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School of Biological Sciences

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program

In the School of Biological Sciences, Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) assist instructors of 100-level laboratory courses including BSC 101, 196, 197. UTAs serve multiple functions including assisting with in-class individual and group work, answering student questions, and will be given the opportunity to prepare a full or partial discussion, demonstration, or introduction to a lab.  

Weekly responsibilities are based upon the number of credit hours a student has enrolled in BSC 291-UTA as weekly lab attendance is required.  In addition to weekly lab attendance, UTAs also meet with the UTA coordinator during the semester to discuss issues related to the undergraduate teaching experience.  UTAs also reflect on their work assisting undergraduate students in a science laboratory setting along with related educational research and theory in online reflections submitted to the UTA coordinator throughout the semester.

The usual workload is 3 hrs./week for each credit hour registered. If you are registered for 2 credit hours, you will be assigned 2 BSC labs.

The recommendation for signing up for this course is as follows:

  • Students that have some experience in education through education courses and/or classroom experiences such as clinical experiences should consider signing up for 1 or 2 credit hours their first semester of BSC 291.
  • Students that have not had education courses and/or other classroom experiences such as clinical experiences should consider signing up for just 1 credit hour for their first semester of BSC 291. 

Prerequisites: Minimum of 60 hours completed and 2.5 GPA

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Margaret E. Parker, the UTA Program Coordinator, at meparke@ilstu.edu or 309-438-8581.

UTA/BSC 291 Application Process:

STEP 1:

Complete UTA Application, email a Word or PDF copy to Dr. Margaret Parker  or return a printed copy to the Biology office, Julian 210 to be put in Dr. Parker’s mailbox.

STEP 2:

Your application will be processed, and you will receive an email when the BSC 291 override has been entered.

  • Overrides for BSC 291 UTA are given in November and April

STEP 3:

Register for BSC 291 for the required number of credit hours (UNITS).

**Note:  The BSC 291 registration default is 1 hour.  If you want more than 1 hour, you need to increase the hours.

STEP 4: 

UTA’s will be notified of their assigned lab sections in January and August prior to the start of the semester.

  • A meeting will be held in January and in August to review duties and responsibilities.