Choosing to become a faculty member is a significant life decision. For some people, becoming a professor at a higher education institution has always been their dream. Others gain interest when they are about to complete their doctoral studies. Regardless of your situation, it helps to know what it takes.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn about the many responsibilities professors have. You’ll also learn about the different types of professors, what to consider when making a decision about whether to pursue this path, and the basic requirements for becoming a professor.
A professor is a scholar and a teacher in a higher education institution with an academic appointment. Professors are responsible for researching and educating students in their respective areas of study. Typically, they deliver lectures, lead seminars, and supervise students’ research projects. There may also be administrative responsibilities, such as student guidance and support, committee work, communal support, and other professional and academic contributions.
Professors are experts in their fields of practice and usually have their doctorates or terminal degrees, along with track records of academic and professional publications and achievements. This allows them to contribute a wealth of knowledge to the academic and professional community. The responsibilities of being a professor are challenging and rewarding, making the role attractive to many.
Professors have many responsibilities, some of which are assigned depending on the institutions involved and the particular skills of the professors. Some typical roles include:
Knowing the difference between adjunct and tenured professors is essential if you are on the journey of becoming faculty. Let’s break this down:
Adjunct professors or instructors work for higher education institutions on a contractual basis, so they are often called non-tenure-track positions. They work on short-term contracts, may have little job security outside those agreements, and may also receive less pay than tenured professors — however, adjuncting offers great flexibility, especially for those who want to continue to progress in their career outside academia.
A tenured professor holds a full-time position with high job security at a higher education institution. Tenure helps professors avoid political interferences or biased, industry-influenced research. Their appointment allows them to perform their functions independently with a degree of academic freedom.
Tenured professors enter the academic job market after attaining the highest degree in their field — generally a doctorate. The process of getting tenure will generally include the following roles:
There are other types of professors, including:
There are different professor career experiences depending on the institution. However, many professors would agree that it is an intensive, demanding, and rewarding career choice. The profession best suits self-motivating individuals ready to explore challenges in the field. Amidst all these attributes, having a passion and natural inclination to teaching and learning is vital.
Professors spend several hours researching and preparing class materials, and they remain dedicated outside the classroom, where they may engage with the larger academic community and interact with colleagues and students. The life of a professor may be summarized as interactive, impactful, intellectually stimulating, and dynamic, with a supportive environment that facilitates success.
Becoming a professor is challenging but achievable and worthwhile. Surviving in this competitive space requires years of hard work and sacrifice. The following tips should guide you through the journey:
Here are four things to consider when breaking into academia:
There are various factors to consider when selecting a higher education institution, including the following:
These factors are relevant when choosing faculty positions because that’s where you may be working for several years. You want to serve at an institution where you’re satisfied and motivated to achieve your goals. This means you should research which institution is the best fit for you. This is vital for longevity and understanding job stratification.
Knowing your expectations is as important as deciding the institution you want to work in. It helps to consider the minimum educational requirements for the job — certifications, degrees, and licensure. Having a terminal degree may be insufficient in some institutions, while others hire doctoral candidates as long as their degrees are conferred by a specific date. Some institutions may also require that you have a degree at the time of application, so it helps to pay close attention to such details.
Other essential factors to consider are the years and the kinds of experience needed for the position. Remember that there may be ways to substitute some academic experience and credentials for work experience. Be clear about the role you want in the faculty and what they are willing to offer. For example, depending on your education, experience, and credentials, some faculty positions may require you to start as an instructor, while others may offer assistant or associate professor roles. This is important for determining your salary and how quickly you rise.
Finally, consider whether you want to be tenured as part of your expectations. Some institutions may not offer tenure, while others may provide tenure-track positions. In certain instances, institutions may require you to compete for a tenure-track position after you’re hired and subject to its availability.
For professors in higher education institutions, salary depends on the institution and what type of professor you want to become. Research by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) provides the following average salaries, which you can use as a guide:
Besides knowing the salary range, understanding the employment rate for professors guides you in the decision-making process. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), postsecondary teacher positions will grow at a rate of 12% between 2021 to 2031. However, most of this employment growth will be for part-time and adjunct positions, comprising around 50% of positions for four-year institutions and 65% of positions at two-year colleges.
The requirements for becoming a faculty member differ among institutions but generally involve the following:
Higher education institutions typically require a doctoral degree in the field before considering you for a faculty position. However, some institutions may permit you to teach with your master’s degree. Since the professorship positions are competitive, securing a doctorate better prepares you for the job. This is especially true when you’re applying for tenure-track jobs.
The institution may require professional certifications, licenses, or registration, depending on the field you want to enter. This is common in technical or vocational areas such as health, law, education, and accounting.
In addition to your degrees and certifications, higher education institutions may require years of work experience before offering you a position. Most professors gain experience as graduate students when they lead and assist with undergraduate classes.
Some institutions also allow graduate students to secure part-time teaching jobs to help them gain experience. Your experience as a teaching assistant, where you assist professors in preparing lecture materials, grading papers, evaluating assignments, and acting as graduate instructors, may also qualify as teaching experience.
Securing a position as an adjunct professor to gain experience and climbing your way up from there is another effective strategy. Besides, some institutions offering full-time jobs often start with adjuncts.
Having publications is integral to landing a job as a professor — quality and quantity matter. Having substantial and prominent academic research under your belt increases your chances, especially for tenure-track positions. Graduate students may showcase their dissertation work to hiring committees, but engaging in more research is best.
It helps to be tactical in the application process, but how?
Becoming faculty is simpler when you understand the job demands and how to increase your chances in the competitive space. Having a place where doctoral and postdoc students can log their time for field experiences, organize artifacts, and showcase their academic success can help the faculty they work for get a robust view of that student’s achievements. With all of their accomplishments and educational experience located in one portfolio, the doctoral or postdoc student can more easily demonstrate their eligibility for becoming faculty.
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