Guide for Prospective ASEs (Academic Student Employees)
Teaching is an integral part of solidifying one’s own grasp of a subject. We catalyze the learning experience by providing teaching opportunities to both our graduate and undergraduate students, to support our course staff, share ideas, and inspire advances in teaching, learning, and research.
EECS ASE Appointment Types
The EECS Department offers the following ASE appointments during the academic year:
- Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)/ Teaching Assistant (TA)
- Undergraduate Course Staff 2 (UCS2)
- Undergraduate Course Staff 1 (UCS1)
- Reader
Apply for Summer Sessions 2026
Applications for Summer Sessions 2026 are now open.
Students interested in an EECS ASE appointment must apply by March 13, 2026. If you are interested in applying for an ASE position for a Data Science course, please visit the Joining Data Course Staff web page. Students with questions about ASE positions for Data Science courses should contact ds-ase@berkeley.edu
Requirements for First-Time TAs (GSIs) and UCS2s
First-time Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)/ Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Undergraduate Course Staff 2s (UCS2s) are required to enroll into and complete a pedagogy course either prior to or concurrently with their first appointment. Potential candidates for these appointments should complete CS 370 or an equivalent pedagogical seminar before teaching. ASEs must complete all components of the pedagogy requirement in order to be eligible to serve as GSIs (TAs) or UCS2s.
During the fall and spring semesters as well as Summer Sessions, all first-time GSIs (TAs) and UCS2s must fulfill the following requirements which are overseen by the GSI Teaching and Resource Center:
- Attend the First-Time GSI Teaching & Resource Center Conference.
- Complete the GSI Professional Standards & Ethics Online Course. Per Graduate Council policy revised on May 2, 2016, Appointments and Mentoring of Graduate Student Instructors, every first-time GSI must complete the online course Professional Standards and Ethics for GSIs before they interact with students (in person or online) in their role as an instructor.
- Either have completed or be enrolled in a 300-level semester-long pedagogy seminar on teaching in the discipline offered by the department. First-time GSIs (TAs) and UCS2s who fail to pass the 300-level course must retake and pass the course before they are eligible to teach again.
During Summer Sessions, GSIs (TAs) and UCS2s are required to have completed a pedagogy course prior to the summer term during which they intend to teach.
UCS2 Partial Fee Remission Information
During the academic year, EECS UCS2s (Undergraduate Course Staff 2s) are eligible for a prorated partial fee remission based on the appointment percentage of the value of the full fee remission guaranteed under Article 11 – Fee Remission of the UAW 4811 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
UCS2 Fee Remission Structure
| Appointment Percentage | Fee Remission Percentage |
|---|---|
| 20% | 40% |
| 25% | 50% |
| 30% | 60% |
| Above 30% | 100% |
Upcoming Events
In accordance with campus-wide policies pertaining to Academic Student Employees (ASEs), all first-time EECS GSIs (TAs) as well as Undergraduate Course Staff 2s must attend the following events before interacting with students in-person or online in their role as an ASE. UCS2s are also required to complete the GSI Professional Standards & Ethics Online Course as specified below.
- GSI Teaching Conference Please check the teaching center’s website to pre-register for the teaching conference.
- ASE Orientation Dates All first-time ASEs are required to attend the New ASE Orientation over Zoom with representatives from UAW 4811, the union representing all ASEs at UC Berkeley.
- GSI Professional Standards & Ethics Online Course Completion of this course is required for all first-time UCS2s before teaching at UC Berkeley.
As an ASE, it is your responsibility to stay informed about your rights, protections, and benefits as an ASE under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which represents GSIs (TAs), UCS2s, Readers, and UCS1s.
GSI (TA) Selection Process
Staff GSI Coordinators will be responsible for all GSI (TA) and UCS2 hiring. Offers from faculty or course staff are not official. Official offers will be issued from the staff coordinators. After faculty requests have been fulfilled, the search begins to assign students to classes without faculty requests.
Students are permitted to hold one departmental ASE appointment per semester.
First Priority
EECS graduate students have the highest priority. Among them, students with guaranteed GSI (TA) appointments are granted first priority, followed by students who must fulfill the teaching requirement for the PhD program. Other candidates with priority include EECS graduate students with demonstrated financial support, as well as candidates requested by faculty.
Second Priority
Graduate students from other departments.
Third Priority
Undergraduates — having taken the very courses they will teach, our own undergraduates are quite often excellent course staff.
Non-Native English Speaker GSI (TA)/ UCS2 English Proficiency Requirement
All prospective GSIs (TAs)/ UCS2s who do not speak English as a native language must pass a spoken English proficiency test before they may serve as GSIs or UCS2s. Candidates who hold a B.A., B.S., or other Bachelor’s level degree from an institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement. This policy applies to all prospective GSIs (TAs)/ UCS2s regardless of citizenship, country of origin, residency status, or subject taught. Those who do not speak English as a native language may satisfy this requirement by passing a language test on the Berkeley campus.
A passing score on one of these tests must be obtained before candidates may be appointed as GSIs (TAs)/ UCS2s.
Candidates should review the English Language Proficiency Questionnaire in order to determine whether they have satisfied the English Language Requirement. Candidates should also refer to the following Key Deadlines for the Language Proficiency Program.
Contact
EECS GSI (TA) Opportunities
For questions or concerns regarding GSI (TA) appointments, please contact the Graduate Support Team at gsicoordinators@eecs.berkeley.edu
General EECS ASE Inquiries
Please contact the EECS ASE Program Team at ase-program@eecs.berkeley.edu
For detailed information regarding all Academic Appointments on campus (including requirements, fee remission, etc.), please consult Grad Division Teaching and Research Appointments. To learn more about the ASE hiring process, please see the ASE Program Hiring Pipeline.
Students can also refer to the GSI Teaching and Resource Center as an additional resource for teaching workshops and certifications.