A part-time professor will often hold a full-time job in a field related to an academic specialization and teach one or two classes during the semester.Ī full-time professor, on the other hand, teaches a set number of classes (typically four or five) each semester and, in many cases, conducts research on behalf of the institution. While the definition of part-time professor differs among institutions, it generally refers to an instructor who doesn’t have a full-time contract with the school. What’s the difference between a part-time and a full-time professor? What types of professors are employed by colleges and universities, and what do their jobs entail? The answers follow. Of those, 53% were full-time employees, while the other 47% worked part time. What Are the Different Types of ProfessorsĪccording to National Center for Education Statistics data, 1.5 million faculty members worked at postsecondary institutions in the U.S. Houston Chronicle: The Minimum Qualifications to Become a Professor.Prep Scholar: The 19 Steps to Becoming a College Professor.For example, a professor under review for tenure is typically evaluated in areas such as teaching excellence, research conducted and service to the academic institution. This may mean serving on committees, mentoring young students, participating in faculty senate activities or helping recruit new students.ĭifferent departments at different schools have specific expectations for tenured positions. Requirements vary by school, but professors typically are expected to participate in campus life. Proven ability to evaluate and grade student performance.Proven ability to develop curriculum and program material.A certain number of years spent as an instructor (varies by subject and school).Published work demonstrating expertise in a field.A master’s degree in a chosen area of expertise.In general, a professor must meet minimum qualifications for academic achievement, work experience and professional accolades to be considered for a tenure-track position. The friends met along the way could one day point the way to a new opportunity. Second, working with other educators puts the student into contact with a potentially valuable network of future colleagues. Because professors dedicate a great deal of their professional lives to research, it’s also important to study research methods and resources. It’s better to learn early what works - and what fails to resonate - with students. Tutoring, interning in a classroom setting or working as a graduate assistant allows student educators to refine their communication skills. There are two reasons for this.įirst, teaching requires experience. Finding Teaching ExperienceĮven as aspiring professors work their way through high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, it’s necessary for them to seek work experience in education. As in any highly competitive profession, the steps taken along the way can make or break a career. It takes more than a high level of academic achievement to secure a tenure-track position. Most of all, the journey to becoming a professor is an exercise in helping others access and refine their ability to think. That’s why the path to professorship is marked by rigorous study, moments of deep introspection and continual striving for academic achievement. If professors want to mold minds, they must be prepared to take on the gravity of the task. It’s an attractive profession and a distinguished position in world culture. Professors help advance the collective knowledge of society. Like Socrates in another age, today’s professors seek to ignite a love of learning in students’ minds. Perhaps most importantly, professors teach students how to think. They evaluate student progress and assign grades accordingly. It’s in that tradition today’s professors step into their roles as educators and shapers of minds.Ĭenturies later, the position of postsecondary educator is a respected, vital profession. The teacher of Plato and the man for whom the Socratic method is named has inspired Western thought and systems of logic for thousands of years. “I cannot teach anybody anything,” Socrates wrote. The path to discovering how to become a professor may well begin with words of wisdom attributed to one of the most influential educators in history: the ancient Greek scholar Socrates.
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