Teaching Assistantships 

In addition to their own studies and research, students in the PhD program gain valuable pedagogical experience by serving as teaching assistants under a variety of faculty mentors. Students work with a range of department instructors in order to witness different styles of teaching and methods of course organization across a range of subject areas and historical periods. Benefits of working as a teaching assistant include:

• Close collaboration with and mentoring from professors in the department
• Building confidence in leading discussions and teaching classes independently
• Preparing the graduate student for the experience of designing and teaching his or her own course
• Learning the principles, practicalities, and rigors of evaluating and grading student work
• Gaining experience in mentoring and tutoring undergrads; building greater familiarity with subjects within one’s own area of expertise and gaining a broader exposure to unfamiliar subject areas.

Instructors supervising TAs commit to mentoring their TAs in these areas, including providing constructive feedback and evaluation of their performance.  

Students are eligible for assignment as either a teaching assistant or a research assistant at the discretion of the department in five of the ten semesters during which they receive university sponsored fellowship funding.  To obtain academic credit, students will enroll in a specially designated course for each teaching assistantship or research assistantship they are assigned. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more information. 

Opportunities for Teaching at JHU 

The university offers several opportunities for advanced graduate students to develop and teach their own courses: 

• Dean’s Teaching Fellowships (only ABD students, with permission from the department, may apply for this). 
• JHU Intersession Courses / January Term and Summer Sessions (Interested students must first consult with their adviser and obtain permission from the Department Chair) 
• The University Writing Program (ABD only; administered through the English Department) 

Museum Internships and Research Fellowships 

History of Art collaborates with the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art to support several museum fellowships: 

• Robert and Nancy Hall Internship is offered each academic year to enable a JHU History of Art PhD student to serve as a curatorial intern during the academic year. 
• Carlson/Cowart Fellowship in the Department of Prints, Drawings & Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art 
• The Zanvyl Krieger Fellowship at the Walters Art Museum (ABD only)