CPT Teaching Assistant Jobs
Teaching Assistant jobs on CPT let F-1 students earn academic credit while supporting instruction in their field of study. Your DSO must authorize CPT before you start, and the work must directly align with your degree program. Part-time CPT (under 20 hours per week) keeps your full-time OPT eligibility intact after graduation.
Find CPT Teaching Assistant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 9+ Teaching Assistant jobs
See all Teaching Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Teaching Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Overview
This is a Teaching Assistant (TA) position with the Department of English in which the student will serve as an instructor of record and will teach one or two sections of ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a graduate program within the College of Liberal Arts by August 1st, to qualify for consideration.
Hours per Week
10-20 hours per week
College/Department Overview
Department of English, College of Liberal Arts. The College of Liberal Arts serves the University's Core Curriculum programs and enrolls more than 2,850 undergraduate students and more than 300 graduate students in 34 undergraduate and 17 graduate majors.
Department Specific Job Functions
“Full-Time” teaching assistants work 20 hours per week as instructors of record and teach two sections of either ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters. “Part-Time” teaching assistants work 10 hours per week as instructors of record and teach one section of either ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters.
Enrollment Requirements
Fall/Spring Semesters:
All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half-time enrollment for fall/spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee. Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.
Summer Semester:
Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer. Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in fall classes in order to work during the summer, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes. Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.
Enrollment Exception:
If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.
Qualifications/Experience Required
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a graduate program within the College of Liberal Arts by August 1st, to qualify for consideration. Teaching Assistants must enroll in and complete ENG 5533: Teaching Methods for Teaching Assistants or ENG 5723: Composition Pedagogies during the fall semester in which they begin teaching, must attend a week-long orientation before the fall semester begins, and must maintain a 3.25 graduate GPA for renewal.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Applicants should have excellent reading, writing, and speaking abilities in English as well as strong critical thinking skills. Selected teaching assistants will be required to handle confidential information in a professional and ethical manner, will need to balance their own coursework with a significant teaching load, and must be able to plan ahead, maintain a schedule, and organize teaching materials.
Physical Demands
Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Additional Information For Applicants
In addition to your application, please be prepared to provide the following documents when applying:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic writing sample
- Degree transcripts for all degrees
Position Overview
This is a Teaching Assistant (TA) position with the Department of English in which the student will serve as an instructor of record and will teach one or two sections of ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a graduate program within the College of Liberal Arts by August 1st, to qualify for consideration.
Hours per Week
10-20 hours per week
College/Department Overview
Department of English, College of Liberal Arts. The College of Liberal Arts serves the University's Core Curriculum programs and enrolls more than 2,850 undergraduate students and more than 300 graduate students in 34 undergraduate and 17 graduate majors.
Department Specific Job Functions
“Full-Time” teaching assistants work 20 hours per week as instructors of record and teach two sections of either ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters. “Part-Time” teaching assistants work 10 hours per week as instructors of record and teach one section of either ENG 1113: English Composition or ENG 1213: English Composition and Research, during the fall and spring semesters.
Enrollment Requirements
Fall/Spring Semesters:
All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half-time enrollment for fall/spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee. Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.
Summer Semester:
Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer. Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in fall classes in order to work during the summer, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes. Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.
Enrollment Exception:
If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.
Qualifications/Experience Required
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a graduate program within the College of Liberal Arts by August 1st, to qualify for consideration. Teaching Assistants must enroll in and complete ENG 5533: Teaching Methods for Teaching Assistants or ENG 5723: Composition Pedagogies during the fall semester in which they begin teaching, must attend a week-long orientation before the fall semester begins, and must maintain a 3.25 graduate GPA for renewal.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Applicants should have excellent reading, writing, and speaking abilities in English as well as strong critical thinking skills. Selected teaching assistants will be required to handle confidential information in a professional and ethical manner, will need to balance their own coursework with a significant teaching load, and must be able to plan ahead, maintain a schedule, and organize teaching materials.
Physical Demands
Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Additional Information For Applicants
In addition to your application, please be prepared to provide the following documents when applying:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic writing sample
- Degree transcripts for all degrees
See all CPT Teaching Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new CPT Teaching Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTeaching Assistant CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Teaching Assistant job qualify for CPT authorization?
Yes, if the role directly relates to your field of study and your school's curriculum requires or offers credit for the work experience. A Teaching Assistant position in a department outside your major, or one where the connection to your coursework isn't documented, can be denied by your DSO. The burden is on you to demonstrate the academic link before authorization is granted.
Can I work as a Teaching Assistant on CPT while taking a full course load?
CPT doesn't exempt you from your program's full-time enrollment requirement. Most F-1 students on CPT must remain enrolled full-time while working, though some graduate programs allow exceptions for students in their final semester. Confirm your program's specific requirements with your DSO before accepting an offer, since violating enrollment rules can jeopardize your F-1 status.
How do I find Teaching Assistant positions at institutions familiar with CPT hiring?
Migrate Mate lets you filter Teaching Assistant postings by employer type and work authorization acceptance. Academic departments that have hired CPT students before are more likely to understand the I-20 amendment process and won't stall your start date waiting for HR to research what CPT is. Targeting those employers directly saves significant onboarding friction.
What happens to my OPT eligibility if I work as a Teaching Assistant on CPT for more than a year?
Accumulating 12 or more months of full-time CPT eliminates your eligibility for post-completion OPT entirely. Part-time CPT, defined as 20 hours per week or fewer, doesn't count toward that threshold regardless of duration. If you're considering multiple CPT positions across your program, map out the cumulative full-time equivalent hours with your DSO before each authorization.
Can I switch from one Teaching Assistant CPT role to another mid-semester?
Each CPT authorization is specific to a single employer, location, and job description listed on your I-20. Switching departments or institutions mid-semester requires a new CPT authorization from your DSO before you begin the new role. Working without updated I-20 documentation, even briefly, constitutes unauthorized employment and can affect your immigration record.