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- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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I'm not a Political Science grad but I am interested in being a TA for the Poli Sci Department. How can i apply?
At this time, the department is prioritizing the employment of its own PhD graduate students.
Students interested in applying for available TAships should visit the following: https://grad.ucsd.edu/financial/employment/opportunities/index.html
More employment opportunities can be found here: https://grad.ucsd.edu/financial/employment/index.html
I'm going to be employed as a TA/GSR for the first time. What do I need to do?
Notify your department of your employment plans. Grad students should submit a response to the quarterly funding plan survey. You should also inform Student Affairs Manager, Ethel Lu, and Graduate Coordinator, Katie Smith of any changes. GSRs (formerly known as RAs) should contact Ethel and Katie as well.
If you have not worked at UCSD before, you will need to fill out New Hire paperwork with the department. This paperwork requires that you bring in proof of your eligibility to work. See page 5 of the I-9 form (PDF) for a list of acceptable documents to establish this. New hires should also bring in a voided check to apply for Direct Deposit. International students will need to bring in additional documents when filing out New Hire Paperwork.
First time TAs are required to attend the New Academic Student Employee orientation with Graduate Division. Information will be sent out each quarter regarding the dates.
How are TA assignments determined?
While the department always tries to accommodate top preferences of both graduate students and faculty, there is no guarantee. TA assignments are based on many factors, including faculty preferences, student preferences, enrollments, student funding packages, Graduate Division employment exceptions, department needs, and student expertise.
TAs may be placed in courses that are not in their field of study.
TAs may be placed in lower-division courses even if they only apply for upper-division courses. For lower-division courses, 50% TAs will lead two sections, while 25% TAs will lead one section. If a first year graduate student requests a 50% appointment, this request will be accommodated if there is a departmental need which may mean the student will be assigned to lead two lower-division sections.
The following are the decision-making steps for assigning TAs to lower-division sections:
1) students who apply to teach sections are matched with lower-division sections first;
2) next: third years and above who have never taught sections in the department (having previously taught sections during Summer Session or for another department during the academic year does not count);
3) next: more advanced students, third year and above, who have taught sections previously only once or twice; and
4) lastly: if there is still a need to fill lower-division sections, second year students are assigned.
How much can I work (US student)?
During the academic year students may be employed at up to 50% time; total GSR appointments may not exceed 49.99% time. This includes the total of all combined employment at UCSD.
When no other student is available, you may be able get an exception to that rule for up to 75%. If approved, this 75% employment may include: a 75% TA appointment; a 49.99% GSR and 25% TA appointment; or any combination thereof, as long as the GSR employment is not more than 49.99%. In other words, employment on a GSR title code may never be more than 49.99% during the academic year.
Approval to work over 50% requires a satisfactory Spring Evaluation on file and an exception letter written by your Graduate Coordinator, signed by the Chair, and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies at the Graduate Division. No student will be approved to exceed the 50% rule retroactively (after starting work).
International students may never work more than 50%.
DO NOT begin work exceeding 50% time until you have received formal approval. Failure to do so may result in the inability to be paid.
During the summer, students may be employed up to 100% time total. There are no exceptions that need to be filed.
How much can I work (international student)?
During the academic year, international students may be employed at up to 50% time. No exceptions can be made to exceed this amount.
During the summer, international students may be employed up to 100% time total. There are no exceptions that need to be filed.
How many hours does a 50% employee work?
40 hours a week is considered 100% employment. Therefore, a 50% TA/GSR should work an average of 20 hours a week over the course of their appointment, a 25% TA/GSR should work an average of 10 hours a week, etc.
How much will I be paid?
The amount you make corresponds to your employment percentage. Most graduate students have a 50% TAship (50% TAship during the academic year. First year students have a 25% TAship in addition to a department stipend during the academic year. Some students hold GSR appointments, Political Science students are at GSR step 6. For details on TA and GSR salary pay rates, please visit GEPA. The academic year is October - June.
In addition, students employed on academic titles for 25% or more during the quarter will have their TA Health Insurance, Registration Fees, and Educational Fees paid for them.
How do I sign up for direct deposit?
Students can sign up for direct deposit through Student Financial Solutions for stipend payments. TAs, Graders, and GSRs may sign up for direct deposit through Payroll.
I'm a TA. When will I receive my paycheck?
Regular TAs are hired for 3 full months for each quarter they work. They are paid equally for each month. TAs for Fall Quarter should be aware that they do not receive their first paycheck until after their first full month of work (end of October).
Below is the general schedule of paycheck disbursement. See here for current payroll calendars (PDF).
Fall TA – October 31st, November 30th, December 31st; 3 equal payments.
Winter TA – January 31st, February 28th, March 31st; 3 equal payments.
Spring TA – April 30th, May 31st, June 30th; 3 equal payments.
