Teaching

All Ph.D. candidates in Human Genetics must complete one semester as a teaching assistant within their first three years of graduate training. These assignments shall be completed without regard to the source of support. Teaching assignments for the year are arranged by a TA Coordinator in the Biology Department via the Molecular Biology Program. Students receive an annual notification of courses that are available, and can rank order classes in which they would like to be a teaching assistant.

Before the Teaching assistantship, all international students are required to attend the ITA workshop (International Teaching Assistants). It is offered once a year at the end of summer (pre-autumn semester). To sign up for the ITA workshop contact Diane Cotsonas, 5-6659 (cotsonas-d@ugs.utah.edu), at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Before you take the workshop, you need to pass the SPEAK test with a score of at least 50. The TSE (Test of Spoken English) is offered by ETS and can substitute for the SPEAK test. The SPEAK test is offered weekly and should be taken in the first or second year, well before you wish to take the ITA workshop, at the testing center in the Student Services building (1-8733). You will need a letter from the Department office and a purchase order to cover the $75 fee in order to take the SPEAK test.