How do i become an on-line college professor?

Question

I know you need a masters to be college professor. But I want to know if any online professors out there can give me some basic guidelines. Thanks.

Answer 1

To teach in any reputable online institution - you will still need a Masters. Significant professional experience in your industry will also be a huge plus.

You should also be very aware of how online education is perceived in the larger context of higher education and employment in general.

It is a swiftly growing industry and many, many, many people are being graduated with many, many, many degrees from online places.

If you would really like to teach online as opposed to onground - do a ton of research on the place you are applying for. Find out if they are accredited, what their student to professor ratio is, how many students they graduate a year with what kinds of degrees. Then - realize that you will be working with students in an extremely fast paced and somewhat impersonal setting. Realize also - that a large amount of your time may be spent dealing with tech issues as opposed to educational issues.

It's not all bad - but you have to be careful.

P.S. - The second link shows you some articles available through the Chronicle of Higher Education. You can't read them unless you have an account online. However - almost every library carries the CHE - you can research the articles there.

Answer 2

I know, for a fact, the University of Phoenix is ACTIVELY recruiting for online professors. They have tons of listings on Monster.com. Yes, a Master's is the BARE MINIMUM to teach college, however, these days more and more people are getting college degrees, which includes advanced college degrees such as a Master's, and a Ph.D., J.D., M.D., or other terminal degree is usually preferred. The more specific your field is, the higher degree you need to teach it.

Good luck!