TA Service

All Ph.D. students are required to serve as a teaching assistant (TA). Students admitted prior to fall 2019 are required to complete two semester and students admitted fall 2019 and beyond must complete one semester. The department recommends that students serve as a TA sometime between their first and third years, but the timing of this service will depend on the needs of the department and the recommendation of the student's research supervisor.

TA applications are distributed to all BME graduate students by email each semester. Students must be in good standing to apply for a TA position. 

University Policies on Graduate Student Employment

• Academic Employment
• Conditions for Graduate Student Employment
• Tuition Reduction Benefit
• Resident Tuition Entitlement (Employment Tuition Waiver)
• On-Campus Employment for International Students
• Student Employee Insurance and Benefits

Teaching Assistant Selection Process

Teaching Assistant Applications are distributed to all BME graduate students via email around October (for spring TA selection) and June (for fall TA selection). The BME Department has limited TA needs in the summer, so we do not put out a call for applications. To submit an application, students are required to obtain a signature from their supervisor and be registered full-time in the semester for which they are applying.

Most TA assignments in BME are for 20 hours for the full duration of the semester. Students should consult their TA offer letters for assignment details. 

The Graduate Advisor makes final TA assignment decisions. Students are assigned based on preferences and expertise. While we do ask for TA course preferences and do our best to accommodate those preferences, students are not guaranteed to get their first choice. 

Preference is given in the following order:

1. BME doctoral students
2. BME master's students
3. Non-BME graduate students

International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Certification

International students who are non-native English speakers are required to complete an ITA Exam during orientation week. Learn more about the ITA Exam and what it measures. Some students may be exempt. International students must also complete engineering TA certification (more information below). 

Students who do not pass the exam on the first attempt will be required to complete ESL courses and take the exam additional times. The BME Department pays for the first attempt; students must fund any additional attempts themselves.

Cockrell School of Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification

The Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification program provides professional learning opportunities in the fundamentals of engineering education, promoting student success, and other aspects of fulfilling their responsibilities as educators and mentors. Certification is required for all new Cockrell School TAs during the first semester in which they are appointed. All BME TAs complete initial training during orientation week. TAs complete remaining requirements during the first semester of appointment to attain full certification. 

Non-BME graduate students serving as Engineering Communication TAs are not required to complete the certification. 

BME TA Agreements

BME TAs and Instructors are required to acknowledge and sign BME's teaching assistant agreement each semester. Students must sign the agreement to accept their assignment. 

Exemption from TA Requirements

Some students in BME can request to have TA requirements waived. Typically, this is possible for students who come to the program with a full fellowship funding for the duration of their program. For more information, contact the Graduate Coordinator.