Most holders of graduate degrees in mathematics eventually teach in
one way or another. Moreover, some experience with classroom teaching
is useful in almost any mathematical career.
The Department accordingly requires that each PhD student be responsible,
under supervision, for teaching at least one undergraduate class for
a semester. Since this responsibility may be preceded
by teaching experience of a less autonomous kind (grading papers,
assisting teachers in other ways,
conducting help sessions, etc.), every graduate student
should have at least one year of teaching experience in the broad sense.
The total experience may be considered an apprenticeship in
teaching and should be treated as seriously and responsibly
as any other part of the student's program.
The terms of many fellowships, traineeships, and other forms of graduate student support permit participation in teaching programs where required. If a student holds a grant which does not permit such participation, then the student will need to combine the period of the grant with at least a year on terms permitting teaching, e.g., as a teaching assistant. This may mean holding the grant for less than the normal period.
The week before the student's first Fall semester in the graduate program, the student should enroll for one hour of Math 500. This will represent participation in a proseminar, meeting under the direction of an experienced faculty member and devoted to the teaching of mathematics.