Graduate

Teaching Assistantships

Master's students accepted into the Religious Studies M.A. Program are offered Graduate Assistantship positions, where they will gain valuable teaching experience by assisting one or more faculty members on varying courses. 

GTA Orientation Info
Assistantship Application
GTA Handbook

Graduate Teaching Assistantship Expectations 

Students who accept and hold funded assistantships must:

  • Complete all pre-requisite trainings/orientations 
  • Be enrolled full-time in 9 hours of coursework a semester to receive tuition waivers
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Complete all required coursework each semester
  • Comply with the English language requirements (if they are an international student from a country where English is not the official language)

Students' employment responsibilities will include:

  • Post and maintain regular office hours when assigned to assist in faculty courses
  • Support curricular activities in the department 
  • Maintain communication with the faculty member they have been assigned to you
  • Work the hours assigned to their appointment (i.e., 20 hours for full-time employment)

The Office of Graduate Studies’ philosophy is that full-time graduate assistants (full-time is considered 20 hours a week) should not pursue outside employment because such outside employment could interfere with their performance in their courses and GTA assignment. Full-time GTAs should consult with the Graduate Director, Dr. Gil Ben-Herut, before considering accepting outside employment. 

Graduate Teaching Assistantship Benefits

Students holding assistantship positions are offered a generous stipend, a tuition waiver for each semester they are enrolled as full-time M.A. Students, and health insurance. 

Graduate Teaching Assistantship FAQs

What does the tuition waiver cover?

Tuition waivers cover 9 credits per semester. This means that, while there will be university fees the student is responsible for, the Religious Studies Department covers the majority of students' tuition. 

Does the department offer summer assistantships?

Currently, the department only offers summer assistantships to international students. Domestic students are encouraged to have supplemental income for summers.

What classes would I assist with?

Below are some of the courses the department's Graduate Assistants support: 

  • REL 2300: Introduction to World Religions
    • Description: This course is an introduction to the world's major religions. Open to majors and non-majors. This course affords students an understanding of the basic social and behavioral science concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and past and present social, political, and economic issues.
  • REL 3167: Sustainable Development & Religion
    • Description: In the course, students will research one or more of the seventeen (17) UN Sustainable Goals, in conjunction with a related Tampa Bay area problem, while considering the different roles of religion in relation to the challenge posed.
  • REL 3850: World Religions for Healthcare Professionals
    • Description: This course will provide a general overview of some of the world's major religious traditions in order to explore how various traditions view key healthcare topics such as sickness, health, birth, and death.
  • REL 3852: Religious Perspectives on Health, Death, & Dying
    • Description: This course examines the dying process through different religions. We examine societal understandings of death, what current resources are available to care for the dying, religious approaches to the dying process and death, and possibilities for a healthy approach to the dying process.

REL 3850, World Religions for Healthcare Professionals, has the largest enrollment, so many assist with these classes in online sections.

Are there additional requirements for international students?

They need a minimum score of 26 on the spoken portion of the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 160 on the spoken portion of the TOEIC test administered by ETS.

For further information, check out the International Teaching Assistant Support and International Teaching Assistant Handbook from the Office of Graduate Studies. 

What are the admission application deadlines?

  • Fall Admission and consideration for funding: April 25
  • Fall Admission without funding: June 1
  • Spring Admission (no funding available): October 15
  • Spring Admission for international students (no funding available): September 15