Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantship and Associateship Application Information

Application Deadline:  January 15th

If you are a new applicant in the Department of English, your application for a teaching assistant (TA) position will be evaluated along with your application to a degree program, using letters of recommendation and the statement of purpose in your file. In addition to materials required for admission, you must also submit the following items:

1. A graduate assistantship application.
2. A statement of teaching philosophy.
3. A résumé or vitae.
4. A recent sample of your academic writing (e.g., one critical paper or research paper prepared in an upper-division or graduate English course, 15-25 pages. This paper should show no markings or evaluative comments by a previous grader).
5. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) or Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) is required for international students whose native language is not English. A score of 55 or above is required to be eligible for consideration for a teaching assistantship. This requirement cannot be waived.

Stipends: $13,000 for students with a bachelor's degree and $15,000 for students with a master's degree, or 30 hours towards the Ph.D.

Tuition and Fees: Out-of-state tuition and in-state fees are waived 100 percent for graduate assistants and associates at 50 percent time (two classes per semester or 20 hours per week). Those holding 25 percent appointments (one course per semester or 10 hours per week) will receive full remission of out-of-state tuition and a 50 percent waiver of in-state fees. For 2009/10 the out-of-state tuition is $20,322. The in-state fees are $7,128. See the tuition schedule for more detailed costs. Health insurance is also provided for those graduate assistants/associates at 50% time. The value of this benefit  is approximately $1,600.

Applicants must be admitted to a graduate degree program with regular status to be eligible for teaching assistant positions. Official transcripts and proof of measles vaccination must be submitted prior to registration. All required materials must be submitted by  January 15.

Students applying to the program may upload their application and teaching philosophy during the online application process. Current students who are applying for teaching assistantships must submit an application for graduate assistantship, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, a résumé, and a statement of teaching philosophy to:

Graduate Coordinator
ASU English Department
P.O. Box 870302
Tempe AZ 85287-0302

Room LL 543B

For questions e-mail Sheila Luna or call 480-965-3194.

TA Training:  New TAs are required to attend an intensive three-week Summer Orientation Session in which they will prepare to teach ENG 101: First Year Composition during the fall semester. Attendance in the Orientation is a mandatory part of the Teaching Assistantship/Associateship contract and is compensated. As a contracted part of the TAship, new TAs must also register for and attend the three-credit ENG 594 TA Seminar during the fall semster.