A professor is usually an academic rank attained in universities and any other post-education institutions or research institutions. Professors usually teach courses, grade the works of students, come up with curriculums as well as guide their students. In this article we shall see Can I be a professor with a Bachelor’s degree?
Professors are also usually expected to contribute quality work to their field of study by way of publishing articles, academic papers, as well as publishing books.
Professors usually have tenure in the institutions they work in which means they have a permanent position as a part of the faculty.
A bachelor’s degree is usually the first degree a professor earns. It may be in the same major he teaches but this is not always the case. However going on, it is virtually impossible to get a teaching position at a post-secondary institution with just a bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree is usually almost always required. Even with a master’s degree, it is still competitive to get a teaching job at a university.
Usually, it is during the duration of the bachelor’s degree that one decides which field they want to branch into. At this stage of their study, the requirement to become an expert in their field is not a necessity and so they could still focus on a broad field of study.
A bachelor’s degree is simply just a prerequisite to a graduate degree. Almost every professor has either a master’s degree or a Ph.D. or both. Most community colleges hire professors with a master’s degree but big research universities go for professors with a doctoral degree.
With institutions that require a doctoral degree, they might hire professors with a master’s degree to fill the position of a part-time or temporary contract faculty member.
Professors have a part to play in academia and the graduate school prepares them for this. It teaches them how to carry out research work, and focuses on making them experts in their chosen field of study.
Because the rank of professor is the highest attainable rank in college, just having a bachelor’s degree does not cut it. It is usually believed that those with post-graduate degrees have a lot more experience and knowledge under their belt and will have a higher chance of achieving the rank of a professor.
With all these said, it is almost impossible to become a professor with just a bachelor’s degree. The professor job market is very competitive and so making strides in this field will be difficult with a graduate degree; either a master’s or doctoral degree.
Requirements/Responsibilities of a Professor
Being a professor comes with a lot of responsibilities. First of all, a professor is expected to have good communication skills because he will be expected to communicate with students. He will require good speaking, writing, and listening skills.
He is also required to have some sense of patience and understanding as he will be expected to deal with different students who will undoubtedly have different levels of understanding ability.
A professor should also be genuinely interested in the education of his students. A good professor is one who genuinely cares and is interested in the progress of his students. He should be interested in how he can impact as much knowledge and quality education in his students.
His responsibilities include, but are not limited to;
- Giving lectures to his students
- Prepare schedules and curriculums
- Improve his teaching techniques
- Set exams, assess the works of his students as well as grade their works
Advantages and Disadvantages of being a professor
The advantages of being a professor may include;
- Carrying out research. The institution may afford the professor the opportunity and time to carry out research in his chosen field which he may decide to publish
- The job comes with flexibility as professors do not work all year round. They may go on sabbaticals and take periodic breaks.
- Professors are put in positions where they can mentor and guide students which allows them to make a positive impact in the lives of a lot of people.
The disadvantages of being a professor may include;
- Teaching in post-secondary institutions can be competitive. Finding a job in this industry may be difficult even with graduate degrees.
- Starting as an entry-level professor may provide a decent living however, it might not always match the effort and time put into the job.
Conclusion
Being a professor can be a rewarding job. Although competitive, it affords one the ability to become an expert in their chosen field whilst also imparting knowledge to a lot of people. Almost always, a graduate degree is required if one desires to teach in post-secondary institutions or research universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to becoming a professor?
Step 1: Choose a desired field of study
Step 2: complete a bachelor’s degree in the chosen field
Step 3: Get admitted to graduate school
step 4: apply for a job as a professor
What is the career progression to becoming a professor?
In this profession, there is a different level. It is possible to work your way up when you are just starting. Here’s a look at the progression
Entry-level: in this level, you can start teaching with just your master’s degree while you work on your PhD
Lecturer: after the Ph.D. is complete, class size may increase
Senior lecturer: in this stage, responsibilities may increase. You may begin to assess the works of students that you do not teach as well as become guest lecturers at other universities.
Professor: after acquiring a Ph.D., and becoming a university lecturer with years of experience, professors may begin to produce and publish their findings, and articles in their field of study. They also attain tenure in their institution which automatically earns them a permanent position as a faculty member.
What positions are available to me with a bachelor’s degree?
Research assistant
Teaching assistant
Teaching opportunities at secondary schools
Instructors at a community college
