Graduate Student Employment

In the coming academic year, the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies hopes to make the following appointments. This projection is not a guarantee of the number of Academic Student Employee (ASE) positions that will be available or filled.

The Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies abides by University non-discrimination in employment regulations. Within the limits imposed by law or University regulations, the University shall not discriminate against or harass any ASE on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, HIV status, status as a covered veteran, age, citizenship, political affiliation, and union activity.


Please Note:

  • Our Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments are filled by Performance Studies Ph.D. students. We do not have openings for students from other campus departments.
  • Our ability to fund all of our students depends on the students’ commitments to the department and to our program. By accepting the offer of funding and responding to our request for teaching preferences, you become an important part of how we educate our undergraduate students. We will provide you with training, support, and supervision to fulfill this important role and prepare for future careers. At the same time, you are expected to participate fully in this reciprocal agreement, communicate proactively about your circumstances, and fulfill your teaching commitments.
  • For more information about GSI appointments, please reference the Graduate Division website
  • To be considered for any of the GSI positions listed below or others that may become available, Performance Studies students must respond to the Department Chair’s request for applications and complete the on-line form each year with information about teaching preferences, past experience, and pedagogy classes.
  • Every GSI must successfully complete Theater 375, the required pedagogy class, prior to the first term as a GSI (Fall, Spring, or Summer).
  • Every GSI in the Graduate Group in Performance Studies must be appointed at Step 1.0 for the initial appointment, despite past teaching experience. After one semester of teaching at Cal, a graduate student may be considered for early advancement to Step 2.0 based on prior post-baccalaureate teaching experience; although candidates may have taught in a variety of circumstances, for the purposes of early advancement we understand 'post baccalaureate teaching' to mean teaching in an accredited two- or four- year college, in a program that leads to a degree. For the Department to make this recommendation, the previous teaching must be in an area that conforms to the GSI teaching opportunities offered in the Department: Two years of total teaching experience are required for early advancement to Step 2.0; one semester of this experience includes the first semester teaching at Cal.
  • A graduate student petitioning for early advancement to Step 2.0 should supply two letters of recommendation: one from GSI supervisor at Cal and one from a supervisor from prior teaching experience. The petitioner should supply a syllabus for each course taught (that is, a syllabus for each semester of teaching, even if the course is repeated). The syllabus should give some idea of the nature of the material covered, assignments, etc. It would also be helpful to know the number of students in the course. If the petition is being made partly on the basis of serving as a discussion-section leader, please supply as much information as you can about the course structure, and the material covered in the discussion sections.


Anticipated Appointments

Theater 1A-1B

Performance: Writing and Research

Three hours of class meeting per week. GSI designs syllabus for a course in reading and composition in connection with the study of dramatic literature; course sections are supervised by faculty coordinator. Course fulfills undergraduate reading and composition requirement. Duties include meeting all class meetings, designing and executing syllabus, assigning and grading writing assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Theater 25AC

The Drama of American Cultures: An Introduction to Our Theater

Three hours of class lecture per week plus discussion sections. GSI attends lectures and teaches two additional discussion sections (1 hour each). Course addresses issues of cultural identity through the study of diverse traditions of American theater. Duties include attending lecture, meeting section meetings, executing syllabus, assigning and grading writing assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Theater 26

Introduction to Performance Studies

Three hours of class meeting per week plus discussion sections. GSI attends lectures and teaches two additional discussion sections (1 hour each). Course raises issues of broad relevance to the fields of theater, dance, and performance studies. Applicants are expected to have a basic grounding in Western and non-Western theater and dance as well as a familiarity with different disciplinary traditions in performance theory. Duties include adapting basic syllabus; executing syllabus; developing, assigning and grading writing assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Theater 52AC

Dance in American Cultures

Three hours of class lecture per week plus discussion sections. GSI attends lectures and teaches two additional discussion sections (1 hour each). Course addresses issues of cultural identity through the study of diverse traditions of American dance. Duties include attending lecture, meeting section meetings, executing syllabus, assigning and grading writing assignments, quizzes, and exams.