Teaching Assistantships
The Department of Computer Science is recruiting undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) to lead workshops, recitations, laboratory sections and/or office hours.
Overview
Students are allowed to TA for multiple sections of the same CSC course each semester. These positions offer opportunities to apply your knowledge to help others learn, develop new communication and leadership skills, test out your interest in teaching and earn some extra money. You will also be able to develop new relationships with faculty, the department, and the College.
We encourage all interested students to apply. Any student who has taken the course or equivalent version is eligible to be a TA. Most students who TA consider it a valuable part of their undergraduate experience. Benefits include strengthening your knowledge of the subject, communication skills, time management skills, and empathy. It is also an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with a specific instructor, who may be able to provide a letter of recommendation in the future.
Although you do not need to have prior TA experience, it is helpful if you have some prior experience helping others in a formal or informal educational setting (e.g., high school or undergraduate tutoring or working in study groups with fellow students). Also consider specific characteristics or other skills (e.g., public speaking experience, organization skills) you bring to this position that can be relevant. A clear rationale for wanting to be a TA may also help make your application successful. When writing your rationale, think about the course in terms of what you thought was successful and what might be done more effectively.
Stipend
Stipends are based on an hourly rate (AY 2024-2025: $15.20/hour) over a 15-week semester. Your stipend amount can be impacted based on your completion of paperwork and training requirements prior to the first day of class.
Positions and Responsibilities
Below are some of the responsibilities for each of the available paid positions.
Workshop Leader (WSL) 2 hours/week
- Positions for CSC 161, CSC 171, CSC 172
- Lead weekly workshop section of 12-14 students
- Take a two-credit course on pedagogy, leadership and group dynamics taught through the Learning Center
Lab Teaching Assistantships (Lab TAs) 6 hours/week
- Positions for CSC 161, CSC 170, CSC 171, CSC 172
- Supervise weekly lab sessions (twice per week)
- Assist professor with course grading, review sessions, etc.
Teaching Assistantships (TAs) 4 hours/week
- Positions for CSC courses not mentioned above
- Assist professor with course grading, review session, office hours, answering student questions, etc.
- Responsible for leading recitations (CSC 254, CSC 280, CSC 282)
Spring 2025 Positions
Graduate Students are required to teach as part of their program, so availability will vary each semester based on the number of Grad Students who will hold TA positions. These are the maximum number of positions for the upcoming semester.
Course | # of TAs | # of Lab TAs | # of WSL |
CSC 161 Intro to Programming | 13 | 17 | |
CSC 170 Intro to Web Development | 6 | ||
CSC 171 Intro to Computer Science | 13 | 17 | |
CSC 172 Data Structures & Algorithms | 13 | 17 | |
CSC 173 Computations & Formal Systems | 9 | ||
CSC 186 Video Game Development | 3 | ||
CSC 200H Undergraduate Problem Seminar | 3 | ||
CSC 210 Web Programming | 5 | ||
CSC 211 Introduction to HCI | 3 | ||
CSC 214 Mobile App Development | 5 | ||
CSC 240 Data Mining | 5 | ||
CSC 242 Artificial Intelligence | 9 | ||
CSC 246 Machine Learning | 4 | ||
CSC 247 Natural Language Processing | 3 | ||
CSC 249 Machine Vision | 3 | ||
CSC 252 Computer Organization | 5 | ||
CSC 254 Program. Language Design & Implementation | 5 | ||
CSC 255 Software Analysis & Improv | 1 | ||
CSC 258 Parallel & Distributed Systems | 1 | ||
CSC 261 Database Systems | 5 | ||
CSC 263 Data Management Systems | 2 | ||
CSC 266 Frontiers in Deep Learning | 2 | ||
CSC 273W-1 Writing for Computer Science | 1 | ||
CSC 273W-2 Writing for Computer Science | 1 | ||
CSC 278 Computer Security Foundations | 2 | ||
CSC 280 Computer Models & Limitations | 4 | ||
CSC 282 Design & Analysis of Efficient Algorithms | 4 | ||
CSC 283 Advanced Cryptography | 1 | ||
CSC 286 Computational Complexity | 1 | ||
CSC 295 Quantum Computing | 2 | ||
CSC 299W Social Implications of Computing | 1 |
Application
Applications for TA jobs can be submitted the semester before the course you want to TA is scheduled. Preferences will be given to students who complete the application by the following dates: Fall courses May 1st, Spring courses December 1st and Summer courses February 1st. No prior experience is necessary to apply, and students may choose to apply for more than one position. Fill out and submit the online application. If you are selected, you will be contacted via email.
Notification of Acceptance
Notification of acceptance will be communicated via email in early August for Fall semesters, late December for Spring semesters and late March for Summer sessions. Please make sure you check your email. If we do not hear back from you within 2 weeks it will be assumed that you are no longer interested in the position.
Student Employment Forms
CS Department TA Onboarding Process