Universities Allowing Undergraduates to Serve as Teaching Assistants

While many universities typically reserve teaching assistant (TA) roles for graduate students, there are instances where undergraduate students do indeed serve in these positions. This article explores the policies and practices of universities that allow undergraduates to become TAs and highlights the benefits and challenges associated with such roles.

Examples of Universities with Undergraduate TAs

Several high-tier institutions have policies that allow undergraduates to serve as teaching assistants. Notable examples include:

University of California, Berkeley: The Department of Computer Science (CSE) at UC Berkeley employs undergraduates as TAs, often in upper-level courses. Washington University in St. Louis: The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Washington University in St. Louis also hires undergraduates as TAs. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): UIUC's CSE department offers TA roles to undergraduates in various courses. University of Michigan: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, also provides opportunities for undergraduates to serve as TAs in certain departments. Harvard University: The Department of Computer Science at Harvard University has had instances of undergraduates working as teaching fellows.

Why Undergraduate TAs are Chosen

While some universities do allow undergraduates to serve as TAs, it is not a widely common practice. There are several reasons for this:

Opportunities for Cooperative Education: Many universities offer co-operative education programs where undergraduates can work and earn money while gaining practical experience. This makes graduate-level TA positions less relevant. Advanced Course Difficulty: Undergraduate courses tend to be more challenging in their latter years (junior and senior years). Hence, it is uncommon for undergraduates to have completed the course they would be TAs for, making them less qualified for the role. Supporting Graduate Students: Teaching assistantships are often used to support graduate students, particularly PhD students, through tuition fees. Undergraduates are generally not eligible for such funding.

Common Roles for Undergraduate TAs

Undergraduate TAs do not typically teach entire classes but often assist in grading papers, organizing study sessions, and supporting course development. For example, I was an undergraduate math TA for a short period, where the main tasks involved grading assignments and helping students with their studies.

Teaching Classes as an Undergraduate TA

While some large universities may allow undergraduates to teach classes as TAs, it is less common. According to my experiences, teaching full classes as an undergraduate TA is unusual. However, in some cases, it is possible.

Alternative Roles for Undergraduates

Even if a university does not have a formal TA program for undergraduates, students may still be hired for other academic roles. For instance, in 2022, a student who had previously worked as an undergraduate and was pursuing a doctorate program sought a waiver for the microbiology course in the medical degree program. The university personnel initially approved the waiver, but when the student offered to teach the course, they reconsidered and provided higher standards for the role, due to the critical nature of the subject.

This anecdote underscores the flexibility of university policies and the potential for undergraduates to be assigned roles that align with their expertise and the specific needs of the institution.

Conclusion

While teaching assistantships are primarily reserved for graduate students, a growing number of high-tier universities are embracing opportunities for undergraduates to contribute to the teaching and learning environment. This practice not only benefits the students by providing them with valuable experience but also enriches the educational experience for all students. Universities that allow undergraduate TAs do so by carefully considering the unique challenges and opportunities presented by such roles.