4 answers
Liv
Student
Louisville, Kentucky
1
Question
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What are the steps to take to become an English college professor?
I want to be a creative writing college professor. I'm a junior in high school, so it's time for me to start planning what I need to do in college.
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4 answers
Tom Foster
Freelance writer
28
Answers
Forest Grove, Oregon
Updated
Tom’s Answer
You're right, it's time to start planning for college. But as far as becoming a professor, make a tentative plan and keep it flexible. College is a place for finding yourself and what you want to do, as many would tell you. If you remain steadfast in your path, then more power to you, but woe to you too, since you're going to be doubly busy because: (ahem, haha)
You'll need to not only take courses to be a teacher, but, if you really want to be effective, you'll need to become a writer as well, since the act of becoming a Creative Writing professor does mean that you need to know what you're talking about. Keep in mind, I said you NEED to, not that you HAVE to. But in order to become a teacher, you're going to walk a long road that won't end for a number of reasons, one of which is that a good teacher will leave an impression on their students, a GREAT teacher will do this, and always remain a student since writing has changed and continues to change from year to year. This means that you'll be learning for the rest of your life in order to help your students along.
But as for schooling, huh boy. I don't mean to discourage or even disparage the act of teaching or writing, since I wanted to be a teacher at one point but decided to stick with writing.
There is a lot of schooling needed for teaching, and you'll need to start simply. Enroll in teaching courses, enroll in writing courses, and do your absolute best to learn as much as you can. Read as much as you can, write as much as you can, and realize that you will continue to learn for the rest of your days as an educator if this is your desired course.
To put it simply: Read, write, learn, repeat.
If you have a serious love of teaching and writing, then you'll do just fine. But there will be tough times, and there will be hard times. Then there will be times during which you'll question if you're wasting your time or are on the right course. Those are the times when you need to be absolutely resolute in what you're doing. At the end of the day, teaching is an honorable profession, and writing is a huge responsibility, since as writers, we're the people that remember the world that came before, and the ones who remind people that there's more to life than what reality presents us. As a teacher of Creative Writing, I would gladly salute you, so long as you remember that your responsibility is to your students and the Story (long story).
But read, write, learn, repeat. Remember that much, and you're golden. Finding the right school for your needs is a good step too, SHNU is a great place to start, so is Regent University. Just suggestions.
You'll need to not only take courses to be a teacher, but, if you really want to be effective, you'll need to become a writer as well, since the act of becoming a Creative Writing professor does mean that you need to know what you're talking about. Keep in mind, I said you NEED to, not that you HAVE to. But in order to become a teacher, you're going to walk a long road that won't end for a number of reasons, one of which is that a good teacher will leave an impression on their students, a GREAT teacher will do this, and always remain a student since writing has changed and continues to change from year to year. This means that you'll be learning for the rest of your life in order to help your students along.
But as for schooling, huh boy. I don't mean to discourage or even disparage the act of teaching or writing, since I wanted to be a teacher at one point but decided to stick with writing.
There is a lot of schooling needed for teaching, and you'll need to start simply. Enroll in teaching courses, enroll in writing courses, and do your absolute best to learn as much as you can. Read as much as you can, write as much as you can, and realize that you will continue to learn for the rest of your days as an educator if this is your desired course.
To put it simply: Read, write, learn, repeat.
If you have a serious love of teaching and writing, then you'll do just fine. But there will be tough times, and there will be hard times. Then there will be times during which you'll question if you're wasting your time or are on the right course. Those are the times when you need to be absolutely resolute in what you're doing. At the end of the day, teaching is an honorable profession, and writing is a huge responsibility, since as writers, we're the people that remember the world that came before, and the ones who remind people that there's more to life than what reality presents us. As a teacher of Creative Writing, I would gladly salute you, so long as you remember that your responsibility is to your students and the Story (long story).
But read, write, learn, repeat. Remember that much, and you're golden. Finding the right school for your needs is a good step too, SHNU is a great place to start, so is Regent University. Just suggestions.
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
751
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
The minimum requirement to teach in college is a Master's degree. This will enable you to teach in a junior or community college.
I got my initial experience by working as a tutor at a college academic assistance center.
At universities there are teaching assistantships, for individuals working on a graduate degree, which allows them to teach a college class.
There are position available depending on how high your goals are.
I got my initial experience by working as a tutor at a college academic assistance center.
At universities there are teaching assistantships, for individuals working on a graduate degree, which allows them to teach a college class.
There are position available depending on how high your goals are.
Caitlyn Johnston
Senior Technical Writer
44
Answers
Odin, IL
Updated
Caitlyn’s Answer
College professors usually need a PhD. One thing you can do is look up the requirements for areas you'd like to teach, and see if those avenues of study interest you.
Amalya Sukiasyan
ESOL teacher at Washington English Center
297
Answers
Yerevan
Updated
Amalya’s Answer
It is great that you are thinking about your future and trying to plan ahead.
The role of a professor is the highest position in academic teaching. It's a long road to follow and requires hard work of years, if not decades.
In most cases, you will need to continue your studies after having a Bachelor's degree. There will be necessity to complete a PhD study. After that, you can apply for the job of an assistant professor which despite the efforts of years, is still an entry-level job in that field. Then the middle-level job is the associate professor, and only after that you can become a full professor.
In exceptional cases, there can be a direct appointment which means becoming a professor without having worked in the above-mentioned roles.
I wish you all the best in your challenging but promising career goals.
The role of a professor is the highest position in academic teaching. It's a long road to follow and requires hard work of years, if not decades.
In most cases, you will need to continue your studies after having a Bachelor's degree. There will be necessity to complete a PhD study. After that, you can apply for the job of an assistant professor which despite the efforts of years, is still an entry-level job in that field. Then the middle-level job is the associate professor, and only after that you can become a full professor.
In exceptional cases, there can be a direct appointment which means becoming a professor without having worked in the above-mentioned roles.
I wish you all the best in your challenging but promising career goals.