAs)