Become a Content Tutor

We hire new Content Tutors each summer for positions beginning in the fall. When applications open, students can find our Content Tutor job posting through the UC San Diego Instructional Assistant Employment portal.

After submitting an application, selected applicants may be invited to participate in an interview. Students who are offered a position will then complete the required hiring, onboarding, and training process before beginning their tutoring responsibilities.

We are always interested in hearing from students who would like to become Content Tutors! While we typically hire once each summer, our hiring timeline and staffing needs may vary from year to year.

If applications are not currently open, we encourage you to complete our Employment Interest Form. By completing the form, you can let us know that you're interested in becoming a Content Tutor, and we will notify you when applications open for future positions.

Content Tutors must:

• Be a UC San Diego undergraduate student and remain enrolled as an undergraduate while working as a Content Tutor.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Have successfully completed the courses they would tutor with a grade of B or better.
• Be able to commit to working as a Content Tutor for at least one academic year.
• Have sufficient availability to meet the program's scheduling needs.

Because Content Tutors are hired by subject area, applicants should be prepared to support multiple courses within their subject area. For example, a Chemistry tutor should ideally be able to support the majority of the General Chemistry sequence (CHEM 6A–C) and Organic Chemistry sequence(s) (CHEM 41A-C or CHEM 40A/B), while a Physics tutor should be able to support courses across the PHYS 1 and PHYS 2 sequences.

Content Tutors work alongside students to help them strengthen their understanding of course material and develop effective learning strategies.

During tutoring sessions, tutors may:

• Guide students through practice problems and challenging concepts.
• Ask questions that encourage students to explain their thinking.
• Help students identify where they are getting stuck and develop strategies for approaching similar problems.
• Provide course-specific strategies, examples, and tips.
• Create a collaborative learning environment that encourages students to actively participate in their learning.

Content Tutors are not expected to simply provide answers. Instead, they help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to approach course material independently.

Content Tutors are expected to work approximately 10 hours per week. This generally includes:

• 8 hours of tutoring
• Approximately 2 hours of administrative tasks, meetings, training, or other program responsibilities, as needed

Schedules are created based on program needs and tutor availability.

We look for students who are passionate about supporting their peers, empathetic to different learning experiences, and excited to grow as educators.

Strong applicants demonstrate:

• The ability to communicate clearly and listen effectively.
• A willingness to ask questions and guide others rather than simply provide answers.
• An understanding that students learn in different ways and may need different types of support.
• Enthusiasm for helping peers learn and develop confidence.
• Thoughtful reflection on their own experiences as a learner.
• The ability to support multiple courses within their subject area.

Being able to support a broad range of courses is especially valuable because it allows us to provide more consistent coverage throughout our hours of operation and gives us greater flexibility when scheduling tutors.

Content Tutors participate in ongoing training and professional development throughout the academic year. Our training is informed by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and focuses on developing effective peer educators who can support students through collaborative, inclusive, and active learning practices.

Training does not end when you are hired. We work alongside our tutors throughout the year to help them develop their tutoring skills, feel prepared to support students, and continue growing as peer educators.

Tutors also have opportunities to receive ongoing support, feedback, and professional development throughout their time with the program.