PhD in Mathematics

Teaching Assistantships and Funding

Full-time PhD students in mathematics are supported primarily through teaching assistantship (TA) positions. Students making acceptable progress in the PhD program are normally funded for at least five (and sometimes six) years.

While teaching assistant (TA) positions are usually offered to PhD students, master’s and part-time students are also invited to apply through the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships website.

TA Financial Package Components

• A stipend in the form of a GW fellowship
• Tuition credits (up to nine credit hours per semester)
• A salary in exchange for teaching work

How to Apply

PhD students apply for teaching assistantships as part of the general GW application process. Applications to the doctoral program completed before February 1 will receive full consideration for TA positions.

Duties

The duties of TAs may include teaching a course, conducting recitations, assisting in a computer lab, holding office hours, grading homework and proctoring and grading exams. Such duties typically take about 15 hours per week. 

The graduate committee, in consultation with students' advisors, makes recommendations to CCAS for renewal of support; these recommendations are subject to the approval of the CCAS Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. Students making good progress toward earning a PhD and performing their teaching duties well usually receive at least five years of support. Requests for a sixth year of funding can be made when there is good evidence that the student is likely to complete the degree in the sixth year.

Orientation for New TAs

Several activities for new graduate students are held the week before the fall semester begins: 

• a Graduate Teaching Assistant Program (GTAP) orientation organized by the GW Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships;
• an English test and interview for international students; and
• an orientation for mathematics graduate students, organized by the Department of Mathematics.

 

At the GTAP orientation, each new TA gives a five-minute sample presentation to a small group of peers and is evaluated for effective communication. All students, especially international students, are encouraged to discuss their presentation in advance with their academic advisor.

 

---

"I owe my success to my beginning days in the U.S. — to all the wonderful professors at GW. If not for their constant support, I would not have completed my PhD and all this would be moot!"

Sita Ramamurti
PhD '95, 2020 Leo Schubert Teaching Award

---

Course Requirements