Could I become a professor in college without ever teaching anywhere else, like in elementary or high school?

Question

I really love history, and sometimes I just sit with a bunch of my high school peers and give them lessons on history, mainly on the power of women throughout history, and they love it. I would love to just teach people about history for a living because I love it so much and I love learning about it and reading about what has happened long ago, but I cannot stand people who don't want to learn, which you really only get in elementary and high schools. If I were to be a teacher, I would only want to be a professor at a college. I was just wondering if it's possible to jump straight into being a professor, or if you HAVE to teach lower grades first?

btw: I have a 4.0 in high school right now, and iI've got a university that will accept me and give me some scholarhips (not enough to pay all of it, but enough to afford college), so the amount of schooling I'd have to go through wouldn't be a problem.

Answer 1

There is very little connection between teaching K-12 and teaching in a post-secondary situation. Very few professors (outside the Faculty of Education) ever teach K-12.

In order to teach History in a university or college, you would need Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees in History. That is eight years of post-secondary (four, two and two), but unless you're really, really rich you would need to take some time between each degree to work and earn money. You would also need to have several articles published in academic journals, and you would need to continue researching and publishing throughout your career.

Once you have a PhD you'll start as an "Instructor" who gets paid very little (like, $30,000 annually) and has crappy classes and a bad schedule. Then, you work your way up to Associate Professor and Professor. The more you publish research and present at conferences, the faster you'll advance. Once you're a full professor you can earn upwards of $100,000 annually.

Answer 2

You don't have to know anything about teaching or have any experience teaching to become a college or university professor (sad, but true). What you DO need is an advanced degree. If you just want to teach part time, you'll need at least a master's degree. If you want to teach full-time, you need a Ph.D. Whether or not you need to be published or anything depends on exactly where you want to teach - some institutions are strictly teaching institutions, where you just teach and you aren't expected to do any research. At others, doing research is more important than teaching.

I'm a college physics professor, and I love it! I have friends who teach in K-12, I could never do it though! I know from experience that I can't handle behavior problems. And in college, the kids who don't want to be there just don't show up and don't do any work, so you don't have to worry about them!

Answer 3

No you don't have to teach the younger grades first. It's like a completely different career. If you actually want to be a professor you need to get your doctorate in history first then you can teach. Or you can get a masters in teaching and a minor in history then you can teach at the college level, but you'll be an adjunct professor, not a Dr.

Answer 4

You need a graduate degree to teach at the college level. PhD preferred (pretty much required) at the big 4 yr universities.

College professors normally don't work their way up the system. They don't start off at elementary, move to jr. high, then high school, and finally college. They usually start straight off in college.

However, they usually have prior teaching experience. That's because they likely taught while they were grad students. They're cheap labor for colleges as grad students. Teach as student TA's, etc. Often times, they're required to teach some undergrad classes as part of their grad program.

Answer 5

Yes, you could. All you need (in Texas) to teach on the college level is a Masters degree in that subject or, if you have a doctorate, 30 graduate hours in the subject you want to teach no matter what your doctorate is in.

You would have to go to school for a bit, do some internal research, but you could do it.

Answer 6

Sure, you can teach at some colleges when you have a Master's, and all colleges when you have a PhD. While you're at school, volunteer to be a professor's assistant so that you can get experience in the classroom.

Answer 7

In the US, you can become a university professor by getting your PhD and being published. You don't have to teach lower grades first.

Answer 8

Here in California you can teach at the community college level, at least, with only a BA degree, four years, and you do not have to pass the CBEST, as you would to teach in K-12, or deal with behavior issues and classroom management. You do not have to teach in the lower grades to do this.

Answer 9

containing hatred, and bottling up emotions is not good for your health. You can forgive them, but by doing so can you trust them again? I would forgive them, but let them know that their trust needs to be earned once again. Let them know how you feel, and that if you believe in second chances that this is their time to prove they can be a better person. However, you only allow second chances, remind them that this is their last chance as you will not be taken as a fool for a third time. Though, if you decide not to regain their friendship then still forgive them within yourself. Let go of the hatred, and move on. Forgiving them doesn't necessarily mean you are friends or even talking again. It just means you know who to trust in life, and who are the ones that betrayed you.

Answer 10

Yes, you can make that leap if you have a Phd in History.