PhD Teaching

As announced by the University of Chicago in October 2019, mentored teaching experiences will be doctoral degree requirements and, like other degree requirements, will be determined and set by the faculty who oversee each particular PhD program, with exact requirements varying by field and discipline.

Teaching positions for graduate students are posted in Grad Gargoyle. Students may search for open positions prior to each quarter. All open teaching positions are required to be posted in Grad Gargoyle. Doctoral students should consult with the graduate program administrator or the Director of Graduate Studies in their department to ensure that they are eligible to hold a teaching position before accepting a position.

Teaching Beyond Academic and Funding Requirements 

Students who have completed required teaching

PhD students in the Division of the Social Sciences who have satisfied all academic and funding requirements for teaching are eligible to apply for additional teaching assignments if they are in good academic standing, have fulfilled all milestones expected by their stage of the program, and have the approval of their PhD program and the Dean of Students. Students should consult with their PhD program for the necessary departmental approvals.

Students who have not yet completed required teaching

Prior to completion of academic and funding requirements for teaching, PhD students in the Division of the Social Sciences can apply to hold a teaching assignment that does not count towards their required teaching only if all of the following criteria are met:

1. The teaching assignment would not satisfy teaching requirements in the student’s PhD program (e.g., pre-collegiate Summer Session courses, non-credit pre-matriculation programs, preceptorships); and
2. The student is in good academic standing and has fulfilled all milestones expected by their stage of the program; and
3. The student has the approval of their PhD program and the Dean of Students. Students should consult with their PhD program for the necessary departmental approvals.

Teaching Limits

In all cases, the Division of the Social Sciences limits PhD students to holding three (3) teaching assignments per year beyond the assignments that fulfill academic and funding requirements. Individual PhD programs within the Social Sciences may set lower limits. In cases of non-standard teaching assignments (e.g., a single-weekend workshop), the student can petition to the Dean of Students for exceptions to the 3-assignment limit.