Learning Assistant (LA) Program
Research shows that YOU have the abilities and talents to help your peers!
What are Learning Assistants?
Learning assistants are high-performing students who have done well in a class and would like to help the instructor come up with active learning strategies.
As an LA you would:
- Meet with the instructor for whom you are an LA once a week to develop learning activities
- Attend class once a week (the time may vary depending on the needs of the faculty member) to implement those activities
- Potentially hold office hours to help students one-on-one
- Take an LA class (pedagogy class) with Dr. Parizi-Robinson
Who can be a Learning Assistant?
LA candidates typically:
- Have a passion for certain topic
- Enjoy collaborating with a certain instructor
- Like interacting with students in small groups
- Are Biology Majors
Requirements:
- 3.0 or better in selected course
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Sophomore or higher classification
- Priority is given to Biology Majors but being a Biology Major is not a requirement
- Time commitment of 3-4 hours a week
Policies:
- All LAs must read the registration policies before enrollment.
- As a 3rd (and beyond) semester LA, you have 1 of 2 options:
- Option 1: You can receive 1 hour of general advanced credit. Please fill out the document below.
- These forms are processed through several departments. Please follow the instructions below before you submit to Dr. Parizi-Robinson, Biology majors only.
- Non-BIO majors - Send degree audit petition to your major's Undergraduate Program Director for a signature.
- Must include the COURSE CRN, where noted in the details box, as it tells us WHICH section of 3111 to give credit for.
- The registration petition requires GPA near the bottom.
- Save the document by adding your name in the file name. This helps with identification of the students petition when being processed through several Baylor offices.
- Option 2: You can be paid as an LA based on the available budget. (Please discuss this option with your financial aid advisor prior to pursuing.)
Benefits of having Learning Assistants?
Benefits of being an LA
- Teaching experience
- Deeper understanding of subject matter
- Review of subject matter for those testing for graduate or medical school
Benefits to other students:
- Students learn better from their peers, in part because they are more comfortable asking their peers questions
- The smaller group size allows for more opportunities for questions
- Varied instruction will benefit students with different learning styles
Contact Us
Dr. Mojgan Parizi-Robinson
Lecturer in Biology
BSB A.226
(254) 710-2569