Teaching Assistantships

students in silhouette in front of colorful wall projection.

The Department of Media Study at the University at Buffalo (UB) typically offers Teaching Assistantships (TAs) to the most qualified candidates in the Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts Production, Dual Architecture and Media Study, or PhD programs. Assuming sufficient progress, these assistantships are often renewable for subsequent years. There are also other opportunities for continuing support.

Teaching assistantships offer a yearly stipend, in exchange for which a student will be assigned teaching duties, either assisting a professor teaching a larger introductory course, or teaching their own section(s) of an introductory level class, based on department need and student expertise. A full tuition scholarship is normally also offered to the successful candidates. Scholarship awards are applied to tuition only; any additional fees are not covered. Out-of-state students (not international) are required to apply for New York State residency during their first semester.

You must be accepted into a graduate program at UB before a Teaching Assistantship can be offered. Our website offers complete information about our department and our Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts Production, interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Humanities in Film Studies, and Dual Architecture + Media Study (MArch+MFA) degree programs.

No separate application for Teaching Assistantships is required. Assistantships are awarded to the most qualified applicants each year. Typically, these will be applicants to the MFA or PhD programs. Although primarily based on a student’s overall academic promise, some consideration is given to any special media related skills or advanced knowledge which may help the student contribute to the department’s teaching needs.  

Current UB graduate students wishing to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship should send a letter requesting consideration indicating the area of teaching interest, a resume, and work samples (with a SASE if you want the work returned) to:

TA Application Committee 
Department of Media Study 
231 Center for the Arts 
University at Buffalo 
Buffalo, NY 14260-6020.