I am considering becoming a college professor, What do should I know before making this decision?

Answer 1

Getting tenure is going to be hell... a lot of people want to be tenure professors and don't make it. One of of my professors was recently telling horror stories about a few of his friends that made the classic mistake of making controversial statements before they were offered tenure and they ended up never making it. It will take many years of work, but if/when you get it you'll never have to worry about job security and you'll be making a very comfortable living. And, of course, it's a very rewarding profession.

I put a great link in sources that is a 6-step explanation of how to become a college prof. You should definitely check it out.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

I would highly encourage you to talk with some professors in the subject you are considering teaching. If you are still in college, locate several and make appointments to visit and talk. Be upfront with why you want to speak with them.. set a time/day and how long you will meet. (Hi, I'm xxxxx, I'm considering teaching college as a possible career. Would you have 30 minutes that you could answer some of my questions?)

Be on time, ask appropriate questions, leave in a timely manner and send a "thank you" note.

Professorships at large universities will require different job duties than say professorships at a community college. Try to visit both.... then decide!

Answer 3

It all depends on what you want to teach, and whether or not you want to do research. You need at least a master's degree to teach at any college (even a community college). To get tenure, you need a "terminal" degree, which in most fields is a doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.) Some fields don't have doctorates, in which case a master's degree is the terminal degree (i.e., the highest degree you can get in that field). At most schools, you can only teach full-time for a few years before you get tenure. And if you don't get tenure, you get fired.

There are teaching schools and there are research schools. If you only want to teach and you don't want to do any research, go to a teaching school (often these are state colleges - no graduate program - as opposed to universities). There you will be expected to teach a full load of classes every semester (often 12 credits). The school might encourage you to do research, but you will have to do it on your own time, in addition to teaching. You don't have to do any research in order to get tenure, and you can probably get tenure sooner than you can at a research institution (6 or 7 years, as opposed to 10 years or more).

Most research institutions are "publish or perish" - in other words, if you don't publish several papers, you won't get tenure, no matter how good you are at teaching. Typically you would teach fewer courses (maybe just one or two) and be expected to spend a lot of time doing research.

Where you get your doctorate from is only important if you want to teach at a school like Harvard. In fact, I've heard (and it may just be a rumor) that if you are hired at Harvard without tenure, you will never get tenure there. Most schools are NOT like that.

Many state colleges and universities are slowly doing away with tenure or eroding the power of tenure. Some private schools are following suit. Also, many state legislatures are poking their noses into how state college and university (and community college) professors teach, some are even requiring mandatory standardized testing. At the very least, the law makers are demanding to have proof that students are "learning" in higher education. There are positives and negatives to this.

Answer 4

First decide what type of school you want to teach at and what you want to teach. If you want to teach at a top level university you will need to get a phD and do a lot of research before you start even looking for a job teaching. If you want to teach at a school that only offers AS degrees a BS in the field and some professional experience will help you get that job. A small university may even take you if you have a Master's degree with at least 18 units in the field you wish to teach.

Answer 5

1. You need to get a PhD

2. It helps if you get your PhD from a top school.

3. Some fields are extremely difficult to break into -- Math and Physics are hiring a lot of experienced people from former Communist countries, and ignoring rookies.

4. In some fields you may have to do a Post-Doc before you can get a job.

5. Your ability to teach is completely irrelevant.

6. Your ability to do research that can be published in top journals is the only thing that matters. The pressure to publish is incredible.

7. If you can do it -- it is a great life.

Answer 6

no longer at my college. maximum professors in basic terms say, "The examination is on chapters 12-30 and the lectures/powerpoints" or besides the fact that. i understand I quite have a professor next semester that supplies super learn courses. it quite relies upon on the professors, yet a majority do no longer make learn courses. in particular, I in basic terms get in basic terms a sprint paper that announces what the examination covers. each so often, i visit get in basic terms a sprint paper with the essays which would be on the examination.

Answer 7

colleges require at least a masters degree to teach. thats about all I know.

Answer 8

Well, a great deal about the subject you are going to profess would be a good start.

What else do you need to know?

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