I'm a TA. Can you take the balance of my fees out of my paycheck?
If you are hired as a Teaching Assistant at a minimum of 25% time, the University pays health insurance and partial fee remission for you. The department will pay the balance of fees.
I'm a TA, and I can't wait until the end of October to receive my first paycheck.
The TA loan fund provides Teaching Assistants with a loan for living expenses until receipt of the first paycheck on 11/1. If you are employed as a TA for a minimum of 25% for the entire quarter, you are eligible for this loan. Find information about the loan program on the Graduate Division's website.
Are there any teaching opportunities in the department?
Each year, the department has a limited number of opportunities for graduate students to serve as instructors. A call for Department Teaching Fellows will go out in Spring quarter. Course assignments are based on preparedness to teach, the student's progress in the program, and the fit and quality of the course proposal; only advanced students may apply.
I'm an Associate-In, TA or grader and my undergraduates have questions. Where do I go?
Check out our Instructional Support page. It contains information on how to reserve audio visual equipment, alternative examination information, how to make copies or handouts, and so on.
I have tax questions. Where can I go for answers?
For tax questions, please see our Tax FAQ.
I want to defer my student loans. How can I do this?
You may request verification of enrollment with the Registrar.
I have other financial support questions.
Please see our financial page.
I need to add/drop a class. It's past 2nd week. What should I do?
Please review the procedures on how to add a class and how to drop a class. You will need to submit an EASy request for a late add or drop request. Please note that dropping a course after Friday of Week 4 will result in a W on your transcript.
After the 10th week of the quarter, any changes to a student's class schedule are considered a retroactive action. As such, a general petition is required to be submitted for the Graduate Division's review. Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator as soon as possible so that the general petition may be initiated.
I have experienced an unexpected circumstance of difficulty and need to file for an incomplete, what do I do?
Can I repeat a class I did poorly in?
Can I sit in on an undergraduate language classes?
Graduate students may take undergraduate classes. However, to be a full-time student, grad students need to be enrolled in 12 units of graduate level or upper division coursework. Since most language classes are lower division only, graduate students must be sure to enroll in at least 12 units of full-time course work in addition.
Languages can be taken for a letter grade or S/U basis. Some instructors may allow you to audit, but language courses are often very full and auditing may not be allowed, especially if there is a waitlist. Enroll early to avoid being on the waitlist.
Can I transfer classes I took at another university?
With permission of the Department's Director of Graduate Studies, a student that has received a graduate degree in political science at another institution may count up to two quarter-course equivalents (taken at other institutions) toward the eighteen-course requirement, including the core curriculum. Typically, we only allow credit for "skills" courses, such as statistics or game theory. The rest of our curriculum is highly specialized and not substitutable. To ask about transferring credit, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Note: non-UCSD coursework cannot count towards the “good progress” requirements at UCSD. See the Rules and Requirements for details.
Do I need to complete a Spring/Annual Evaluation?
Yes! This is not only required by the department, but by the Graduate Council. They require that all doctoral students be evaluated every Spring. A satisfactory evaluation on file with the Graduate Division is necessary for future support to be approved. The following are exempt from Spring evaluations:
Students are advised to work with their advisor and graduate coordinator for the timely submission of their evaluation so that student support for the future is not jeopardized.
The student signature is required on every evaluation. Student signature does not indicate agreement with the evaluation. It is expected that an evaluation will include a face-to-face meeting between the faculty member(s) and the student, and also that the student will feel free to make comments on the evaluation.
I need information on comprehensive exams.
See the Rules and Requirements section of the website.
When/how do I apply for my mid-PhD Master's?
Doctoral students in the Department of Political Science who do not already hold an MA may apply for an MA after successfully completing fifteen quarter courses (some of these courses may be In-Progress), nine of which must be numbered between Political Science 200 and 279, and one seminar paper approved by a member of the Department. Candidates must be in good standing.
Students should notify the Graduate Program Coordinator of their intent to file for a MA by the first week of the Spring quarter of their second year.
(Note: If you are considering a terminal Master's degree, please see the Political Science Department Graduate Program Coordinator.)
Procedures:
Note: Normally, duplication of advanced academic degrees, M.A., M.S., Ph.D., is not permitted. A duplicate academic degree is one at the same level, e.g., a second master's degree or second Ph.D., regardless of the discipline or the specialization awarding the degree. A professional degree at the master's or doctoral level, e.g., Au.D., Ed.D., M.B.A., M.Ed., M.F.A., M.P.I.A., M.D. Pharm.D., is not regarded as a duplicate of an academic degree.
I already have a comp exam committee. Is this the same as a doctoral committee?
No. Comprehensive Exam Committees are assigned by Field Coordinators and are only for the second year comprehensive exam. Doctoral committees are selected by the student based on the criteria in the question below.
Who can be on my doctoral committee? How do I appoint my committee?
