Graduate TA FAQ

(Provided for Informational Purpose Only)

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1. What are the basic requirements for being a graduate TA?

a. No FSU Honor Code violation in the last two years

b. SPEAK score >= 45 (preferably >= 50); this requirement is only for international students.

· Exempted if IBTOEFL speak portion >= 26

c. Completing FSU Essential Policies & Practices Training for TAs

2. Should I send emails to express my interests in being a graduate TA?

 No, you do not need to. Our department will periodically send out an online form for you to fill to express your interests in being a graduate TA. Please also note that the departmental TAs we appoint come from a few different sources: existing TAs, sponsored TAs by individual faculty, and newly admitted TAs. I only pick up a few more TAs if we are short on TAs, which normally is a very small number.

 3. What can I do to improve my chance to be selected as a graduate TA?

First of all, see FAQ 1.

Maintain a high GPA, choose CS core courses; A high GPA without core courses will not help you much.

Please also note that many undergraduate courses use C/C++, which we will take into consideration when we select TAs.

4. Where can I find more information regarding FSU TA standards/requirements?

Please see University-Wide Standards for Graduate Teaching Assistants at Florida State University

5. What if I have a SPEAK score of 45?

You should try to get a SPEAK score of at least 50 so that you can handle recitations and graduate courses. Another way to meet the SPEAK score requirement of 50 is to enroll in Advanced Spoken English for ITAs (EAP 5835) and score 90 or better in the course.

6. How do I take the SPEAK test?

Please check the FSU Center for Intensive English Studies SPEAK Exam Information.

7. Which TA training modules should I complete?

The specific modules that you need to complete depend on the category of TAs that you will be appointed to. However, we would suggest you to complete all the modules for category 5 in case you will be appointed as a category 5 TA as you progress in the graduate program.

8. Do I need to retake TA training in each semester?

No, you only need to complete TA training once in order to be a TA. You do not need to retake TA training for each semester.