Professor
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- What's it like to be a Professor?
- How to become a Professor
- Latest Professor jobs
- Top skills and experience for Professors
- Professor role reviews
What's it like to be a Professor?
A Professor is a member of the faculty at a college or a university. As it is an academic rank, a Professor is an expert in their field of study and are teachers of the highest rank. This means they went through higher education and obtained specialized degrees in their field. They have a special role in education and play a big part in helping students learn and grow. Professors’ primary role is to teach and guide students in their respective colleges or universities. They impart knowledge and even career advice or future steps when needed. As part of their job, they regularly hold lectures, evaluate students' works, and conduct research to further their field of study. They assess students' understanding of the subject and provide feedback to help them improve.
Tasks and duties
- Teaching students about their subject of expertise through lectures, discussions, and assignments.
- Developing curricula within their department and preparing teaching materials.
- Conducting research and contributing new knowledge to their field.
- Staying updated with the latest developments in their subject area.
- Conducting research and extension work in their community.
- Advising and guiding students in choosing classes, majors, and career paths.
- Providing feedback and support to help students improve their academic performance.
- Welcoming students to ask questions and seek help in their office.
- Evaluating and grading students' exams and academic requirements.
- Collaborating with other Professors and professionals in their field.
- Participating in committees or academic organizations to improve education and research.
- Attending research and academic conferences.
Another main role of Professors is conducting research. Professors are required to contribute to their field of study by undertaking research and ensuring they are published regularly in academic journals. They study, experiment, and write papers or books about their discoveries.
How to become a Professor
To become a Professor, you need to know which field you would like to specialize in first. Being part of the academic community entails rigorous study and stringent requirements. Universities will often require a master's degree before you become accepted as a Professor, although some will allow you to finish your graduate program while working as a faculty member.
- 1.
Finish your Senior High School (SHS) diploma.
- 2.
Graduate with a BA or BS college degree, preferably with honors. However, graduating with the required GPA for a master of arts degree is sufficient.
- 3.
Enter a graduate or master program that corresponds to your chosen field of study.
- 4.
Publish academic papers and research in your field of study. This is a requirement in obtaining a master of arts degree and in proceeding to the Ph.D. level.
- 5.
Obtain the Professorial title through experience and years of teaching in your chosen university.