Teaching Associate Pool in Department of Sociology; Academic Year 25

Education, Application, & Eligibility

Job no: 545722
Work type:
Teaching Associate

Location:

Humboldt
Categories:
Unit 11 - UAW - California Alliance of Academic Student Workers, Temporary, Time Varies

Vacancy Announcement

Position Type:
Teaching Associate
Term of Appointment:
Academic Year 2025/2026 (Fall or Spring, or both)
Hours of Appointment: up to 0.40 timebase (up to16 hour/week)
Pay Rate: up to a pprox. $1,311.00/month
Positions Available:
Multiple
Department of Sociology

Teaching Associates (TAs) typically are responsible for providing classroom and/or laboratory instruction, making assignments to students, preparing course materials, administering examinations, assessing student performance, tutoring students and determining course grades. Incumbents may also assist faculty with field experience, supervision, simulation exercises and/or research projects. Students applying for TA positions must be currently enrolled in the graduate program of the department in which they are applying.

Degree‑seeking graduate students enrolled in interdisciplinary degree programs may be hired as TAs for departments that comprise their interdisciplinary programs. Academic Student Employees may not concurrently hold a faculty or staff position. Students with assignments in more than one student classification (e.g., Graduate Assistant, Instructional Student Assistant, and Student Assistant) are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year.

The 20‑hour per week maximum includes hours worked in all positions.

A Teaching Associate (TA) works with a curriculum designed by a supervising instructor. They are assigned to course "discussion sections" (in some cases labs) each usually enrolling between 25–35 students. The TA is/becomes familiar with the course material such that they can facilitate successful weekly discussions of readings or other assignments. The TA grades assignments and exams for students in their discussion sections.

In addition, a TA meets regularly with the supervising instructor to coordinate the above responsibilities. The TA will usually attend large lectures, except in weeks where other TA workload needs take precedence: this decision must be negotiated with the supervising instructor. The TA union requires that a TA work 2.67 hours per week for each "weighted teaching unit" (WTU) assigned.

For example, a TA may be assigned 2 WTU for teaching two 50‑minute discussion sections, plus 1 WTU to compensate for additional time needed to accomplish the related TA work. In this example, the TA would have a 3 WTU workload, which is a 20% time appointment that requires the TA to work a total of 8 hours per week.

A TA in this above example could expect the following workload breakdown: 20% discussion section facilitation, 20% large lecture observation including note taking, 10% supervising instructor meetings, and 50% preparation and grading. Appointments are for a single term, though applicants may reapply for a Teaching Associate position.

Knowledge and Abilities:
Knowledge of the subject matter of the discipline to which the individual is assigned. Ability to relate well to others within the academic environment and ability to instruct and evaluate students.

Education:

Education equivalent to or completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree and concurrent admission to or enrollment in a graduate degree program of the university in the discipline to which the individual is assigned.

Experience:

Evidence of satisfactory achievement in previous academic work.

Note:

Exceptions to the minimum eligibility qualifications may be granted at the sole discretion of Cal Poly Humboldt.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION:
Graduate students enrolled in the MA in Public Sociology or in the MA in Environment and Community are eligible to apply for Teaching Associate positions in Sociology.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preference is given to students who are recommended by Sociology faculty members for a teaching position, demonstrate a strong grasp of sociological concepts,…