The teaching requirement does not apply to grandfathered CVN-DES students. Unless otherwise stated, all doctoral program requirements apply equally to PhD, MS/PhD and other DES students.

TEACHING REQUIREMENT

Success as a Computer Scientist depends not only on the ability to generate and explore new ideas but also on the ability to communicate those ideas effectively. For this reason, all students are required to develop and exercise presentation and teaching skills as part of their education. Special arrangements may be made for students funded through fellowships within the constraints of their program. However, the teaching requirement is indeed a requirement, never waived, regardless of funding source, including self-supported or employer-supported students.

TEACHING UNITS

Students are required to complete two (2) teaching units in regular on-campus academic-year courses while formally enrolled in the doctoral program. Teaching or TAing at an unaffiliated institution or unaffiliated Columbia department does not qualify towards satisfying the teaching requirement.  Paid (compensated) teaching or TAing does not count towards the teaching requirement.

There are several options for accumulating teaching units:

1. Serving as a teaching assistant. TAs for a given course offering may be granted 1/2, 1 or 2 teaching units depending on course enrollment, workload, and other factors determined by the IA Chair. 
2. Serving as the instructor for a 1-point or 1.5-point course, which counts as one (1) teaching unit.
3. Serving as the instructor for a 3-point or 4-point course, which counts as two (2) teaching units.

Serving as a teaching assistant is the default.  All instructor assignments must be approved by the Academic Committee Chair. 

FUNDING FOR TEACHING OR TAING

MS/PhD and PhD students (not DES students) may be funded for one semester by the department, either the last semester in which they complete the final unit(s) of the teaching requirement or during a later semester, even though the student may not be teaching or TAing during that later semester.  The timing of the departmental funding is determined by the advisor and cannot be requested by the student.   Both teaching units must be completed in courses offered by the department, where the department is responsible for hiring instruction assistants, to qualify for this funding.   This departmental funding is offered instead of GRA or fellowship funding, not in addition.   The stipend, tuition and fees are identical to GRAs

ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC YEAR TEACHING/TAING

After completing the mandatory teaching requirement, students making satisfactory progress, and with advisor approval, may apply for paid (compensated) instructor or instruction assistant (IA) positions when available.  All instructor assignments must be approved by the Academic Committee Chair.  IA assignments are made by the IA Chair. 

SUMMER TEACHING/TAING

In addition to and independent of the teaching requirement, students may voluntarily elect to serve as instructors or TAs for summer courses offered by the department. The courses offered and payscale vary from year to year. Note that summer teaching or TAing does not count towards satisfying the teaching requirement. 

Last updated on November 10, 2025.