Pathway to Teaching

Program Overview | Training and Development | Roles/Responsibilities | Pathway to Teaching | Resources

PhDs interested in teaching may get an opportunity to teach a course during their time as a SAS graduate student. The following steps provide a pathway to teaching:

  1. Enter as a PhD student.
  2. Plan possible terms for teaching with your supervisor. Please note that PhD students generally teach after their thesis proposal, but this is dependent on completion of the following steps and recommendations by your supervisor.
  3. Complete the Foundations for University Teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science training program or MATH 900. One of these must be completed to teach a course.
  4. Apply to teach a course.

Contact the TA Program if you are interested in teaching a specific course to potentially focus your training in that area.

Teaching Timeline for PhD Students in Statistics and Actuarial Science

Year 1                                Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
  • Mandatory Level 1 and 2 TA training for new SAS students
  • New SAS students can begin to complete Level 3
  • STAT/ACTSC 900 offered (comprehensive exam stage I)
  • Recommended pause for TA training
Year 2 Term 4 Term 5 Term 6
  • Ideal phase to complete Level 3 begins
  • Apply to teach for teaching in  terms 6 to 8
  • Ideal phase to complete Level 4 begins
  • MATH 900 offered
  • Earliest possible term to teach*
  • Ideal phase to apply for TA coordinator** begins
Year 3 Term 7 Term 8 Term 9
  • Last term for thesis proposal without extension
  • Apply to teach for teaching in terms 9 to 11
  • Last recommended term for Level 3
  • Ideal phase for teaching* begins
  • Last recommended term to complete Level 4 or MATH 900 requirement
  • Possible teaching assignment*
Year 4 Term 10 Term 11 Term 12
  • Possible teaching assignment*
  • Last recommended term for teaching* or TA Coordinator** assignment
  • Recommended term for thesis defense

* Students are eligible to teach once they have completed Level 4 or MATH 900, and typically after they have completed their thesis proposal.

** Students are eligible for the TA Coordinator position in non-teaching terms after they have completed Level 4.

Example Teaching Timelines

                    

Student 1

(Last-Minute Teaching Interest)                                     

Student 2

(General Student)

Student 3

(Interested in Teaching)
Year 1 Fall
  • Level 1 and 2 TA training
  • Level 1 and 2 TA training
  • Level 1 and 2 TA training
Winter    
  • Level 3 TA training
Spring
  • STAT/ACTSC 900
  • STAT/ACTSC 900
  • STAT/ACTSC 900
Year 2 Fall  
  • Level 3 TA training
  • Level 4 TA training
  • Apply to teach for teaching in terms 6 to 8
Winter  
  • Level 4 TA training
  • MATH 900
Spring  
  • Begin applying for TA Coordinator position in non-teaching terms
  • Begin applying for TA Coordinator position in non-teaching terms
Year 3 Fall
  • Thesis proposal
  • Apply to teach for teaching in terms 9 to 11
  • Thesis proposal
  • Apply to teach for teaching in terms 9 to 11
  • Thesis proposal
  • Apply to teach for teaching in terms 9 to 11
Winter
  • MATH 900
  • MATH 900 (Optional)
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
Spring
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
Year 4 Fall
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
Winter
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
  • Possible teaching assignment
  • Possible TA Coordinator assignment
Spring
  • Thesis defense
  • Thesis defense
  • Thesis defense

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