Manual for Teaching Fellows
Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. program in Religion carries with it a commitment of full financial
support for up to five years, subject to the condition that the student is making satisfactory
progress toward the doctoral degree. This position carries a fixed stipend (the same for all
students) for nine months plus tuition and fees. In fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Phil.
degree, all students must gain teaching experience as part of their graduate training. Thus, all
graduate students serve as Teaching Fellows for three years as a form a teaching apprenticeship.
Objectives and Philosophy
The Teaching Apprenticeship
The three-year teaching apprenticeship is an integral part of academic training in the Religion
Department. For all Ph.D. students, Teaching Fellowships begin in the second year and continue
until three years have been completed. Exceptions to this general rule are those students who win
external financial awards, such as FLAS or the Javits Fellowship, which exempt students from
teaching responsibilities. However, this does not supersede the GSAS policy that doctoral
students must teach a minimum of two semesters. Please also note that students cannot fulfill the
two-semester requirement by teaching two courses in the same semester.
Except during examination weeks and in other extraordinary circumstances, the workload for
Teaching Fellows should not exceed 10 hours per week. No teaching is allowed in the first year
so that students will be able concentrate on their studies.
Preparation for Job Placement
Job placements in Religious Studies are becoming increasingly competitive. It is imperative that
students complete their Ph.D. with rich teaching experience. The teaching apprenticeship
provides students with diverse first-hand teaching experiences: lectures, individual consultation,
guiding class discussions, and grading exams and papers. Learning and participating in new
technologies and teaching methods are fundamental to teaching in the academy, and students
should be prepared to assist faculty in adopting new materials.
At least once during the three-year apprenticeship, every student will be assigned to a course
outside her/his specialization. Since our graduate programs are designed to produce specialists in
selected fields, Teaching Fellow responsibilities provide important opportunities for students to
develop insight into the study of religion from a comparative perspective. Having knowledge of
traditions, ritual systems, or doctrines outside one's own specialization will be a powerful
intellectual tool for students in developing their academic career.
For those students who seek to develop their teaching skills further, preceptorships in Columbia
College's Core Curriculum and lectureships for summer school courses are also a possibility after
the apprenticeship is completed.
The Selection and Assignment Process
Several criteria are considered when making Teaching Fellow assignments. In the spring and fall
of each year a list of courses eligible for Teaching Fellows will be emailed to every Teaching
Fellow. Teaching Fellows will be asked to submit a "wish list" of courses to which they would
like to be assigned in the following semester. Please note that seminars and graduate courses do
not have Teaching Fellows assigned to them.
The process works as follows:
1. Each year, Teaching Fellows submit two lists of three courses to which they would like to be
assigned, one list for the fall and one list for the spring. To make the process fair, students
should not submit a list with fewer than three choices per semester. Students are then
matched, whenever possible, with their listed courses.
2. Students are assigned to classes based on the following criteria:
1. Seniority. Students in their third year of teaching will have their preferences considered
first. Every attempt will be made, however, to match each student with at least one of
her/his first or second choices each year.
2. Field of study. A student's academic interests will be considered when assignments are
made. Every student, however, will be expected to teach in at least one course outside
her/his field during the three-year apprenticeship. Each semester several students will be
assigned to courses that do not appear on their lists, particularly if no one lists those
courses as one of their preferences.
3. The needs of the department. Some classes require more Teaching Fellow assistance than
others and the teaching schedule can shift from year to year, depending on who is on
leave and other staffing issues. Though we will make every effort to minimize
disruptions, students should be prepared to shift their assignments should unexpected
schedule changes occur.
4. Teaching Fellow assignments are made by the DGS and tracked by the Department
Administrator to ensure that every student is given appointments in as fair and equitable a
manner as possible. All assignments are subject to the approval of the Chair. All
questions and concerns about assignments should be addressed to the DGS.
Responsibilities and Faculty Guidance
Teaching responsibilities vary from course to course and instructor to instructor. The following
are standards which the faculty as a whole support:
General Responsibilities
Generally Teaching Fellows are responsible for attending classes and taking notes, doing the
readings with the class, and grading exams and papers. More specifically, the responsibilities of
Teaching Fellows will vary depending on the size of the class, the type of class, and the
expectations of the professor teaching the class. Faculty may also expect Teaching Fellows to
perform practical tasks, such as ordering books and photocopying. Faculty cannot ask Teaching
Fellows to conduct research for them.
Responsibilities Specific to Lecture Courses
Lecture courses may have more than one Teaching Fellow. The students will be divided into
sections, with the Teaching Fellows being responsible for one or more sections. There will often
be meetings between the professors and the Teaching Fellows to discuss exams, review sessions,
assignments, etc. Teaching Fellows should also expect to hold office hours, meet with students
on an individual basis, and lead general review sessions between exams. They are often expected
to proctor exams.