OPT Teaching Assistant Jobs
Teaching Assistant roles are among the most OPT-accessible positions in the U.S., universities and colleges regularly hire international students with STEM or education backgrounds. Most TA positions qualify for standard 12-month OPT, and research-focused roles may support STEM OPT extension if your degree field aligns.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Adjunct Teaching - School of Family Life - SFL 403R: Research/Creative Works Practicum (Evening School)
Posting End Date: November 20, 2026
NOTE: Last day to apply is Thursday, November 19, 2026 @ 11:59pm (MT)
Position Start Date: January 4, 2027
Required Degree:
A PhD in Family Studies, Human Development, Developmental Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Consumer Sciences, Sociology, or a related discipline is required. The required degree must be completed by the start date.
Experience:
University-level teaching experience in Human Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Consumer Sciences, Sociology, Economics, or a related discipline is preferred.
Duties/Expectations:
Teach a 3-credit, semester-long mentored research class to undergraduate students in the School of Family Life, which includes:
- Literature reviews
- Data collection
- Data coding
- Data management
- Data analysis
- Constructing statistical tables
- Writing proposals for conferences
- Writing manuscripts to be submitted for publication
Additional duties/expectations include but are not limited to the following:
- May be Day or Evening classes
- Responsive to students
- Grading with substantive feedback within 7 days
- Setting up for class
- Cleaning up after class
- Comfortable with technology
- Passionate about connecting with students
- Organized and careful about time management
- Devoted to learning
- Attentive to details
- Excellent at oral and written communication
- Able to teach in different modalities
Documents Required at the Time of Application:
Please attach your updated curriculum vitae, cover letter, and Mission Alignment Statement (instructions below) to the faculty application.
Note: Failure to attach the required documents may result in your application not being considered.
This position requires the successful candidate to relocate and/or reside in Utah for the duration of their employment.
MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end, please include a one-page mission alignment statement as part of your application that addresses how you might, as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrine and teachings declared by living prophets, seers, and revelators; (2) demonstrate intentionality in building faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and strive to keep it “bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel” (Spencer W. Kimball).
If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include a one-page mission alignment statement that describes understanding of and commitment to the Mission of Brigham Young University and the AIMS of a BYU Education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
All new employees who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. All employees are required to abide by the university's Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrines of the affiliated church.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Job Title: Adjunct Teaching - School of Family Life - SFL 403R: Research/Creative Works Practicum (Evening School)
Posting End Date: November 20, 2026
NOTE: Last day to apply is Thursday, November 19, 2026 @ 11:59pm (MT)
Position Start Date: January 4, 2027
Required Degree:
A PhD in Family Studies, Human Development, Developmental Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Consumer Sciences, Sociology, or a related discipline is required. The required degree must be completed by the start date.
Experience:
University-level teaching experience in Human Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Consumer Sciences, Sociology, Economics, or a related discipline is preferred.
Duties/Expectations:
Teach a 3-credit, semester-long mentored research class to undergraduate students in the School of Family Life, which includes:
- Literature reviews
- Data collection
- Data coding
- Data management
- Data analysis
- Constructing statistical tables
- Writing proposals for conferences
- Writing manuscripts to be submitted for publication
Additional duties/expectations include but are not limited to the following:
- May be Day or Evening classes
- Responsive to students
- Grading with substantive feedback within 7 days
- Setting up for class
- Cleaning up after class
- Comfortable with technology
- Passionate about connecting with students
- Organized and careful about time management
- Devoted to learning
- Attentive to details
- Excellent at oral and written communication
- Able to teach in different modalities
Documents Required at the Time of Application:
Please attach your updated curriculum vitae, cover letter, and Mission Alignment Statement (instructions below) to the faculty application.
Note: Failure to attach the required documents may result in your application not being considered.
This position requires the successful candidate to relocate and/or reside in Utah for the duration of their employment.
MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end, please include a one-page mission alignment statement as part of your application that addresses how you might, as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrine and teachings declared by living prophets, seers, and revelators; (2) demonstrate intentionality in building faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and strive to keep it “bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel” (Spencer W. Kimball).
If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include a one-page mission alignment statement that describes understanding of and commitment to the Mission of Brigham Young University and the AIMS of a BYU Education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
All new employees who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. All employees are required to abide by the university's Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrines of the affiliated church.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Teaching Assistant
Target your own institution first
Your current or graduating university already knows your academic record and is familiar with OPT work authorization. Department administrators often prefer hiring from within, making internal TA postings your lowest-friction starting point.
Confirm your degree field supports the role
OPT must be directly related to your major. A TA position in your department is straightforward, but cross-departmental roles require you to document how the work connects to your field of study for DSO verification.
Ask about STEM OPT eligibility before accepting
If your degree is on the STEM designated degree program list, confirm whether the TA role qualifies for a 24-month extension. Research assistant and lab-based TA roles in STEM departments most often meet the practical training criteria.
Get your EAD card before your start date
You cannot begin work until USCIS issues your Employment Authorization Document. Apply for OPT at least 90 days before your intended start date and confirm your EAD arrival timeline with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Understand part-time versus full-time rules by status
Pre-completion OPT limits you to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Post-completion OPT allows full-time work. Clarify your enrollment status with your DSO before agreeing to a specific weekly hours commitment.
Document every employment detail for your DSO
Your DSO needs your employer name, job title, work location, and start date to update SEVIS. Missing or delayed reporting can jeopardize your OPT status, so report changes within the required 10-day window without exception.
Teaching Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Teaching Assistant jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, Teaching Assistant roles qualify for OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. A TA role in your own department is almost always a clear match. Cross-departmental positions require documentation showing the connection between the work and your degree, which your DSO can help you establish.
Can a Teaching Assistant role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It can, if your degree is on the STEM designated degree program list and the TA role involves practical training in that field. Research-intensive TA positions in STEM departments, such as lab instruction or data analysis support, have the strongest case. Pure humanities or administrative TA work in a STEM department is less likely to qualify. Confirm with your DSO before relying on this pathway.
Where can I find Teaching Assistant jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Teaching Assistant openings from employers who are familiar with or actively open to OPT work authorization. Searching through Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for roles compatible with F-1 status, which saves time compared to sorting through general postings where OPT eligibility is unclear.
How many hours can I work as a Teaching Assistant on OPT?
Post-completion OPT allows full-time work with no weekly hour cap, which covers most TA contracts. Pre-completion OPT limits you to 20 hours per week while classes are in session, though you can work full-time during official school breaks. Confirm your enrollment status and OPT type with your DSO before finalizing your offer.
What happens to my OPT status if my Teaching Assistant contract ends early?
You must report any change in employment to your DSO within 10 days, including early contract termination. OPT does not require continuous employment, but you are subject to an unemployment limit of 90 days for standard OPT and 150 days cumulative for STEM OPT. Exceeding that limit without a new qualifying position jeopardizes your status.