10 Easy Steps to Become a College Professor

 

Do you love leading, teaching and participating in discussions on your favorite topics? Would you describe yourself as a lifelong learner? If so, a college teaching position could be a great career choice for you.

College professors are post-secondary academic lecturers who are experts. in your subject or area. They often hold the highest teaching position at a university or college, teaching a wide range of students.Professors often work in a variety of settings, from large, nationally recognized universities to small private institutions. Currently, the average salary for a college professor is $79,640 per year, with job growth projected to be 12% over the next 10 years. .As students are expected to continue pursuing advanced degrees, there will always be a demand for post-secondary teachers.

The day-to-day duties of a college professor may vary from area to area, but a general description is as follows:

Teaching Lectures

The vast majority of most college professors' time is spent teaching courses. Depending on their specialization, they can teach in different subjects. For example, a lecturer in an English faculty may teach courses in writing, journalism, and literary criticism. or poetry.

 

Helping Students

The essence of teaching is to help others learn.College professors guide students to improve their knowledge and acquire skills that will help them successfully earn a degree or certification. Teachers also help students by assessing their progress with individual assignments, tests, projects, and tutorials.

 

Curriculum Design

Teachers use their expertise to write assignments and design curricula. They often take into account the different learning styles and needs of their students when developing their curriculum or programs of study from semester to semester.

 

Research topics

Constant learning is important to university professors. They do this by researching and publishing scholarly books and journals, attending conferences, and keeping abreast of innovations and ideas in their field of study.

 

Student Supervision

College professors often serve as advisors to students. eager to learn from them.At the graduate school level, this mentor-mentee relationship is an important experience for students pursuing a PhD.

 

Service Management

Many institutions rely on individual departments to make hiring recommendations and review policies. Professors, especially full-time professors, are often expected to work on their departmental committees as part of their contractual duties.

What is the difference between a teacher and a professor?

It's not uncommon for people to use the terms "teacher" or "professor" interchangeably, but they actually have very different audiences. Simply put, a teacher teaches younger students ranging in age from elementary school through high school, while a professor teaches students at the post-secondary level. Professors are generally the highest level of educators and specialists in their subject or academic field. While both a teacher and professor are trained professionals, the journey of a college professor requires more steps and academic demands.

 

10 Easy Steps to Becoming a College Professor

Most four-year colleges and universities require a professor to have a doctorate in their field of study, while some part-time positions or colleges require only a master's degree. six to nine years of scientific work after high school in order to complete the steps to become a university teacher. It is important to consider the following aspects at every step of your journey:

 

1.High School

Step 1: Earn Good Grades and Standardized Test Scores

 High school credentials and proficiency tests make all the difference when applying for scholarships and admissions.

2: College

Step 2: Prepare for college

It's important to start thinking about college applications as early as your junior year of high school. Since many colleges and universities limit the number of first-year students per semester, you should submit your application early.

 Step 3: Earn a degree in your chosen field of study

Your specialty as a teacher starts at the bachelor's level, so it's important to think about the subject or field that interests you most. For example, if you want to become a poetry teacher later, then an English major will give you a solid foundation in the field.

 

Step 4:Perform Well and Leverage Relationships

Maintaining good grades while pursuing a bachelor's degree can be challenging, but the grades you get on your degree will prepare you for scholarships or grants if you apply to graduate school.The strong relationships you develop with your undergraduate professors are also important when considering referrals or internship opportunities.

 

Step 5: Complete the GRE and Apply to Graduate School 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that many colleges or universities require for admissions programs. You should determine if an institution requires a specific GRE degree and apply to grad school at least six months before the Fall semester. Conveniently, WGU does not require a GRE for admission to its graduate programs and since the graduate work course is online only, students can work at the time that best suits their lives.

 

Master's Degree

Step 6: Earn Excellent Grades and a Strong Thesis

Maintaining good grades throughout your graduate program is very important. Many graduate programs require students to have an average GPA of 3.0 to maintain good academic standing.In addition, most programs require the completion of a master's thesis (a lengthy piece of academic work) as the final step in earning your master's degree. Similarly, WGU's competency-based education focuses on a final project that many students find more appropriate to their career field.

 

Step 7: Become a TA for hands-on experience

Gaining teaching experience as a Teaching Assistant (TA) will help you understand the day-to-day responsibilities of teaching, grading, and time management as a teacher. And the more time you spend in the classroom as a TA, the more confident you can feel in supporting student learning.

 

PhD

Step 8: Build relationships and write a successful dissertation

The priority of your PhD program is to increase your knowledge in your field, build relationships, and research and write your dissertation (a deeper version of a thesis). The dissertation forms the basis of how you will position yourself when seeking and competing for employment after your PhD program.

 

Step 9:Apply for postdoc positions

At the end of your doctoral studies, you first want to apply for teaching positions at the colleges or universities of your choice. Many professors start as adjunct or contract professors to gain experience before being hired full-time in a department.

 

Step 10:Continue to apply and accept the offer

Since teaching positions are very important in higher education, you should allow a certain amount of time before you receive an offer. It is always good to further deepen your teaching experience as a lecturer or guest lecturer. as you go through the interview cycle .

 

Essential Tips for Becoming a College Professor

The job market for college professors can be very competitive, especially in highly specialized fields, so you should give serious consideration to your degree, school, research and professional development when creating your resume.

 

Research

A professor who actively conducts relevant and dynamic research. in your field, you will become more attractive as a new hire for colleges and universities. For example, many institutions are eager to welcome into their department a professor whose research can bring recognition and funding to their institution.

 

Publish

Active publishing is an important part of being an academic. The opportunity to have your work featured in a publication earns a potential collaborator the respect of the academic community and gives you a unique advantage.

 

Gain Experience

Teaching experience sets you apart from others in the hiring process. Many colleges and universities want confidence in their ability to lead the next generation of thinkers and creators, and working as a TA or associate professor helps reinforce that.