Teaching and Research Assistant Information

Purpose of assistantships

  • To provide graduate students learning opportunities that expand their academic skills and increase their breadth of scholarly experience
  • To provide support for faculty engaged in activities that further the mission of the Department
  • To provide financial assistance to graduate students as they pursue advanced degrees

Assistantships

Each year the Department sets aside a number of Gradate Assistantships for entering PhD students. Graduate Assistants receive a total financial package of at least the minimum stipend level for a Level 1, 1/2-time assistantship. Current rates can be seen here. This package includes a waiver of up to nine credit hours tuition each term (fall/spring), health insurance coverage, and for out-of-state students, waiver of out-of-state tuition. University, College, and Departmental Fellowships are also available. Students recruited with assistantships may expect a minimum of four years of support so long as they make satisfactory progress in their studies.

Application process

All assistantships are contingent upon availability of resources. Any HDFS student may indicate interest in being awarded an assistantship by completing a questionnaire provided by the Graduate Secretary each spring. This questionnaire will also allow applicants for TAs to submit in writing course placement preferences. Priority is given to students with committed funding.

Types of assignments

Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. Assistantships may include the following types of assignments: assisting with ongoing research, assisting with graduate or undergraduate courses in HDFS, or assisting in the Child Development Laboratories or Couple and Family Therapy Clinic. Further information can be obtained from HDFS faculty members and administrators.

Criteria for awarding assistantships

Teaching assistantships are awarded based on academic merit, fit with specific needs of the Department, past support, and financial need (e.g. out of state).

Research assistantships are awarded based on the availability of grants and contracts secured by faculty in HDFS. Faculty in charge of the projects, in collaboration with the Graduate Program Director and Chairperson, are responsible for selecting students based on academic merit and fit with specific needs of the project.

Tuition Waiver and Health Benefits

GEU Contract

Graduate teaching assistants are eligible to join the Graduate Employee Union. The current contract between the GEU and the University describes the rights and responsibilities of Union members. Graduate students who possess a graduate assistantship should become familiar with this document.

Responsibilities and Evaluation

Graduate assistants are expected to meet with their faculty supervisor to discuss their responsibilities before the semester begins. An evaluation of each student's work is completed at the end of each semester. That evaluation should take place in a meeting between the student and the faculty supervisor with whom he or she has been working.

Teaching Assistants are required to attend TA professional development sessions provided by the department, college and university. Graduate students who desire a teaching experience should attend trainings as well to learn the expectations and opportunities in the department.

The following is a list of courses that typically required a TA for Fall 2020/ Spring 2021: 

HDFS 145 
HDFS 211 
HDFS 212 
HDFS 225 
HDFS 238 
HDFS 270 
HDFS 345 
HDFS 412 
HDFS 414 
HDFS 442 
HDFS 444 
HDFS 445 
HDFS 447 
HDFS 448 
HDFS 454 
HDFS 472 
HDFS 481 
ISS 210 

*courses may vary by semester

The following is a list of courses that typically required a TA for Summer 2020: 

HDFS 145 
HDFS 211 
HDFS 212 
HDFS 225 
HDFS 238 
HDFS 412 
HDFS 414 
HDFS 442 
HDFS 444 
HDFS 445 
HDFS 448 
ISS 210