Center for Teaching and Learning

Home / Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Course Assistant (CAs)

Teaching Assistants, Course Assistants, Instructional Assistants, and Teaching Fellows

Teaching Assistants (TAs), Course Assistants (CAs), Instructional Assistants (IAs), and Teaching Fellow (TFs) are invaluable to the learning experiences of Brandeis students. In addition to the joy of working with Brandeis students, teaching also comes with a responsibility to uphold Brandeis’s policies and to apply evidence-based practices for equitable teaching. Center for Teaching and Learning resources and events are available to all graduate and undergraduate students with teaching responsibilities and all members of the Brandeis teaching community.

Expand All

Job Descriptions

Teaching Fellow (TF): This is a PhD student serving as the instructor of record for a course. TFs are union-eligible positions and work up to an average of 14 hours per week.
Teaching Assistant (TA): This is a PhD student serving in a teaching support role for a course. TAs are union-eligible positions and are expected to work up to an average of 10 hours per week.
Course Assistant (CA): This is a master’s or postbaccalaureate student serving in a teaching support role for a course. CAs are expected to work up to an average of 10 hours per week.
Instructional Assistant (IA): This is a master’s student at the International Business School serving in a teaching support role for a course. IAs are expected to work up to an average of 10 hours per week.
Grader: This is a master’s, postbaccalaureate, or eligible PhD student serving in a non-student facing course support role for a course. Graders are expected to work up to an average of 8 hours per week.

Expand All

Required Training for TA/CA/IA/TFs

In order to make sure that you are prepared for all the different aspects of this position, we have created a series of trainings for you in conjunction with the Graduate Student Workers Union. We hope that you will find them helpful as you move forward on your teaching journey. (Please note that the first three trainings listed below are for all TA/CA/IA/TFs, even though the Workday titles only list "TA/CA." The fourth training is ONLY for TA/CA/TFs who have NOT previously received a degree from a US college or university. International Business School IAs do NOT have to complete the International Pedagogy training. The parenthetical acronym after each name is how they are commonly referenced.)

Teaching Assistants (TAs), Course Assistants (CAs), Instructional Assistants (IAs), and Teaching Fellows (TFs) are required to complete several hours of training:

TA/CA Required Training: Supporting Students Outside of Academics (SSOA)
TA/CA Required Training: Pedagogy (CTL)
TA/CA Required Training: Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence & Accessibility at Brandeis (OEO)
International TA/CA Required Training: Pedagogy (ELP)

Each required session is offered multiple times. Please contact the Office of Graduate Affairs for further information about requirements.

DATES for TRAININGS ARE:

Week 1

January 10: ELP 10-11 (click here to register)
January 11: SSOA 12:30-1:30 (click here to register)
January 13: OEO 11-12 (click here to register)
January 13: CTL 1-2 (click here to register)

Week 2

January 17: OEO 12-1 (click here to register)
January 17: ELP 2-3 (click here to register)
January 18: OEO 9:30-10:30 (click here to register)
January 18: CTL 11-12* (in person) (click here to register)
January 18: SSOA 2-3* (in person) (click here to register)
January 19: ELP 11-12 (click here to register)
January 20: SSOA 10-11 (click here to register)
January 20: CTL 3-4 (click here to register)

Week 3

January 23: OEO 11-12 (click here to register)
January 23: CTL 3-4* (in person) (click here to register)
January 24: CTL 10-11 (click here to register)
January 25: ELP 11-12 (click here to register)
January 25: OEO 2-3 (click here to register)
January 26: SSOA 1:30-2:30* (in person) (click here to register)
January 27: ELP 11-12 (click here to register)
January 27: SSOA 2-3 (click here to register)

Week 4

January 30: ELP 10-11 (click here to register)
January 31: SSOA 11-12 (click here to register)
February 1: SSOA 11:30-12:30* (in person) (click here to register)
February 1: CTL 3-4* (in person) (click here to register)
February 2: OEO 10-11 (click here to register)
February 2: ELP 3-4 (click here to register)
February 3: CTL 11-12 (click here to register)
February 3: OEO 2-3 (click here to register)

Week 5

February 6: OEO 4-5 (click here to register)
February 9: CTL 1:30-2:30* (in person) (click here to register)
February 10: SSOA 11:30–12:30 (click here to register)

Week 6

February 13: CTL 11-12 (click here to register)
February 14: OEO 3-4 (click here to register)
February 16: SSOA 11:30-12:30 (click here to register)

*Note: All in-person trainings are in the Farber 2 Classroom, located in the Farber Library (one floor below the Information and Reference Desks in the main lobby).

Additional resources for TA/CA/IA/TFs:

LATTE Basics introductory workshops and office hours

Teaching and Learning events hosted by the CTL

Information for first-time TAs, CAs, and Graders by GSAS

FAQs for TAs/CAs/IAs/TFs about accessibility