The department grants a number of Teaching Assistantships, which include both teaching and non-teaching assignments. In February, the Chairperson of the Visual Arts Department sends a letter to all first-year graduate students requesting applications for TAs for the following academic year. Most Teaching Assistants are second-year students, although some may be awarded to first-year students.

Each Teaching Assistantship offers half tuition remission as well as a stipend of approximately $4,587 each semester. In addition, there are technical assistantships available under the same terms. Students are not required to hold Teaching Assistantships in order to graduate, and not every student is granted a Teaching Assistantship.

University regulations require that in order to be awarded a Teaching Assistantship the student shall have no more than one grade of incomplete in his or her course work while enrolled at Mason Gross and must be a student in good standing. An assistantship requires a minimum of ten hours per week of work, whether teaching a class or acting as a technician or in another capacity.

A graduate student receiving a Teaching Assistantship must register for Teaching Assistantship (081:877) for three credits; however, these credits are not counted toward the 60 credits required for graduation.

The TA request form will be sent to all first year students at the beginning of the Spring semester. Applications are reviewed by the Chairperson and the Graduate Director. Students must realize, however, that Teaching Assistantships must serve the needs of the department and student preferences may not be fulfilled.

Note: On occasion when a faculty member is ill or away on business and a graduate student is asked to replace him/her, the faculty member should pay the student $130 per class.