DSC Tutors

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General Information

The Data Science undergraduate program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to experience an introduction to practical teaching under the supervision of course instructors through the DSC Tutor program. Becoming a DSC Tutor can help deepen your understanding of course material and build your professional skills. Tutoring is also a great way to prepare for jobs and internships post-graduation, and DSC Tutors often form connections with course instructors, TAs, and other tutors, which can lead to further opportunities.

Tutors will receive a fixed hourly appointment in their contract. Tutors are expected to work this many hours per week, on average, throughout the quarter, including finals week. Hourly appointments typically range between 5 and 10 hours per week, depending on course needs and instructor discretion.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must:

  • Be a registered UCSD student with all fees paid
  • Have completed at least two quarters at UCSD by the application quarter
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Enroll in DSC 95, the training course for first-time Tutors
    • If your first quarter of tutoring is in the Summer, you will need to enroll in DSC 95 the next time you are a Tutor during the academic year
  • Be on campus to work from the start of the quarter to when grades are finalized

Note: Students cannot be a Tutor for a course that they are currently enrolled in. Most applicants are former students of the course(s) to which they apply to tutor. Students do not need to be a DSC major or minor to be a DSC Tutor.

Application Information

The application form will ask for your resume, teaching experience, and an explanation of why you’d like to be a Tutor. It is optional but strongly recommended that you submit a link to a video of a short teaching demonstration along with your application. Application timelines vary per quarter.

Note: While you might make informal arrangements with a course instructor, only DSC Student Affairs – NOT the course instructor – can send official job offers.

Tips for Applicants

When selecting Tutors, instructors are looking for applicants who:

  • Were active participants as students
  • Have strong grades, though this is not the only factor
  • Are enthusiastic about the course material
  • Convey a passion for teaching in their application 

There are many more applicants than available Tutor positions. If you don’t get a position the first time you apply, please keep trying!

Please contact us through the Virtual Advising Center if you have any questions or concerns.

SPRING 2026 application priority deadline is Sunday, February 8  at 11:59 pm (PST).

SPRING 26 TUTOR APPLICATION

SP26 Tutor Application Information

Dear Students,

If you wish to apply for a Tutor position for the Spring quarter, you will be able to do so through our online Tutor applications listed at the bottom of this email. Below, you will find information about eligibility and requirements to help you decide whether you wish to apply to become a tutor. Please read this information carefully. Questions that have already been answered in this email will not be responded to so keep this document for reference.

Process and timeline: Students should apply to tutor by February 8, 2026. While students can apply after this deadline, instructors begin to mark their hiring preferences for tutors after the priority deadline. The department then assigns tutors to classes and begins sending out the official appointment offers until all positions are filled. Students must accept or decline the offer by the date given in the appointment letter. 

SPRING 2026 application priority deadline is Sunday, February 8  at 11:59 pm (PST).

To qualify, you must:

  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Have completed at least two quarters at UCSD by the start of the quarter for which they are applying
  • Earned a minimum grade of B or higher in course (or its equivalent), although those selected often have a higher grade.
  • Be a registered UCSD student with fees paid.
  • For first time tutors: Must enroll in DSC 95. 
  • Be on campus to work from March 25 – June 12, 2026.

Additional Info:

  • Please do NOT apply for a Tutor position unless you will be available to fulfill tutor duties from March 25 – June 12 (the official start of the quarter through the day grades are due). Your Tutor contract is contingent upon your ability to work for the duration of this time. This is strictly enforced and your contract will be revoked if you are not available during this time.
  • Advisors or course instructors often encourage students to apply to tutor for a specific course, but this is not a job offer.  ONLY the department makes the official job offer through the IA System.  
  • While the department is the only entity that can make the official job offer, we rely heavily on the input of faculty since they are the experts in their subject. We are not qualified to decide who has the right knowledge and skill set to tutor any specific course.
  • You should not start preparing to tutor for a course until you have received an official appointment letter from the department and accepted the position.  
  • The Tutor application is for submitting requests only.  We will make every effort to accommodate requests, but there is no guarantee you will be given a tutor position or that you will be assigned to tutor one of your preferred courses.
  • We do NOT know that enrollments will be high enough to warrant tutors in all of the classes listed on the application. In other words, just because a course is listed as an option does not mean that a tutor will be assigned to it.
  • Students may not be a Tutor for courses in which they are currently enrolled.
  • Tutors must complete DSC 95 (Tutor Apprenticeship in Data Science) with a grade of P concurrently with their first tutor position. We will approve first-time tutors to add DSC 95 after they have accepted their tutor assignment in the IA System. The goal of DSC 95 is to give you the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective and successful tutor.
  • Tutors may be asked to attend lectures, lead discussion or lab sections, and proctor midterm and final exams. You should be available to do so for any classes you mark as tutor preferences. Some courses may require in-person assignments, more info will be sent out soon.
  • We will assign you to tutor a course only if you already have a solid command of the material to be taught in the course.  In other words, only request to tutor a class if you have taken the equivalent course or have comparable other experience. For information about our DSC courses, please see the Undergraduate Course website.
  • The 2025-2026 compensation for a Tutor is detailed here.

DSC Department Application Links

To apply for a DSC Tutor position, please visit: https://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/Modules/ASES/Apply.aspx?cid=6345