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<p>I’ve actually never heard of this latter thing happening at any research university I’ve ever been associated with, public or private. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen somewhere, but certainly at the better research universities, public and private, TA/GSIs are typically one or more years into a Ph.D. program, whether it’s structured as an M.A. necessary to qualify for the Ph.D., or simply a straight-for-the-Ph.D. track with the Master’s awarded as a consolation prize if the Ph.D. isn’t completed. I’ve never heard of someone in a terminal Masters program being offered a TA/GSI position. Terminal Masters programs are usually operated as cash cows. TA/GSI positions are too valuable as part of the funding package that is needed to attract Ph.D. students to be handed around to terminal Masters candidates.</p>
<p>And UCB is right; there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between what TA/GSIs do at any of the top public research universities, and what they do at the top private research universities. If you find it objectionable to be taught, in part, by graduate students, go to a LAC.</p>