The Department of Middle East Studies seeks Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) for the Winter 2026 semester. These positions may range from .25 to .50, and as posted, are subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550. 

Applicants must complete the following steps to be considered:

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached and uploaded as the first page of your CV/resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position(s) [Courses interested in] and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to this position. 

If you have held a GSI position at U-M please attached the summary sheets of the E&E evaluations for all courses previously taught. This information should be uploaded to a single document combined with your cover letter and resume/CV. If you have trouble including evaluations, you may email the evaluations only to our Student Services Team at mes-gradservices@umich.edu.

Graduate Student Instructor positions are only open to current or matriculating University of Michigan graduate students. 

In addition to applying on careers.umich.edu, applicants must also complete our External GSI form: http://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/Apply/2308  

Questions may be directed to mes-gradservices@umich.edu   
 

Graduate Student Instructor, Middle East Studies, Winter 2026

The Department of Middle East Studies is currently accepting applications for up to four (4) Winter 2026 semester GSI available positions in the following courses: 

ARABIC 102: Elementary Arabic II and/or ARABIC 202: Intermediate Arabic II

MIDEAST 315: Introduction to Arab Culture (ULWR)
 

Course descriptions and additional course information for each course can be found on the LSA Course Guide: www.lsa.umich.edu/cg.  
 

GSI Positions for Upper-Level Writing Requirement (ULWR) Courses:

Some courses in the department meet as lectures, with and without discussion sections, but have GSI or GSI grader in place to support the course's roles in fulfilling the College of LSA's Upper-Level Writing Requirement (ULWR). ULWR courses require a signification amount of writing and revision, classroom instructions on writing in the discipline, and careful attendance to writing issues when discussing course assignments and in grading and commenting on papers. Duties for GSIs in ULWR courses may include, but are not limited to: attending lecture, leading one to two sections, grading and commenting extensively on papers and exams, and holding office hours to support students in developing their writing skills. First-time GSIs in ULWR courses must also enroll in the Sweetland Center for Writing's WRITING 993: Teaching Writing in the Disciplines, a one-credit seminar, for the winter term. 

GSI Positions for Arabic Language Courses:

GSI assistants in the Arabic Language Program support lecturers in recitation sections that meet three times per week. Position will lead and/or assist one recitation section that meets three times per week. Additional responsibilities include creating lesson plans in consultation with a supervising faculty member, weekly class preparation, keeping accurate grading and attendance records, attending sections and helping with in-class exercises, proctoring quizzes and exams, grading, holding a minimum of two (2) office hours per week, and holding Arabic conversation session. GSIs may be required to regularly attend coordinator meetings with other members of the teaching team and/or staff meetings.

Students who have not previously been a GSI for the College of LSA will be required to attend the online CRLT GSI Teaching Orientation as an online program. 

Students who have not previously been a GSI for the Department of Middle East Studies will also be required to attend an orientation. 

GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the first day of classes. 
 

Previous coursework in Middle East, History, Anthropology or a related discipline relevant to the course content/subject matter.  Students whose undergraduate degree is from an institution where the language of instruction is not English must have already taken or be currently enrolled in the English Language Institute's ELI 994. The student must have a passing score of 4 on the Oral English Test (OET).  

Applicant must be available to attend classes and lead discussions sections that are held on: 

• Applicants should view the LSA Course Guide to see what times lectures and discussion sections are held. Course that have multiple GSIs that teach discussion sections will work as a team to determine which discussion sections each GSI will teach. 

ARABIC: Native or advanced proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic and a spoken variety (preferably Levantine or Egyptian). Interest in language teaching and pedagogy. 

An undergraduate major or minor in history or social sciences, preferably focused on Middle Eastern History or Politics. Enrollment in a graduate program focused on History, Anthropology, Political Science or Middle East Studies, or Comparative Literature is helpful, as well as previous experience in higher education instruction. Some knowledge of Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Armenian, or Arabic language may prove useful, but is not required. Ability to think creatively about pedagogy is a plus.  

ARABIC: Native or near-native proficiency in Arabic; advanced proficiency in English. Undergraduate degree in Arabic Studies, Arabic Language, Middle Eastern/Near Eastern Studies, Linguistics, or Education. Enrollment in a graduate program focused on Arabic/Arabic studies. Previous experience in higher education instruction, preferably within the Department of Middle East Studies. 

LSA Student enrolled in graduate program.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Contact Student Services Team at mes-gradservices@umich.edu with any questions related to your application. 

All applications will be forwarded to the primary instructor or Language Director. The instructor/director will make a hiring recommendation to the department and a department administrator will then authorize the appointment paperwork. 

All applications will be forwarded to the primary instructor/director of the courses selected. The instructor/director will make a hiring recommendation to the department and a department administrator will then authorize the appointment paperwork. 

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. 
 

The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.

Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.