Teaching Associate Program

Q:    What are the eligibility requirements?

A:    Graduate students are eligible if they have completed one or more of the following:
•    ENGL 513CS 
•    Two Semesters of Work as a Supplemental Instructor
•    One year of previous experience teaching at the high school level
You can be conditionally classified when you apply; you must be a classified MA student to begin teaching.

Q:    How do I apply?

A:    Notices for application are posted on the English Department website and announced in graduate classes. 

Q:    What experiences can be useful in helping you prepare?

A:    The eligibility requirements are listed above. However, in addition, other experiences can be helpful. It is useful to have had some background in working with students, such as tutoring or teaching.  Having worked as a tutor in the Learning Resource Center for two semesters is very useful.  Some of you may already have taught in high schools, or you may have taken courses that provide background in Rhetoric and Composition, such as English 513CS. 

Q:    What happens once I am accepted as a Teaching Associate?

A:    Before fall classes begin, there will be mandatory, in-person workshops that acquaint you with CSUN’s first-year composition curriculum. 

    These workshops not only provide you with a sample syllabus and writing assignments, but they also help you prepare classroom lessons and learn strategies for teaching online and assessing writing. You will then begin teaching English 115, Approaches to University Writing. 

During the fall, you will receive support from a mentor professor who will meet with you every other week, observe your class, review your assignments, syllabi, and grading, and provide helpful feedback for new TAs on a variety of classroom related topics. The mentoring professor will also create a Canvas site for optional continued conversations. Please note that these in-person mentorship meetings are mandatory.