American Studies
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCE
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American Studies

TA and Reader Positions

We welcome applications from Americanists and those who are working on U.S.-related research topics.

To apply for a position, please send your resume and some information about yourself and your relevant experience to Laura Spautz, lspautz@berkeley.edu

Readers are paid $19.53 an hour and are hired at 25% variable time, which is equivalent to a total of 170 hours for the semester. Total work hours will be finalized based on enrollments and will be adjusted accordingly.

Spring 2026 TA/GSI and Reader Positions

There are multiple positions available. Please scroll down.

Seeking a Graduate Student Reader for multiple upper-division American Studies classes with enrollments of 45 or more, including:
 
• American Studies 101: James Baldwin’s America, 1953–1974 (position filled)
• American Studies C111E/English C136: Culture and Society in Classical Hollywood Cinema (position filled)
• American Studies 102AC: Wilderness and Civilization: Nature, Culture, and the American Zoo (position filled)
• American Studies 110: Classical Music and American Mass Culture between the World Wars
 
Full descriptions of these classes can be found here.
 
Duties: Reading, assigning grades, and providing feedback for course assignments, papers, and/or exams (assignment number and type will vary according to course; please contact the instructor for more details).
 
Qualifications: No prior knowledge of the subject matters is required, however, an ideal candidate will demonstrate familiarity with the interdisciplinary subjects that span the humanities and the social sciences.
 
To be considered, please send an email with:
 
• Short explanation of your qualifications and interests, including your educational background or program, and why you want to assist with this course;
• A brief CV or Resume;
• Contact information for 1–2 references, e.g., a past professor, a thesis advisor, or an instructor for whom you previously served as a GSI or reader;
 
Emails should be directed to Laura Spautz, American Studies SAA, at: lspautz@berkeley.edu
 

American Studies 10–  Los Angeles on the Move: Art, Technology, and the City

Seeking a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for American Studies 10–  Los Angeles on the Move: Art, Technology, and the City– a lecture-based course that introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of American cultures by focusing on Los Angeles as a physical place as well as a cultural idea. A full description of the last version of this course can be found here.

GSI will be responsible for leading 1-2 discussion sections per week, plus other duties, which includes but is not limited to:

  • Lecture attendance
  • Readings
  • 1-2 hours of office hours per week
  • Record keeping
  • Reading and grading of three assignments and two exams
  • Occasional consultation meetings with the instructor

Qualifications: No prior knowledge of Los Angeles is required, however, an ideal candidate will demonstrate familiarity with the interdisciplinary subjects that span the humanities and the social sciences. A strong preference will be given to candidates with a working knowledge of geographic methods, historical methods (e.g. archival research), anthropology, art history, media history or criticism (such as of photography and film), or working knowledge of professional fields such as architecture, city planning, and landscape architecture. Prior teaching experience is not required, but is welcome.

To be considered, please send an email with:

  • Short explanation of your qualifications and interests, including your educational background or program, and why you want to teach for this course;
  • A brief CV or Resume;
  • Contact information for 1-2 references, e.g. a past professor, a thesis advisor, or an instructor for whom you previously served as a TA or reader;

Emails should be directed to Laura Spautz, American Studies SAA, at: lspautz@berkeley.edu

Review of applications will begin November 1 and continue until a candidate is selected.

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