Financial Support

Teaching Assistantships are available in the Department of English on a competitive basis. Admission to the program does not guarantee a TA. Priority is granted to PhD and MFA students in English. MA and MTESOL students are not funded.

TAs teach three classes per year.

Application Deadline: January 15th

Procedures for new applicants in the English Department:

Your application for a teaching assistant (TA) position will be evaluated along with your application to a degree program, using the letters of recommendation, resume, and writing sample already in your application for the degree program. A statement of teaching philosophy (500 to 750 words) is also required that you will upload on a separate page in the application.

Procedures for current students in the English Department:

Current students who are applying for teaching assistantships must submit three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, a résumé, and a statement of teaching philosophy. Please send the documents to sheila.luna@asu.edu by January 15th.

International Students:

The Test of Spoken English (TSE) or Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) is required for international students whose native language is not English. A score of 55 or above on the TSE/SPEAK is required to be eligible for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Another option is to take the IBT test and receive a score of 26 or higher on the oral portion of the test. This requirement cannot be waived. For more information on this requirement, please contact the International Teaching Assistantship Program.

Stipend:

$17,000 annual stipend, for students holding a master's degree;.  includes tuition waiver and health insurance
$16,000 annual stipend, for students without a master's degree (bachelors only); includes tuition waiver and health insurance..

Tuition and Fees:

Out-of-state tuition and in-state fees are waived 100 percent for graduate assistants and associates at 50 percent time (two classes per semester or 20 hours per week). Those holding 25 percent appointments (one course per semester or 10 hours per week) will receive full remission of out-of-state tuition and a 50 percent waiver of in-state fees. See the tuition schedule for more detailed costs.

Applicants must be admitted to a graduate degree program with regular status to be eligible for teaching assistant positions. Official transcripts and proof of measles vaccination must be submitted prior to registration.

Students applying for admission to the program will upload their teaching philosophy during the online application process before January 15.

TA Training:

New TAs are required to attend an intensive Summer Orientation Session in which they will prepare to teach ENG 101: First Year Composition during the fall semester. Attendance in the Orientation is a mandatory part of the Teaching Assistantship/Associateship contract. As a contracted part of the TAship, new TAs must also register for and attend the three-credit ENG 594 TA Seminar during the fall semster.

Teaching Options for Existing TA:

1. Graduate students who have been awarded Teaching Assistantships/Associateships in the Department of English will staff the Writing Program exclusively for the first year of their Teaching Assistantship.
   
   
2. Once graduate students with TAships have completed their first year of teaching in the Writing Program, they will be available to teach other undergraduate courses outside Writing Programs.
   
   
3. Each area is responsible for distributing TAs to teach undergraduate courses based on undergraduate course availability. Besides course availability, TA teaching will be assigned within each area based on seniority and expertise. Each area will establish clear criteria for assigning and placing TAs in courses within the area.
   
   
4. Stand-alone courses assigned to TAs outside of the Writing Program must meet a target enrollment capacity of 60% 30-days prior to the start of the semester (the target enrollment number is subject to change if the course fulfills graduation requirements or is a high-need service course). If enrollment does not meet the target by this date, TAs and the Writing Program will be notified of class cancelation. Then, the TA will be assigned a course in the Writing Program.

Explore other financial options at https://students.asu.edu/graduate/finances