UNIV Teaching Assistant (TA) Program

Please read the important information below before downloading the TA application at the bottom of the page.

Qualifications for Invitation: Interested students must be a current Sophomore or Junior and have a cumulitive grade point average of 3.0 for consideration.

Application Process: Students are nominated – by faculty, staff, and former TAs - to apply for TA positions during each Spring semester for the following Fall. Nominated students should download and complete a written application and participate in an interview with a graduate assistant working with the UNIV program. Thirty to forty TAs are selected from the pool of applicants in late March, and those selected are required to attend a one-day, Summer, training seminar to begin preparing for the Fall.

Course Credit and Grading: TAs register for two courses, EDUC388 (3-credits) and EDCP498 (1-credit) while serving as a TA for a UNIV section. The EDUC388 is a TA seminar designed to aid Teaching Assistants in the teaching of college freshmen. Additionally, the class provides environment for reflection and discussion with fellow TAs. The EDCP498 course is the UNIV TA credit. The grade received for EDUC388 is based on performance in the seminar; the grade received for EDCP498 is based on performance as a TA, and is assigned by the instructor with whom the TA is paired.

TA/Instructor Pairings: The primary consideration when pairing TAs with Instructors is course schedule. When pairing, we will attempt to match TAs with instructors who are faculty or staff in the same discipline or college as the TA. One final consideration when assigning TAs is an instructor request. If an Instructor requests a particular TA and the TA agrees to the placement, the pairing is made.

TA Obligations and Commitment: TAs are expected to fully participate in either their UNIV 100 or 101 class. UNIV100 sections run for 10-12 weeks, while UNIV101 sections run the entire semester. In addition, TAs must participate fully in the EDUC388 class which runs the length of the semester. All applicants should realize that becoming an undergraduate TA is a serious commitment.

Within a given week, students should be able to devote approximately 10 hours to their TA experience. This is an all inclusive estimate for time spent in the UNIV classroom, time spent in the EDUC classroom, and time spent in preparation for participation for both.

For more information please contact Jessica Moore at nsp@umd.edu or (301) 314-0403.

 Download an application to become an Orientation Program Teaching Assistant.