Our graduate program puts a priority on professionalization and training. Most incoming MA and PhD students have, as part of their funding packages, the opportunity to train as a Tutorial Assistant (for ARTH 120) or Teaching Assistant, where they can gain valuable professional experiences leading classroom discussions in undergraduate courses, grading assignments, and contributing to the overall delivery of the undergraduate program. Upper year PhD students have the unique opportunity to apply for a Teaching Fellowship, where they can develop and teach their very own undergraduate class. This is an exceptionally fruitful way to gain valuable teaching experience, since Teaching Fellows work closely with a faculty mentor to assist in course design and pedagogy.
Teaching Assistantships will be assigned in accordance to Article 12.04 of the CA as outlined below:
12.04 In the appointment to TAships within the bargaining unit, the Employer shall follow the four level preference system outlined below. No TAships shall be offered to candidates in Group B until the qualified candidates in Group A have been exhausted. No TAships shall be offered to candidates in Group C until the qualified candidates in Group B have been exhausted. TAships may only be offered to candidates in Group D when there remain no qualified candidates in any other Group.
A. First Preference — Group A
Is for qualified graduate students registered as:
- students in a department or program in which the TAship will be offered; or
- students in an interdisciplinary program with TA budget resources, and for whom the TAship has been granted as part of the funding commitment offered by Queen’s University.
B. Second Preference — Group B
Is for qualified graduate students registered as:
- students in a department or program in which the TAship will be offered; or
- students in an interdisciplinary program with TA budget resources, and for whom
- the TAship will not form part of the funding commitment offered by Queen’s University; or
- there is currently no funding commitment provided by Queen’s University.
C. Third Preference — Group C
Is for qualified graduate students that have previously held a TAship or TFship for the Employer.
D. Fourth Preference — Group D
Is for qualified graduate students that have not met the criteria as set out in 12.04 A, B, or
Teaching Assistantships form part of the guaranteed minimum funding package for full-time graduate students in the Department of Psychology (MSc1, 2, PhD1, 2, 3, 4). A graduate student may decline the offer of a teaching assistantship, in which case their funding package will be reduced accordingly.