The Benefits of Being a Graduate Assistant
As you pursue your graduate degree, you may wonder how you can utilize the new skills you’re learning while also gaining experience that will help you in roles following graduation. One option for achieving both is by becoming a graduate assistant.
In our post, we look at the benefits of being a graduate assistant and how taking such a position will help you be successful in your future career.
The Role of a Graduate Assistant
There are many benefits of being a graduate assistant. A graduate assistantship provides financial aid to students while also offering worthwhile professional experience. The position also ensures students are able to maintain their graduate degree responsibilities, allowing them to have a good balance between the needs of work and school.
One option for graduate assistantships is being a teaching assistant, which allows students to assist university faculty with teaching responsibilities such as:
- Grading
- Leading discussions
- Conducting office hours
- Leading lab sessions
Other types of graduate assistant roles include research assistantships and administrative assistantships.
The Advantages of Being a Teaching Assistant
Working as a teaching assistant offers various unique benefits that set students up for success both within their degree program and in future careers. Some benefits include:
- Gaining financial support – This position helps students with the financial responsibilities that come with pursuing a graduate degree, supplying either full or partial tuition remissions
- Developing teaching skills – As teaching assistants, students will gain the skills needed to be leaders in academic settings, which can be applied to future careers
- Enhancing academic knowledge – Teaching assistant positions expose students to continuous learning opportunities, helping them to become more well-rounded and to deepen their intellectual knowledge
- Creating lasting relationships – One of the key advantages of being a teaching assistant is that students get to interact with different professors and fellow students, allowing them to form new connections and gain networking opportunities
All of these benefits set students up for success for life beyond graduation, enhancing financial, intellectual, and interpersonal aspects.
Become a Teaching Assistant for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s MCLS Program
Our Modern and Classical Language Studies department offers teaching assistantships each year for students within the program. Our teaching assistantships are competitive, but we encourage everyone to apply, as selection is based on a wide range of factors, such as what the department currently needs and students’ academic performance.
Typically, compensation includes a tuition waiver and stipend if students are working as a teaching assistant for 10–20 hours per week. Students who are interested in becoming a teaching assistant can talk with their graduate coordinator and review positions available on Handshake, which are posted through our department of .
Enhance Your Journey at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State
Interested in learning more about the benefits of being a graduate assistant or our Modern and Classical Language Studies program? Feel free to contact our team today for more information.