English-Speaking Proficiency of Graduate Teaching Assistants
The student whose primary language is not English should have demonstrated proficiency in English as mandated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. International students must demonstrate English speaking proficiency through one of the following in order to hold a graduate teaching assistantship.
- A score of 26 or higher on the TOEFL iBT speaking section
- A score of 7.5 or higher on the IELTS Speaking Test
- A score of 53 or above on the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
- A score of 4 or higher on the MELAB Speaking Test
International graduate students seeking a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) must demonstrate English speaking proficiency through one of the following in order to hold a graduate teaching assistantship:
- Present a Test of Spoken English (TSE) score of 50 or higher
- An equivalent score of 26 or higher on the Spoken English portion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) administered by Educational Testing Service, or,
- A score of 53 or above on the Pearson Test of English Academic, unless that person is an American citizen or is an international student from a country that is exempt from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirements.
If the exams are not administered in a student’s own country, the student must take one of them upon arrival in the United States. A Graduate Teaching Assistantship cannot be awarded to that student until the University receives an official report showing the required minimum exam scores. Departments or components have the option to require additional standards for communication skills from graduate students in their programs seeking a Graduate Teaching Assistantship. Further, each department or component will develop a standards policy regarding communication skills, which includes a satisfactory performance on the TSE, TOEFL iBT Spoken English test, PTE, or in a personal interview, for lab assistants and research assistants.
International students must also follow the guidelines of International Student and Scholar Services.
