M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition (MARC) Funded Professionalization Opportunities

The MARC Program provides multiple opportunities for graduate students to gain practical experience in the teaching of composition at the college level: the Writing Associate (WA) position and the Teaching Fellow (TF) position. As a Writing Associate, graduate students will have the opportunity to observe and participate in the management of a First Year Composition course. As a Teaching Fellow, graduate students have the opportunity to teach their own First Year Composition class in consultation with the Director of First Year Composition.

Students can search for and apply to these opportunities through the UHD job posting site.

Writing Associate:

Graduate students awarded a Writing Associate (WA) position can expect to serve as a WA in two sections of First Year Composition (English 1301 and/or English 1302, generally with two different faculty members in the MARC program. In these courses, the WA will work cooperatively with professors in First Year Composition classrooms: this requires regular attendance in the classes, some supervised teaching, substantive commenting on student writing, holding regular office hours, and frequent interaction with students during class and office hours. Writing Associates must have wide daytime availability. Students during class and office hours. Writing Associates must have wide daytime availability. The Writing Associate position is designed to prepare graduate students to independently teach a section of English 1301 as a Teaching Fellow. A student may reapply for a position as a Writing Associate or may go on to apply for a position as a Teaching Fellow. Though not required, graduate students are strongly encouraged to have taken English 5327 (the MARC Practicum) before or during their time serving as a WA. Writing Associates are paid at a rate of $15 an hour, are expected to work 20 hours per week, and may earn up to $4,800 a semester.

To be selected as a Writing Associate, one must meet the following requirements. The best candidates will have qualifications that exceed the minimum standards, enumerated below:

1. Completion of baccalaureate degree requirements at a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the United Kingdom at which English is the medium of instruction.
2. Regular enrollment in at least two courses per semester that count toward the MARC degree.
3. A cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5 after the completion of at least one semester of the MARC program.

Graduate Teaching Fellow:

A Graduate Teaching Fellow (TF) is a UHD graduate student whose responsibilities include formal instruction and who may be the “instructor of record” for an undergraduate course. TFs are not allowed to be instructors of record for courses that carry graduate credit. TFs will utilize a syllabus, assignments, and texts that will be determined and provided by the English department’s Director of First Year Composition and will work under the direct supervision of a faculty member experienced in the teaching discipline. They will also receive regular in-service training and planned/periodic evaluations. TFs are expected to work 20 hours per week and must have wide daytime availability. A TF is provided a $4,800 stipend over the course of the semester.

To be selected as a Teaching Fellow, one must meet the following requirements. The best candidates will have qualifications that exceed the minimum standards, enumerated below:

1. Completion of baccalaureate degree requirements at a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the United Kingdom at which English is the medium of instruction.
2. Completion of 18 semester credit hours toward the MARC degree (or a full master’s degree in the discipline) prior to holding a Graduate Teaching Fellow.
3. Successful completion of English 5327 (MARC Practicum) prior to holding a Graduate Teaching Fellow.
4. Previous experience as a Writing Associate.
5. Regular enrollment in at least two courses per semester that count toward the MARC degree.
6. A cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5.

The MARC program offers paid Graduate Teaching Assistantships each academic year as allowed by the departmental budget and staffing/teaching needs. When available, these paid positions are awarded on a competitive basis to advanced graduate students who are in good academic standing. Once selected, Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) will perform duties such as classroom instruction, commenting on student papers and examinations, holding regular office hours, and course planning and supervision. Typically, the English department will provide GTAs with a syllabus for each course taught.