There are three kinds of graduate teaching positions in the department: teaching assistant (TA) positions, general teaching assistant (GA) positions, and independent graduate instructor (GI) positions. MA students are generally assigned TA positions, whereas PhD students move gradually from TA to GA to GI positions over the course of their degree. Progression through the positions for PhD students is dependent on the department's needs and on the student's performance as reflected in TA evaluation results.
Here is more information about each of the position types:
1. Teaching Assistants (TAs)
TAs lead on-campus or online tutorials under the supervision and direction of a faculty member who serves as the overall course coordinator. In general, for on-campus courses the entire class meets once per week for a lecture by the course instructor and then meets in smaller tutorials one or more times per week with TAs to engage in activities and assignments that relate to the week’s lecture. For online courses, TAs are generally assigned a group of students and are responsible for facilitating their progress through the course under the direction of the course coordinator.
The responsibilities associated with being a TA can vary. In all cases, TAs will lead their tutorial sections and mark their students’ assignments and exams. While assignments will generally be consistent across tutorials for a given course, the amount of freedom on-campus TAs have to create activities for their individual tutorials will vary depending on the course and course leader. Online TAs will follow the activities and assignments specified in the course syllabus.
TA positions may be awarded to any graduate student, but are commonly given to MA students and PhD students who have not yet completed their area exams.
2. General Assignment TAs (GAs)
A GA is assigned to a particular instructor for a term rather than to a specific course and provides teaching assistance for one or more of the instructor's courses. Duties of a GA are determined by the instructor and can include marking, meeting with students, assisting with in-class activities, or leading classes. GA positions are generally given to experienced PhD students with good TA evaluations who have held previous TAships.
3. Independent Graduate Instructors (GIs)
A GI assignment is a sessional position in which the graduate student is the sole course instructor, as opposed to a TA position, in which the graduate student works with a course coordinator. Based on the course descriptions in the undergraduate catalogue and on guidelines in departmental documents, GIs design the syllabus and select the texts for their assigned class, deliver the course independently, mark their students’ assignments and exams, and submit their students’ final marks.
GI positions are generally awarded to third and fourth-year PhD students who have completed their area exams and have good evaluations as TAs and GAs. In some cases, subject to closer guidance by the department, PhD students who have not yet completed their area exams may be awarded a GI position.
For more on responsibilities associated with TA, GA, or GI positions, see Responsibilities.