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I did my graduate work in Europe, and I think it is crazy how a bunch of unqualified/ semi-qualified students without their doctorates are teaching in US univer
by sgc 4y ago
I did my graduate work in Europe, and I think it is crazy how a bunch of unqualified/ semi-qualified students without their doctorates are teaching in US universities. We had exactly 0 doctoral candidates teaching classes, whereas it is widespread to have masters candidates teaching in US universities - many of which are not cheap at all. They should be students and researchers first and foremost, until they can complete their learning.
- Wyoming23 4y agoYou're confusing "teaching assistants" with teaching a class. A typical setup would be to have a professor give 3 lectures a week, along with open office hours, and design the curriculum. Then to have an assistant or two who are graduate students (people who have a bachelor's degree or master's degree in the subject) who help grade homework, set up lab work, and answer student questions in a 1-hour recitation/discussion meeting.
- sgc 4y agoThat's not the case in many places (including prestigious universities - and due to their research orientation, perhaps it happens more, the more prestigious it is). It is virtually impossible to get into a teaching position post-doctorate in the US if you have not been teaching as a doctoral candidate. I have taught in Unis where there was an entire team of doctoral candidates (and a couple master's candidates) teaching a big chunk of the classes offered to undergrads - not as assistants, just as the listed "professor". I have also followed open courses online where the "Prof" gives two or three classes in the semester, and the "assistant" teaches the rest. As far as I know and have experienced, what you are describing is less true every year.