Hey guys,
I was wondering if any one knows how to apply to become a TA and what are the requirements for it?
I am in a science program, so if I ever become one, it will be mostly in bio or kin or some other fun course .

Thanks

Each dept has their own rules. I believe undergrads are only allowed to TA first year courses. To TA bio 1M03 you need a minimum of two other ecology-related courses, and to TA bio 1A03 you need a minimum of two other cell bio-related courses (I'm about 95% sure it's two...but it could actually be three). I took kin 1Y03/1YY3 and got sent an email for TA applications, so that you can apply for at the end of first year, even if you're not in the kin program. I was a chem 1A03 TA last term, and for that, you find the application on the chem website and applications are due sometime in August. For that, you need a minimum of four chem/chembio courses with a lab component. Keep in mind that they tend to give preference to people actually in the program, so it depends on the number of people that apply.

i know a few undergrads who've ta-ed a second year science course

It's damn near impossible to get a TA position before 3rd year. Bio and Psych have proper applications because they're huge (keep an eye out online and you'll find them when they're released). TAing most other courses basically involves talking to the prof and asking to TA.

I know it's possible to be an undergrad TA for second year courses and I managed to talk a prof I work with into letting me TA a 4th year course he teaches next year if I'd like (though it'd be a volunteer position).

Every department is different. It's best to email or go to your department and ask, they will give you all the details.

For example, in Political Science, all TA positions are held for Masters/PhD students only. In Geography, undergrads can become TAs as long as they don't have 4 year degrees and have some teaching experience.

Ugh...In the School of Geography and Earth Sciences the TA positions are first allocated to Grad student. If there a spots left over a jobs posting for the positions is posted on our home page. You have to be a student. It's benificial if you've taken the course before, and have taken other courses within the field.

I don't think having a four year degree will prevent you from getting a TA position...

Originally Posted by taylojl

I don't think having a four year degree will prevent you from getting a TA position...

If you hold an undergraduate degree (3, 4 or 10 year, doesn't matter), then the department has to pay you at the same rate as a graduate student. However, the department isn't getting any funding if you're not enrolled in a graduate degree (they get significant funding from the province for having graduate students) so the cost to hire a TA who has a degree but is not a graduate student is prohibitive. So in short its not impossible to get a TA position if you already have a degree, but it is less likely.

The relevant language is on page 34 of the CUPE 3906 Collective Agreement with the University:
http://www.cupe3906.org/wordpress/wp...06/Unit1CA.pdf

This is something that CUPE did try to fix in the last round of bargaining with something called "grant-in'aid" which takes part of the pay of graduate TAs and converts it to a scholarship. Since only graduate students would be eligible for the scholarship, this would significantly reduce the impediment to hiring TAs who hold an undergraduate degree but aren't graduate students. Unfortunately, the University didn't want to do grant-in-aid, despite significant potential cost savings. Maybe its something that can be resolved in the future .
http://unit1bargaining.wordp ress.c...aid-explained/

Cool! Good to know! Thanks!

I've received emails from the Geog department a few times in the last few months about TA positions for undergrads, and they all say you can't have a 4 year degree.
I know the TA positions are mainly for Masters and PhD students - my point was that some departments do have undergrad TA positions available, but there might be degree specifications.