For example, why do you need a PhD in History or English to teach the Freshman level courses?
2007-01-14 02:51:06 · 6 answers · asked by Emily A 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Technically you don't have to have a PhD to teach freshman level courses. In fact, many, if not most, instructors teaching freshman courses at community colleges do not have PhDs.
What has happened at universities is that the percent of faculty with the highest degree in their field (usually a PhD) has become a statistic that they feel is important and is used to compare universities. So, many, if not most, universities usually require a PhD for all their professors.
2007-01-14 02:57:23 · answer #1 · answered by Patrick 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is really too bad because a person does not need a PhD to effectively teach those classes. I think it is more about the fact that there are too many PhDs around these days.
2007-01-14 05:19:39 · answer #2 · answered by estudiando español 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because a college draws students based on the qualifications of its professors. As a history major, I would be ticked if any of my history classes were not taught by a professor. Plus, there are so many people with advanced degrees in History and English that the colleges can be more selective about who they hire.
Some colleges will let students seeking their masters in math or science teach basic lab classes for the math and science professors. But I think that is just a way for the college to retain math and science professors.
It is all about supply and demand.
2007-01-14 03:08:35 · answer #3 · answered by Mother of flute player 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many colleges and Universities pride themselves on the fact that all their courses are taught by profs with PhDs rather than just a Masters, or 'God Forbid' a Bachelors. It has to do with reputation, and parents (the ones paying for these classes) feeling like they are getting what they paid for. I taught one pass/fail freshman math course several years ago at a University. I had just graduated from that college with my Bachelors and was working on my Masters, but my teaching was a very hush-hush subject. The school prided themselves on only having PhDs teaching, and I was their one exception to the rule.
2007-01-14 03:00:13 · answer #4 · answered by Christine N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Universities do not hire people because of what they can teach -- they hire them because of their ability to do research. New faculty are often given introductory classes to teach because they take less time to prepare -- leaving them time to do more research.
2007-01-14 03:49:35 · answer #5 · answered by Ranto 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because that's the way it works...there is no real answer
2007-01-14 02:55:10 · answer #6 · answered by Ezingo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