The typical first appointment for a beginning graduate student is a Teaching Assistantship (TA). A teaching assistantship is both a teaching position and a means of support for graduate study. It is normally advantageous for a graduate student to hold a teaching assistantship for at least a semester during graduate studies, since the teaching activity solidifies and deepens the teaching assistant’s undergraduate education in physics and also helps prepare for a possible career in teaching.
Teaching assistants and project assistants with combined graduate assistant appointments of one-third time or greater receive a remission of all in-state and out-of-state fees, except for the segregated fees. Tuition is also waived. TA appointments are done for a semester at a time. The rates are either the standard rate or senior rate (see the funding guide from the Graduate School for further details). See TA Details for additional information on the appointment responsibilities and evaluation process of teaching assistants.