All doctoral students and many masters students work as teaching assistantships at some point during their programs. Assistantships are all offered as teaching practicums, supervised by a faculty member, and earn four credit units. They are also paid teaching positions, scaled at twenty hours per week, and the pay amounts to about $4200 per quarter. In addition, they also offset approximately one half of the in-state fees for the quarter and pay the health insurance costs. Teaching assistantships are assigned by the graduate faculty according to the needs of the department and the perceived strengths and needs of the students. In some cases, especially the costume and techincal TAships, it would be worth your while to draw attention in your statement of purpose to any experience you have in these areas, since they do demand particular skills. They also open particular opportunities to work with faculty in specialized areas, e.g. actor training or design. Teaching assistantships offer the possibility of work with a teaching mentor in an area (or several areas) that you might wish to pursue in your career.
DA 1 Introduction to Dramatic Art--usually 1 TAship, Fall Quarter
Components of TAship:
1. Run three discussion sections of 25 majors each, coordinated with three lectures per week by the professor.
2. The TA helps clarify the material covered in lectures--readings, performances, class visitors, etc.
3. Give occasional guest lectures.
4. Share course grading with professor. Generally, TA grades four short paper assignments plus student class participation, professor grades midterm and final.Hours required:
Three one-hour discussion sections. Attendance at the three hours of lecture per week is required. Meet regularly with professor to consult on section content, student progress, exam content, etc. Preparation for class, grading of assignments, attendance at assigned performances, and office hours account for the remaining hours.Skill requirements:
1. Ability to initiate and direct an effective discussion of the issues and ideas addressed in the course and encountered in assigned performances.
2. In a gateway course required of all Dramatic Art majors, ability to advise and respond to the questions of new majors contemplating specific practical issues of the major and general issues, artistic and academic, of the discipline.DA 5 Introduction to Acting--usually 4 TAships per quarter
Link to Training Manual for DA 5 (pdf format)Components of TAship:
1. Teaching of two classes of 20 beginning acting students.
2. This course is required of all students who major in drama or theater.
3. Basic techniques of relaxation, improvisation, movement, voice.
4. TAs will be expected to identify the most capable and interested students and recommend them to the BFA faculty for BFA audition.Hours required:
Each class meets twice a week for a two-hour period, thus a total of eight hours in class each week. Preparation for class, grading of assignments, meetings with faculty advisor, and office hours account for the remaining hours.Skill requirements:
1. Familiarity with conservatory training methods for actors.
2. Ability to teach acting--observing, coaching, etc.
3. Some experience as an actor and student of acting.DA 60 Appreciation of Theater--usually 4 TAships per quarter
Components of TAship:
1. Run three discussion sections of 25 non-majors each, coordinated with three lectures per week by the professor.
2. The TA helps clarify the material covered in lectures--readings, performances, films, interviews, etc.
3. Ususally, each TA will have the opportunity to give a guest lecture.
4. Grading of midterm, final, creative project, and other assignments.Hours required:
Three one-hour discussion sections. Attendance at the three hours of lecture per week is required. Generally there is also a weekly meeting of TAs to discuss issues in the teaching of the class, as well as to prepare the midterm and final. Preparation for class, grading of assignments, attendance at performances, and office hours account for the remaining hours.Skill requirements:
1. Ability to initiate and direct an effective discussion of the issues and ideas addressed in the course.
2. Ability to work within a team in a large, centrally coordinated course.
3. Ability to make the field of theater studies accessible to a general education student.Directing TAship--2 quarters per year
Components of TAship:
1. Coaching undergraduate and graduate student directors in one-act productions--3 to 6 per quarter, plus 5 to 6 original scripts in Spring Quarter.
2. Production management of bills of student-directed one-acts, involving organization of space use, auditions, rehearsal schedules, publicity, programs, etc.
3. Monitoring and advising in conceptual and creative aspects of student directors' process and discussing progress and problems with faculty advisor.Hours required:
Attendance of weekly production meetings and occasional evening rehearsals of each director; attending and coordinating all technical rehearsals and performances of one-act productions--3 to 6 plays on one or two evenings, plus two evenings of original scripts in Spring Quarter. Some additional prep time for creating flyers, programs, schedules, etc.Skill requirements:
1. Experience in practical theater production, especially in stage directing and stage managing.
2. Background in dramatic literature and general knowledge of styles and periods.
3. Some organizational experience in coordinating of production phases, scheduling, etc.
4. Preferably enough experience in design and actor training to allow for some coaching in these areas.TAship in technical area--3 quarters per year
Components of Tech TAship:
1. Serve as technical supervisor for all student production projects in the Studio Theatre.
2. Collaborate with faculty advisors and Directing TA in the planning and mounting of student-directed projects's technical needs, including those of honors projects.
3. Assist in preparation for projects in collaboration with the department's technical staff.Hours required:
The position is sonsidered a 20-hour per week average commitment for the duration of the quarter with actual hours varying as technical production needs dictate.Skill requirements:
1. Background in production and/or stage management.
2. Ability to direct technical operations and student crews.
3. Basic knowledge of lighting design and use of lighting and audio equipment.
4. Ability to learn what you don't know.TAship in costume design--3 quarters per year
Components of TAship:
1. Teaching and supervision of lab classes.
2. Limited construction of costumes and crafts related to department productions.
3. Assist in shop organization and maintenance.
4. Supervision of costumes for one-act and original scripts productions.
5. Production wardrobe supervision.Hours required:
The time commitment for each quarter begins with the first day of classes and runs through finals week. The average time commitment is 20 hours per week. This ranges from an average of 10 to 15 hours on most weeks to as much as 30 hours per week during tech/dress rehearsal weeks.Skill requirements:
1. Basic machine and hand sewing skills.
2. Ability to teach.
3. Willingness to learn.
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1/15/04