MSCS Appointment and Reappointment Guidelines
This information is taken from the MSCS Graduate Student Handbook and MSCS Teaching Assistant Handbook.
Appointment and Reappointment Guidelines Heading link
MSCS employs graduate students as teaching assistants (TAs) to support the Department’s undergraduate courses. TA duties include, but are not limited to, duties primarily in support of instruction and educational services such as: leading discussion sections; leading class discussions; designing course materials; exam and homework preparation, proctoring and grading; holding office hours; meeting special needs of students with disabilities; and/or any other educational activity or service provided. A list of MSCS courses generally associated with TA appointments can be found in the MSCS TA Handbook.
Most positions are 50% FTE (full-time equivalent) teaching assistantships; 25% awards are occasionally offered. These Teaching Assistantships carry a stipend and an assistantship waiver, including a full tuition waiver and partial fee waiver. Most TA appointments are made for the full 9-month academic year, beginning in the fall semester; one semester appointments are occasionally offered. Under the existing UIC contract with the Graduate Employees Organization, the minimum wage level for a 50% FTE 9-month appointment for Fall 2023 to Summer 2024 is $23,493.
Positions are awarded on the basis of academic record, with teaching abilities, communication skills, and the needs of the Department taken into account.
Only MSCS graduate students in good standing and who are eligible to work in the United States are eligible for these positions. The following table illustrates MSCS policies governing good standing and typical time to degree completion.
| End of Year | Admitted to MS | Admitted to MS, continuing to PhD | Admitted to PhD without MS | Admitted to PhD with MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | Complete Degree | High Pass on MS Exam | High Pass on MS Exam | Pass one Prelim |
| 3 | Pass one Prelim | Pass one Prelim | Meet requirements for Doctoral Candidacy | |
| 4 | Meet requirements for Doctoral Candidacy | Meet requirements for Doctoral Candidacy | ||
| 5 | Complete Degree | |||
| 6 | Complete Degree | Complete Degree |
For further details, see the MSCS Graduate Student Handbook. Specific information regarding your assistantship appointment, such as the length of employment and your stipend, can be found in your appointment offer letter.
New graduate degree-seeking applicants must submit the Application for Graduate Appointment Form during the admission process to be considered for any available teaching assistantships. It is important that the Graduate College admission application, fee, and other required supplemental materials are received by the MSCS application deadline to receive full consideration for available funding.
Continuing degree-seeking students must express an interest in TA support for each subsequent year by completing the annual Academic Assessment with their faculty mentor each spring semester and completing the MSCS Graduate Student Schedule – Teaching Request Form . These forms can be accessed from the MSCS Graduate Studies website, and continuing aid related deadlines are announced each term.