Teaching Assistant Training
Teaching assistant training helps students who will be teaching prepare for their position as TA. This training is required for graduate students who have been awarded or are pursuing a teaching assistantship.
USU 7920 is mandatory for all teaching assistants. Students must be registered before their funding will be processed. If you have any questions, contact the instructor, Erika Beckstrand at erika.beckstrand@usu.edu.
This class is online and is offered every semester.
International students must also take the International Teaching Assistants Workshop, which is only offered at the beginning of fall semester.
USU 7920: All Teaching Assistants and Graduate Instructors
USU 7920 is required for all graduate students who have been awarded or are pursuing a teaching assistantship and must be completed before the student’s EPAF is approved.
The course is a 0-credit, online class that is graded pass/fail. No incompletes are allowed for this course.
The training will address Utah State University policies and procedures and provide students with information about campus resources.
Passing the course does not guarantee a TA position. Departments are responsible for granting teaching assistantships and making sure these students are registered for this course. The workshop only needs to be completed once. Students may continue to work as TAs during future semesters once they have passed the class.
Registration for USU 7920 is through Banner, like traditional courses. If you have any questions about registration for USU 7920, reach out to your graduate program coordinator. There is no fee for this training.
IELI 7920: International Students
International students with teaching assistantships and graduate instructor assistantships are required to take both USU 7920 and IELI 7920. IELI 7920 will introduce international students to American teaching and classroom culture and familiarize them with the resources available at USU to help them improve their teaching skills.
The course is an in-person, 0-credit training course offered via Canvas. It does not show up in Banner or on the student’s transcript. International students with teaching assistantships and graduate instructor assistantships are required to register for the course and complete the course materials; failure to complete the course will result in a hold on the student’s account that will not be removed until the course is completed. The course is only offered at the beginning of the semester, so students must be attentive to the dates they register for.
Registration for the fall 2023 course is open, and students can self-enroll via links provided below. If at that point students have questions, they can reach out to their department’s graduate program coordinator.
It is recommended that this course is taken during an international student’s first semester at USU. Passing the course does not guarantee a teaching assistant position. Departments are responsible for granting assistantships and making sure students are registered for this course.
Course Description: The course addresses understanding American undergraduates, classroom practices and environment, microteaching practicum, classroom language, cross-cultural awareness, and classroom management. The course culminates in a video-recorded presentation of the graduate student that is evaluated based on overall comprehensibility and effectiveness in a teaching role.
Registration: This workshop is only offered at the beginning of fall semester. To register, the student needs to click the link provided and enter their A#. This will allow them to self-enroll in the course. They can access course materials via Canvas found at my.usu.edu.
IELI 7920: Frequently Asked Questions