A doctoral committee conducts the prospectus defense, supervises the preparation and passes the dissertation, and administers the final dissertation defense.
How do I make a change to my doctoral committee?
For a variety of reasons, a doctoral committee may need to be reconstituted. The request to reconstitute the membership of a committee, including departmental affiliation, with the reasons for requesting the change must be submitted to the Graduate Division. To initiate this process, send the names of your new committee members to your Graduate Coordinator no less than 3 weeks prior to the scheduled defense, indicating who the new members are and why the change is occurring. Requests must be approved by the department chair and committee chair. Review the Reconstituted Doctoral Committee page for further information.
What do I need to do to defend my prospectus/advance to candidacy?
In order to advance to candidacy, a student must prepare a dissertation prospectus and pass an oral examination. Good progress toward the Ph.D. requires that students advance to candidacy by end of the spring quarter of the fourth year. A student who fails to advance to candidacy by the end of the fall quarter of the fourth year may receive no more than a 33% teaching or research assistantship from the Department for the following quarters until advancing to candidacy. If a student has not defended their prospectus and advanced to candidacy by the end of the spring quarter of their fourth year, they are subject to dismissal from the program.
International students must defend by the end of the spring quarter of their third year to avoid paying Non Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) beginning in the fourth year. The department will cover NRST for international students until the end of their third year.
For graduate class entering in Fall 2013 and later:
Good progress toward the Ph.D. requires that students advance to candidacy by the end of the fall quarter of the fourth year. A student who fails to advance to candidacy by the end of the fall quarter of the fourth year may receive no more than a 33% teaching or research assistantship from the Department for the following quarters until advancing to candidacy. Students on a UCSD fellowship may receive no more than two-thirds of their stipend for the following quarters until advancing to candidacy.
*The student is responsible for returning department property in good working condition and will be held accountable for any damages.
What do I need to do to defend my dissertation?
Defending the dissertation requires a series of steps you will want to become familiarized with well enough in advance to ask any pertinent questions or make alternate arrangements. It is the student's responsibility to oversee all aspects of the process, to obtain necessary signatures, and attend all meetings. In the event that a student in unable to attend a meeting due to extenuating circumstance, the student will be responsible for assigning a proxy and making arrangements as needed.
*signature page – this is page iii of your dissertation. See page 18/19 of the The Dissertation Manual (PDF) for an example.
**The student is responsible for department property and maintaining its working condition and will be held accountable for any damages.
My Pre-Candidacy Time Limit is up at the end of Spring Quarter. When is the last day I can defend my prospectus?
The official Pre-Candidacy Time Limit is the end of Spring Quarter of the 4th year. Fourth year students who have not defended by the end of spring cannot register again. Because of the difficulties that sometimes arise when selecting a committee and scheduling a defense, we urge you to prepare for and schedule your defense before the very end of the quarter.
Can I take a Leave of Absence?
Review your situation with your Graduate Coordinator to determine eligibility and alternative options. Students are allowed a maximum of three (3) quarters Leave of Absence during their tenure in the program. Reasons for a Leave of Absence can include employment, family, financial, health, transfer, or other. It is the student's responsibility to ensure their paperwork has been properly coordinated adhering to academic deadlines. This can be done by monitoring your Academic History through TritonLink. For information regarding Health Insurance while on an approved leave, visit Student Health Services.
International students may go on Leave of Absence, but they must not be in the United States during the time of their Leave of Absence. For more information, please visit the International Students and Programs Office.
Can I register in-absentia?
Advanced doctoral students performing research away from campus and outside the state of California may be eligible to register in-absentia for up to two (2) years. During this time a student must be enrolled in at least 12 units of POLI 298/299 and pays reduced fees. Time registered in-absentia does count towards all established time limits. Review the In-Absentia Policy and FAQs guide (PDF) for further information. Consult with your Graduate Coordinator to determine eligibility and make arrangements.
International students may be registered in-absentia and still retain their visa status.
All students may work as a GSR while registered in-absentia. In-absentia students may not work as a TA or Reader, only as a GSR.
You must request in-absentia status prior to every quarter that you plan to be registered in-absentia.
What are the time limits I need to know about?
Time limits are affected by the following:
When will I receive my diploma?
Degrees are only conferred 4 times a year at the end of each quarter even if your defense date was before the end of the quarter. Diplomas take 2-4 months after the end of the quarter to issue. The date on the diploma will always be the last day of that particular quarter. The registrar does not start processing diplomas until the quarter is over. Students who finish in spring should expect to receive their diplomas sometime over the summer.
Diplomas are mailed to the permanent address on your TritonLink account (not your mailing address), so be sure to keep it up to date by updating it on TritonLink.
I have a question that I couldn't find the answer to. What do I do?
Contact the Department of Political Science Graduate Program Coordinator.