StudyMom Posted April 19, 2008 Share Posted April 19, 2008 Hi, I wondered if anyone knew what the usual number of credits per semester is for PhD study while TA-ing? I'm sure it varies but I was curious. I was thinking of taking 10 - 12. StudyMom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engguy Posted April 19, 2008 Share Posted April 19, 2008 It's standard to take three classes -- usually it's required, with TA -- and that translates to nine credits. Any more than that and you risk being seriously overwhelmed. One of those classes will also most likely be a TA practicum, which is beneficial in two ways: it will cut down on the "real" work you have to do, and it will give you strategies for teaching -- some of them too late to implement in the first semester, but still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 eh, in my experience the TA practicum is 1-2 credits so you take 9 hours of "real" classes along with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StudyMom Posted April 20, 2008 Author Share Posted April 20, 2008 Thanks for the info. I was thinking of 3, 3 credit classes and a mandatory 1 credit class for the two semesters which sounds about right. I don't think the 1 credit course is particularly difficult. Best, StudyMom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engguy Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 eh, in my experience the TA practicum is 1-2 credits so you take 9 hours of "real" classes along with it. Well, not in mine, and neither in the master's program I'm just finishing. I'd be surprised if a PhD program requires incoming TA's to take a practicum in addition to three graduate seminars + teaching, but I guess it depends on how intensive the practicum is. It seems to be a trend that they're getting longer and more intensive, thus being offered for full credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolina08 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Brown requires 3 per semester plus Professionalization workshop, but we have 0 workload the first year. All incoming students come in on departmental fellowships until we get training in Pedagogy. After that its 3 a semester plus T/A responsibilities until completion of exams. At least this is what I've been told. I won't start until this Fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthla Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Good topic - the funding package from one of my schools specifies that the tuition remission aspect covers up to 12 credit hours per semester, plus 6 in the summer, and I was wondering whether that was enough (it seemed low compared to undergrad and law school). Sounds like it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Good topic - the funding package from one of my schools specifies that the tuition remission aspect covers up to 12 credit hours per semester, plus 6 in the summer, and I was wondering whether that was enough (it seemed low compared to undergrad and law school). Sounds like it is. My law school tuition covered up to 18 credits, and I never really took that many law classes. I would use the other credits for fun things like figure skating and golf. Can you do that in grad school too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katreese Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 my university requires 9 credits while on fellowship, 6 credits while on TA/RAship. people do take more - i can't imagine how though. perhaps an audit, sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovewillcather Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 At my current program, we take 6 credits and teach 6 (I know, too much teaching). I'm surprised to hear so many people teaching on top of taking 9 credits. Even just teaching 3 credits would be a lot on top of 9, though maybe not as bad if you're TA-ing a class taught by a professor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now