Mathematics Teaching Assistantships
Almost all teaching assistant positions in Mathematics are awarded
to graduate students in the Mathematics and Applied Mathematics departments.
Teaching assistantships for students in these departments are ordinarily
awarded as part of an admission and financial aid package. Current
students in either department who are not supported as TAs but would like
to be considered should contact their Graduate Program Coordinators.
All positions are 50% FTE employment (20 hours/week), paid at standard
UW rates for Teaching Assistants. For 2006-2007, this is $1,406 per month.
First-year Teaching Assistants spend five hours per week (on Tuesdays and
Thursdays) conducting quiz sections for calculus or pre-calculus courses
that meet with a faculty member on other days. Teaching Assistants also
hold office hours; assist with the preparation of worksheets, quizzes,
and exams; grade quizzes; and share in the grading of exams. We are
most likely to need outside TAs in autumn quarter, less likely in winter,
and extremely unlikely in spring. All new TAs are required to attend
departmental TA training, which takes place in September. During
the academic year, or during Summer Quarter, we cannot consider candidates
who have not already attended TA training.
To be considered for a position, you must:
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Be enrolled as a full-time graduate student in the University of Washington
during each quarter of employment.
-
Have completed credit courses in single-variable and multivariable calculus,
linear algebra, and ordinary differential equations, all with excellent
grades.
-
Have completed at least two quarters of coursework in rigorous, proof-oriented
mathematics beyond the subjects listed above, also with excellent grades.
Preferably, these courses should include work in Real Analysis at the level
of W. Rudin's
Principles of Mathematical Analysis or equivalent.
-
Have excellent command of written and spoken English. In particular, international
applicants must have obtained a score of at least 580 on the written version
or 237 on the computer version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL), and one of the following: a score of 55 or better on the Test
of Spoken English (TSE), a score of 230 or better on the Speaking Proficiency
English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) administered by the University of Washington,
or a grade of 3.0 or better in English 102. (Information about the
SPEAK test is available from the Office
of Educational Assessment, 440 Schmitz Hall, 206-543-1170, celiag@u.washington.edu.)
- Agree to participate in the Math Department's TA
training program (last full week of September) before beginning employment.
-
If not a US citizen, also agree to participate in the International
TA program run by CIDR
if you have not already done so, including the Pre-Autumn
Workshop during the third week of September.
-
Be available to work as a TA for the Math Department (if jobs are available)
at least 2 quarters. Preference will be given to applicants who are
available for longer periods.
Graduate students who meet these qualifications are invited to submit applications
in early May, including:
-
A completed University of Washington Assistantship Application.
These may be obtained from the Graduate School office (200 Gerberding Hall,
206-543-5900, uwgrad@u.washington.edu),
or downloaded from the Graduate
School Web Site (click on Forms).
-
A letter of intent, explaining a little about your background in mathematics,
any prior teaching experiences you have had, why you are interested in
a Mathematics Teaching Assistantship, what quarters you will be available
for employment, and your preferences (if any) regarding which courses you
would be most interested in being assigned to.
-
Official transcripts (or photocopies) showing all math courses you have
taken at the level of calculus or higher, including grades.
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A description of each math course you have taken beyond calculus, including
the following information (if known): title, name of instructor, date and
school where you took it, textbook, a brief description of the content,
and your grade.
-
A photocopy of your most recent GRE score report from ETS.
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If you are not a citizen of the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand,
or the United Kingdom, and have not received a bachelor's or advanced degree
from an accredited institution in one of these countries, proof that you
have satisfied the English language requirments listed above (TOEFL plus
one of TSE, SPEAK, or English 102).
-
Letters of recommendation from two faculty members who are familiar with
your work in mathematics. If they are able to comment on your potential
as a teaching assistant, ask them to do so.
-
If you have already worked as a teaching assistant or teacher in any field,
a third letter from someone who has supervised your teaching.
-
A letter from the Graduate Program Coordinator of your home department
describing: (a) whether you are making satisfactory progress in your degree
program, (b) when you are expected to complete your degree, (c) which quarters
of the coming year you are expected to be a full-time graduate student,
and (d) which quarters you are expected to be available for employment
as a Mathematics teaching assistant.
Send these materials to:
Graduate Program in Mathematics
Padelford C-36
Box 354350
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-4350
Priority will be given to applications that are complete by May 18.
The most highly qualified candidates will be invited to an interview with
members of the Mathematics Department faculty. Final selection will
be based on an evaluation of applicants' mathematics background, potential
excellence as a teacher, and quarters of availability, and will be subject
to the availability of positions. Most TA awards for the coming academic
year will be announced by June 15. In some cases, it may not be clear
by then whether positions will be available, so some applicants may be
placed on a waiting list.
If you have questions, contact the Math Department's Student Services
Office (206-543-6830, grads@math.washington.edu).
