University of California-Berkeley Graduate Assistantships

At Berkeley, individuals serving as teaching assistants carry the official designation of Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). A half-time (20 hours per week) GSI appointment generally involves overseeing two discussion or three laboratory sections weekly, conducting office hours, preparing and grading assignments and exams, and undertaking additional responsibilities as assigned by the course's faculty member in charge.

To qualify as a GSI, an individual needs to be registered with a minimum load of 12 units, maintain a GPA of at least 3.1, have no more than two Incomplete grades, and demonstrate satisfactory progress toward their degree goal.

For individuals undergoing the GSI appointment, certain requirements must be fulfilled:

• New ASE Orientation: Those whose GSI appointment serves as their initial ASE (Academic Student Employee) assignment are obligated to participate in a New ASE Orientation, organized by the Office of Labor Relations, for the respective semester of their appointment. Failure to attend will render them ineligible for ASE appointments in subsequent terms until they have completed the orientation.
• 300-level Seminar: All UCB students appointed as GSIs are mandated to enroll in a 300-level seminar on teaching either concurrently with or before their first GSI appointment at Berkeley. These courses offer unit credit for teaching preparation. In specific departments like EECS, GSIs are required to complete discipline-specific courses such as EECS 301 for effective teaching techniques, alternative instruction methods, and specialized approaches for teaching essential concepts to undergraduates.
• Teaching Conference: First-time GSIs are required to attend the Teaching Conference for new GSIs, organized by the GSI Teaching and Resource Center, held each semester before classes commence. International GSIs appointed for the first time are also expected to attend a teaching conference specifically designed for them in the fall semester before classes begin. The conferences primarily focus on pedagogy.
• Online Course: First-time GSIs must complete an online course on professional standards and ethics in teaching by the conclusion of the third week of classes. Enrollment for the online course can be done through the GSI Teaching and Resource Center's website.