The goal of this program is to provide basic training and hands-on experience for M.A. students who plan to go on to either community college teaching or Ph.D. programs. There will be two components to the experience

• Six pedagogical workshops which all Teaching Assistants will attend together.
• A practicum in which students will TA in an undergraduate class.

TAs will receive three units of internship credit (HIST 785) for successful participation. If the teaching is done in an upper-division class, these three units of HIST 785 can stand in for that upper-division class toward graduation requirements. If the teaching is done in a lower-division course, the internship credits will be counted as excess units, but there is the possibility of having a simultaneous appointment in that course as a GA or SA. The course will be graded credit/no credit.

It is mandatory for participants to attend all meetings of the class in which they are teaching and all six pedagogical workshops. The workshops will discuss basic elements in teaching a college-level course and will provide support for participants during their first TA experience.

The pedagogical workshops are intended to prepare and provide support to assist you in acting as a Teaching Assistant in an undergraduate class. Teaching styles are very different, so the specific duties of the TA will vary, depending on the structure of the course. The general guidelines are that the TA will attend the class, prepare two lectures, and complete two additional assignments. The TA will also have limited grading responsibilities. In lieu of a final paper or exam, the TA will also prepare a 1 - 2 page statement of teaching philosophy and a syllabus for the course that represents an alternate way of presenting the subject from what was followed through the semester. Talk with your mentoring instructor to work out the specific responsibilities appropriate to the course. It is recommended that instructors and students generate an understanding in writing of what is expected of the TA.

To qualify for the program, you must have successfully completed 15 history units in the graduate program, including HIST 700, and be carrying a 3.35 overall GPA.

If you would like to participate in the program, please fill out an application, attach a transcript, and submit it to Laura Lisy-Wagner.

This program runs alongside of the existing paid GA and SA programs. It does not supplant either program. You are encouraged to apply for both, and if possible, Prof. Dreyfus and I will try to place you for both positions in the same class. In this case, you would receive the GA or SA pay and the TA credit and you would do the grading work of both a GA/SA and a TA and the teaching work of a TA.

You are also encouraged to approach ahead of time a professor with whom you would like to work. There is a space on the application for the professor to sign, once you have an agreement. If you have a prearranged appointment, you still need to submit an application, but your placement is all set. Not every professor will be choosing to participate in this program this semester, so be prepared to hear that your first choice is not available. Again, it is not necessary to negotiate with a professor ahead of time, but it helps with the process of placement.

For questions please contact Prof. Lisy Wagner (lalisy@sfsu.edu).