Physics TA Assignment Guidelines

Graduate students in the Physics Department generally receive a full teaching assistantship (20 hours per week) or a half assistanship (10 hours per week). Ocassionally, different arrangments can be made. Most TAs involve teaching a lab for the Department. Below you will find the guidelines that are followed when assigning teaching assistant duties within the Department. These are based on a survey of teaching asisstants and their time commitment for different tasks, conducted by the Department in the Spring of 2005. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the lab office.

Mechanics Courses (121, 131 and 151)

In-class Time: 3 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 3 hours per week

Office Hours: 1 hour per week

Grading: 3 hours per section

Full TA: 3 sections

Half TA: 1 section

E&M Courses (122, 132 and 152)

In-class Time: 3 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 3 hours per week

Office Hours: 1 hour per week

Grading: 3 hours per section

Full TA: 3 sections

Half TA: 1 section

Astronomy Courses

In-class Time: 2 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 2 hours per week

Office Hours: 1 hour per week

Grading: 1 hours per section

Full TA: 6 sections

Half TA: 3 section

Alternative Physics Courses (101, 104 and 107)

In-class Time: 2 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 2 hours per week

Office Hours: 1 hour per week

Grading: 1 hours per section

Full TA: 6 sections

Half TA: 3 section

Physics for Majors (140, 141 and 142)

In-class Time: 3 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 3 hours per week

Office Hours: 1 hour per week

Grading: 3 hours per section

Full TA: 3 sections

Half TA: 1 section

Upper Level Undergraduate Labs

Depends on the Instructor for the Course. The default is to treat it like a Mechanics or E&M course.

Astronomy Head Teaching Assistant

Equivalent to one lab section.

Astronomy Observations

In-class Time: 1.5 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 2 hours per week

Grading: 1 hours per section

Half TA: All Observations

7 hours per week: 2 sessions per week

Discussion Sessions

In-class Time: 2 hours per section

Prep Time (including TA meeting): 2 hours per week

Physics Learning Resource Center Coordinator

Coordinator Duties: 5 hours per week

In-class Time: 15 hours per week

Full TA

Graders, Assistants & Miscellaneous Duties

Determined on a per semester basis, depending on TA availability, Department needs and Instructor needs.

Course Lecturer

Full TA: new course

Half TA: previously taught course

Lectures are not assigned by the Lab Office, though we can make commendations to the powers above. If you're interested in becoming a lecturer, let us know.

Please contact the Lab Office if you have any questions regarding the TA Assignment Guidelines.