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How to become a professor?
I am looking at possible colleges and careers. As of right now, becoming a college professor sounds really cool to me. What level of education do I need? How long would it take?
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Briana’s Answer
Hi, Arvin,
To become a professor, you will need a professional/graduate level degree in whatever subject you wish to teach. To work at most larger, 4-year universities, you will need to get a PhD in order to be a professor. This means graduating high-school, undergraduate college (4 years), graduate school (2-3 years), and a PhD program (3+ years). However, there are many community colleges or other 2-year Associates programs that only require a Master's degree in your chosen subject to be a professor at their facility.
There is additionally the option of becoming guest faculty, i.e., someone who works in the industry and is brought on to teach a college course based on their applied expertise. Any art courses or advanced medical courses have guest faculty. However, these are typically not long term or tenured positions.
To become a professor, you will need a professional/graduate level degree in whatever subject you wish to teach. To work at most larger, 4-year universities, you will need to get a PhD in order to be a professor. This means graduating high-school, undergraduate college (4 years), graduate school (2-3 years), and a PhD program (3+ years). However, there are many community colleges or other 2-year Associates programs that only require a Master's degree in your chosen subject to be a professor at their facility.
There is additionally the option of becoming guest faculty, i.e., someone who works in the industry and is brought on to teach a college course based on their applied expertise. Any art courses or advanced medical courses have guest faculty. However, these are typically not long term or tenured positions.
Thank you Briana. This is very helpful!
Arvin
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Candace’s Answer
Arvin I am a full professor, meaning I've been promoted to the highest level you can attain as as professor. And I did it with a master's degree complimented by almost 20 years working in my profession. I teach media production and my experience is in TV news and corporate production. It was my professional experience which made me a sought after candidate for a professorship.
If you are interested in the arts, film and television are considered in the arts, then the highest degree for artists is a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA), not a PhD. The difference is that those with MFAs are practicing or performing artists. For example, musicians, film directors, screenwriters, actors, poets, photographers, painters, etc. PhDs are research oriented. There are professors with PhDs who teach in arts disciplines but usually their focus is on research in those areas. For example, a PhD in Media Studies usually means they research audience effects of media, social media, film, etc. A PhD in art history would do research on artists and art movements from the past but would not be a painter themselves.
So the degree you pursue depends on whether you want to do research or create or perform.
Determine the area of study that you are excited about.
Find a university that has undergraduate and graduate programs in you area and try it out. Don't be afraid to change majors if it doesn't feel right and/or you discover something else you really care more about studying for many years.
If you are interested in the arts, film and television are considered in the arts, then the highest degree for artists is a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA), not a PhD. The difference is that those with MFAs are practicing or performing artists. For example, musicians, film directors, screenwriters, actors, poets, photographers, painters, etc. PhDs are research oriented. There are professors with PhDs who teach in arts disciplines but usually their focus is on research in those areas. For example, a PhD in Media Studies usually means they research audience effects of media, social media, film, etc. A PhD in art history would do research on artists and art movements from the past but would not be a painter themselves.
So the degree you pursue depends on whether you want to do research or create or perform.
Candace recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much for the advice.
Arvin