Fellowship Award Basics
Fellowship awardees are designated as a TA (Teaching Assistant) in the first year. Under normal circumstances, assuming reasonable progress towards the degree and acceptable performance as a TA, they are typically renewed for the second year as a TF (Teaching Fellow), with a raise in stipend. Each TA/TF award includes a complete tuition scholarship (33 credits over two years), plus stipend paid over the nine-month academic year, plus office space equipped with networked computer (shared with one other TA/TF).
Fellowship Availability
Depending upon your intended program, some restrictions on the availability of fellowships may apply:
- All M.A. applicants are considered for fellowships.
- M.S.T. applicants will be considered for first-year fellowships. Teaching fellowship awards will be considered for the second year on a case-by-case basis. Note that student-teaching commitments in education can only be completed in the second year, which may lead to special scheduling issues in connection with a teaching fellowship.
- All M.A./M.B.A. dual degree applicants are considered for fellowships in the first year along with other M.A. applicants. A student who follows the integrated schedule for the M.A./M.B.A. will again be considered for a Math TF in the third year on a case-by-case basis. Tuition remission would only be available for those years in which the fellowship is awarded, and would cover only the mathematics portion of the third year coursework. As in the case of the M.S.T., scheduling issues may arise with respect to teaching commitments. For more information, please contact the Assistant Chairman for Graduate Studies.
- M.Ed. students are not eligible for fellowships.
TA/TF Responsibilities
TAs usually work together with full-time faculty in large lecture classes and conduct recitation sections, problem sessions, and perhaps some tutoring. TFs usually are responsible for teaching one or two sections of a core-level Mathematics course in each semester. These activities require about 15 hours per week, above and beyond your attention to your own coursework. More detail...
TA/TF Scheduling
Generally, TA assignments in the fall semester of the first year are based on incoming students' course schedules. In subsequent semesters, scheduling preferences for the upcoming term are solicited from everyone involved. We try to accommodate everyone as best we can, although some compromises are necessary each semester.
Teaching Excellence Awards
Teaching Fellows who achieve the greatest success as a TF will be considered for a Donald White Teaching Excellence Award, a cash prize given to outstanding graduate student teachers at Boston College.
Appreciation
As a Teaching Fellow in the Mathematics Department, you will receive extensive support from the department in your teaching endeavors. We recognize the tremendous job done by our Teaching Fellows; year after year, they receive play an essential role in our undergraduate Core curriculum and bring an exciting energy to the third floor of Carney Hall.
You will work in an environment where your contributions are valued by everyone around you, including other students, faculty, and staff. Regardless of your future career, your experience as a Teaching Fellow will contribute to your mathematical, management, and communication skills, and you will enjoy the experience.
We expect some adjustment to this policy with the implementation of the Ph.D. program in Mathematics.
