Teaching assistantships

Learn to teach while paying for graduate school.

Teaching assistantships are appointed each term to a select number of graduate students who are excelling in The Design School.

Eligible graduate students in The Design School can apply for a teaching assistantship position through this form. This application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available from January 15, 2025 to April 15, 2025 at midnight.
 

Apply for teaching assistantship

It is important to note that all international teaching or graduate assistants whose primary language is not English are required to be certified in their English language abilities and will be required to submit proof of their English proficiency to Arizona State University.

International students whose primary language is NOT English will not be permitted to serve as TAs unless they have attained English language certification in one of four ways:

•  a score of 26 or higher on the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT
•  a score of 55 or higher on the SPEAK test (given on the Tempe campus by Global Launch)
•  successful completion of the ITA Teacher Training Course offered by Global Launch each semester
• a score of 8 on the speaking portion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test

Information about ASU Global Launch English language certification can be found online.

The Design School Teaching Assistantships are not available to students who are in the first year of the 3-year MArch, 3+ MIA, 3+ MID, 3-year MLA, and 3+ MVCD programs. 3-year and 3+ students who are excelling in the program are eligible for Teaching Assistantships beginning in their second academic year of the program.

Every effort will be made to rotate teaching assistantships each semester to afford an opportunity to those students who are excelling in the program. However, teaching assistantships are not guaranteed. Current or prospective students should not depend upon receiving a teaching assistantship to finance the cost of tuition and fees.

Students who are assigned teaching assistantships will usually maintain a 3.5 or higher grade point average (GPA). Students who fall below a 3.0 GPA in any term may be removed from their appointment.

Additional financial aid information can be found on the ASU Graduate College website or through the Financial Aid office. 

Compensation

Information regarding compensation can be found on the Graduate College website.