Instruction-Related Assistantships

Instruction-Related Assistantships employ graduate students to assist professors with teaching courses. Duties could include Blackboard management, hosting office hours, leading discussion sections or serving as an Instructor of Record. To qualify for a graduate assistantship position, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Instruction-related Assistantship Roles

Graduate Instructional Assistant (GIA): The GIAship is a basic assistantship given to a master’s or doctoral student that assists an instructor in a teaching-related capacity. A GIA is not the instructor of record (IOR), but they assist the IOR as needed including but not limited to: grading assignments, leading lab, recitation or discussion sections, and holding office hours.
- Compensation: All GIAs receive a monthly salary. GIAs may receive an additional monthly stipend and/or tuition coverage at the department’s discretion.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): The GTAship is GW’s most competitive and largest funding package for a graduate student serving in an instruction-related role. A GTA is a doctoral student that assists an instructor in a teaching-related capacity. A GTA is not the Instructor of Record (IOR), but they assist the course instructor as needed including but not limited to: grading assignments, leading lab, recitation or discussion sections, and holding office hours.
- Compensation: All GTAs receive a monthly salary, monthly stipend and full tuition coverage to support their doctoral study.
Graduate Student Lecturer (GSL): The GSLship is intended to provide doctoral students with classroom teaching experience. A GSL is a doctoral student who serves as the Instructor of Record (IOR) for a course and is expected to teach the course with minimal direction from faculty. A GSL may also be assigned additional responsibilities to assist instructors. GSLs must have served as a GIA or GTA for at least one semester prior to their appointment as a GSL.
- Compensation: All GSLs receive a monthly salary. GSLs may receive an additional monthly stipend and/or tuition coverage at the department’s discretion.

Minimum Compensation Levels for Each Role

Full Time Equivalent (FTE):

FTE 0.5 = 20 hours per week
FTE 0.375 = 15 hours per week
FTE 0.25 = 10 hours per week
FTE 0.125 = 5 hours per week

Graduate Instructional Assistant (GIA)

Compensation: All GIAs receive a monthly salary. GIAs may receive an additional monthly stipend and/or tuition coverage at the department’s discretion.

Please note: For all appointments, the total pay listed below is divided into even monthly payments. Fall semester has four payments (September, October, November, and December). Spring semester has five payments (January, February, March, April, and May). Summer semester has three payments (June, July and August). Any irregular assistantship terms (e.g. six months) will have a salary prorated based on the number of months.

Minimum Salaries:

Effort (FTE)	Hours per Week	Semester Appointment	Academic Year Appointment	Summer Appointment	12-month Appointment
0.5	20	$4,750	$9,500	$3,167	$12,667
0.375	15	$3,563	$7,125	$2,375	$9,500
0.25	10	$2,375	$4,750	$1,583	$6,333
0.125	5	$1,188	$2,375	$792	$3,167

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)

Compensation: All GTAs receive a monthly salary, monthly stipend and full tuition coverage to support their doctoral study.

Minimum Salaries:

Effort (FTE)	Hours per Week	Semester Appointment	Academic Year Appointment	Summer Appointment	12-month Appointment
0.5	20	$4,750	$9,500	$3,167	$12,667
0.375	15	$3,563	$7,125	$2,375	$9,500
0.25	10	$2,375	$4,750	$1,583	$6,333
0.125	5	$1,188	$2,375	$792	$3,167

Minimum Stipends:

Effort (FTE)	Hours per Week	Semester Appointment	Academic Year Appointment	Summer Appointment	12-month Appointment
0.5	20	$8,300	$16,600	$5,533	$22,133
0.375	15	$6,223	$12,450	$4,150	$16,600
0.25	10	$4,150	$8,300	$2,767	$11,067
0.125	5	$2,075	$4,150	$1,383	$5,533

Graduate Student Lecturer (GSL)

Compensation: All GSLs receive a monthly salary. GSLs may receive an additional monthly stipend and/or tuition coverage at the department’s discretion.

Minimum Salaries:

Effort (FTE)	Hours per Week	Semester Appointment	Academic Year Appointment	Summer Appointment	12-month Appointment
0.5	20	$4,750	$9,500	$3,167	$12,667
0.375	15	$3,563	$7,125	$2,375	$9,500
0.25	10	$2,375	$4,750	$1,583	$6,333
0.125	5	$1,188	$2,375	$792	$3,167

How Can I Become an Instruction-Related Graduate Assistant?

All Graduate Assistantships are offered directly by departments, usually at the time of admission. Graduate assistantships are limited and some departments may not have GA positions. Graduate students are encouraged to inquire with their department about Graduate Assistantship position availability. Students may also apply for assistantships outside of their respective department. The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships does not offer graduate assistantships and cannot provide students with information about a department's current availability.

Find your Department Contact

Graduate Teaching Assistantship Program (GTAP)

Newly-appointed Graduate Instructional Assistants (GIAs) and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) must complete the Graduate Teaching Assistantship Program (GTAP) during their first semester as a graduate assistant. The program is offered each Fall and Spring semester to inform new GIAs and GTAs about GW policy, university resources, and teaching strategies. When a student is nominated by their department to serve as a GIA or GTA, they will be contacted by GTAP staff with more details about the program.