By University regulations, a Course Assistant must have graduate standing or be a Coterminal student with at least 180 units completed and shown on the undergraduate transcript. CA appointments are not restricted to EE students; students from other departments may apply, but the department does give preference to EE students, because a CA appointment is a form of financial aid. A student with TGR status can be appointed as a CA, but no matter which percent appointment is held, ONLY the TGR fee will be paid. Any units taken will be at the TGR CA's own expense.
In addition, the EE department requires:
- A student to be matriculated at Stanford for 1 quarter before they apply for a CAship. For example, incoming students for Autumn 2024-2025 will be eligible to be a CA for Winter 2024-2025.
- Successful candidates should be in good academic standing (3.8-4.0 GPA)
- Candidates should have taken the course for which they are applying – or a more advanced course in the same subject area – and received an "A" letter grade or better.
Students who have not met all three of the above criteria may be appointed on a case-by-case basis.
Other requirements include providing an unofficial copy of a Stanford transcript with the application, and international students must be screened for English proficiency. (See the How to Apply page for more information.)
Also, it is University policy that a student on full fellowship or 50% time assistantship may work no more than 8 hours per week in addition. (International students on F and J visas may NOT work more than 50% time.)
Students are welcome to try for other appointments while the department considers their TA application. However, once a CA appointment is accepted, the student is expected to fill it. Therefore, that student must withdraw their CA application immediately after receiving other support. The maximum total appointment per quarter is 50%.