Graduate Geologist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Teaching Associate (TA) for the Department of Geological Sciences

Position Overview: The Department of Geological Sciences seeks graduate students as Teaching Associate applicants. Teaching Associates typically are responsible for providing classroom instruction. Eligibility is determined by successful TA eligibility, department eligibility and adequate funding.

The department reserves the right to choose the most qualified candidate for each position and to assign TAs to the courses that are appropriate for the department program and curriculum in any given semester. Due to staff and curriculum changes, courses offered may vary, and no guarantee of employment from semester to semester can be made.

Anticipated Appointment Dates: This position is open until it is filled. If you have applied and no other positions are available, you will be notified.

Fall 2026: August 17, 2026 - December 19, 2026

Spring 2027: January 20, 2027 - May 26, 2027

Hours/Units per week: Students can work up to 20-hours per week

Job Duties may include the following, but will be dependent upon the specific course to which the teaching associate will be assigned, as well as upon the specific needs of the faculty member in charge of the course:

• Instruct and manage the classroom
• Create or implement course design and assignment sequence
• Prepare course materials and classroom activities
• Respond to and evaluate student writing
• Assess student performance, including give course grades
• Assist students outside of class during office hours and by appointment
• Attend TA orientation at the beginning of the semester
• Participate in programmatic assessment procedures 
• Maintain office hours
• Evaluate student work

Qualifications: A candidate for the position of teaching associate in the Department of Geological Sciences must meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. Admission to the Graduate Program in the Department of Geological Sciences, in good academic standing.
2. Enrollment in at least 6-units for the semester or in two courses toward the degree.
3. Demonstrated, satisfactory progress towards the degree.
4. Ability to relate well with others within the academic environment and have the ability or potential to learn how to instruct and evaluate students.
5. Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with faculty, staff and students from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Application Procedures: 

The review of applications will begin immediately for a Fall 2026 start date.

*For full consideration, the application and all required materials must be submitted and consideration will continue on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

The following documents are required to upload:

1. Current unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate and graduate education.  If you have attended more than one institution, please copy and combine these transcripts into one document.
2. Curriculum Vita, or resume. Your Curriculum Vita, or CV, is the academic equivalent of a resume.  It should contain your contact information, your employment and educational history, skills such as computer programming, familiarity with commonly used computer programs, as well as internships, awards, volunteer service, training and any other experience you have that is relevant to education and a list of three references.
3. List of three references. The online application will request you to enter your three references separate from your C.V. The letters of reference will be requested by the committee. Be prepared to enter the following for each of your three referents:

• First name

• Last name

• Type of reference

• Organization

• Position Title

• Phone Number

• E-mail address

Inquiries: For application inquiries, please email: arathburn@csub.edu

Finalists: may be asked for an interview

Teaching Associates additional information regarding assignment:

The California State University Teaching Associate Classification and Standards

• Evaluations: Please reach out to your supervisor for details. 
• Salary: Each department has different salary scales. Please check with your department for your Base Salary. The monthly salary is calculated based on the Weighted Teaching Units assigned. 
• Salary Schedule: The CSU Salary Schedule can be found here (Class Code = 2354 for Teaching Associates).
• Assignments: Assignments are made by Department Chair or Program Coordinator after consultation with the teaching associate.
• Duties Form: Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Unit 11, a Duties Form (see Appendix E of the CBA) will be completed between the Department and Academic Student Employee. This form substantiates the jobs included for the department teaching associate position.
• Teaching Associate is a student position for those actively enrolled in a graduate program at Fresno State. 
• Students are limited to 20-hours of part-time work on campus.

About the Department: The Department of Geological Sciences team consists of 7 tenured/tenure-track faculty, several part-time lecturers, a technician, an Administrative Support Coordinator and student assistants. We offer BA, BS and MS Degrees in Geology, a minor in Geology, and a BS in Environmental Science. With a focus on experiential learning, the team prepares undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary for diverse and exciting geoscience and environmental science careers. Our program also offers a diverse array of engaging general education lecture courses and laboratories for non-majors. Beyond the classroom, the geology team has a strong community engagement program and faculty work closely with research students to solve Earth and Environmental system problems relevant to Kern County, throughout the state of California, and beyond. For more information, visit https://www.csub.edu/geology/.

About the Campus: CSU Bakersfield, founded in 1970, is a regional, comprehensive university serving the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. CSU Bakersfield's service area covers nearly 25,000 square miles and is home to a socially and ethnically diverse population of over 11,000 students. CSU Bakersfield is the only four-year degree granting institution within a 100-mile radius. Due to this, CSU Bakersfield has a vital role in educational obtainment, economic development, and quality of life within the region.

The accolades CSU Bakersfield has received include Third Way's #9 Most Economic Mobility Index (2023), Washington Monthly's #10 Best Bang for the Buck for Western Colleges and #11 Best Master's University (2023), and US News and World Report's #16 Top Public School in the West (2023).

CSU Bakersfield serves 9,800 undergraduate students and 1,400 graduate, credential, and post-baccalaureate students.  63.5% of CSU Bakersfield's students are Hispanic/Latinx, 21.5% are Caucasian, 7.1% are Asian, 4.9% are African-American, 2.3% are multiracial, 0.5% are American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 0.2% are Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.  CSU Bakersfield is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). 

Clery Act: CSUB's annual crime report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus centers, such as our Antelope Valley Satellite Campus, and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from CSUB. The report also includes policies concerning security on campus, such as alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, reporting crimes, sexual assault, and other subjects. Additionally, a daily log of offenses is maintained and can be reviewed at the front desk of the Department of Public Safety. You can obtain a copy of the annual report by contacting the Department of Public Safety/University Police at (661) 654-2111 or by logging on to their website at: https://www.csub.edu/compliance/Clery.

EEO Statement: All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CSUB provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.

CSUB complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

CSUB is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At CSUB, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.