What Do Graduate Teaching Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Graduate Teaching Assistants assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing teaching or teaching-related duties, such as teaching lower level courses, developing teaching materials, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers. Graduate teaching assistants must be enrolled in a graduate school program. Graduate assistants who primarily perform non-teaching duties, such as research, should be reported in the occupational category related to the work performed. They also teach undergraduate level courses.

Other tasks include:

• Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers and record grades.
• Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
• Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
• Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
• Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
• Prepare or proctor examinations.

We asked Graduate Teaching Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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76% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 77% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Graduate Teaching Assistants demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules. They develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.

A typical day for a Graduate Teaching Assistant will also include:

• Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
• Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers and record grades.
• Teach undergraduate level courses.
• Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
• Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.

We asked some Graduate Teaching Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	14% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	11% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Graduate Teaching Assistants also schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students. They may also lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Graduate Teaching Assistants Teach undergraduate level courses. They might also Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.

In addition, they Meet with supervisors to discuss students’ grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers and record grades.

To some Graduate Teaching Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251191.htm