How and Why to Become a College Professor

Are you wondering if it’s worth becoming a college professor? Here are some things to consider that might make you think twice.

The “how to become a college professor in the philippines” is a post about how and why to become a college professor. It includes information on the qualities needed, what it’s like, and how much you can make.

We’re back with another installment of our So You Want My Job series, in which we speak with guys who work in attractive male occupations and ask them about the realities of their positions as well as advise on how men might achieve their goals.

Dr. Hunter Baker is the author of this episode. Dr. Baker has the ideal job of every guy who has ever longed to prolong his college years indefinitely: he is a professor at Houston Baptist University, where he teaches government and political science. Hunter offers tips on how to make money reading, writing, and teaching for the rest of your life.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself (e.g., where do you come from?). What is your age? What school did you attend? Describe your job, including how long you’ve been doing it, and so on.

I was born in Decatur, Alabama, which is located along the Tennessee River in the northern section of the state. It’s a bustling industrial city with plenty of natural beauty. Decatur is famous for having the nation’s first ever wave pool!

I’m 38 and it took me a long time to find out what I wanted to accomplish with my life. Despite the fact that I performed well and was promoted, I started my work as a corporate analyst for a big insurance business in Jacksonville, Florida. I quickly realized that I wanted to do something different. I was 26 years old and had a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia at the time. I then went on to law school, which I much enjoyed, and worked as a lobbyist for an Atlanta-based family-oriented public policy group. Although the work provided me with experience writing for a wide audience, presenting on radio programs, and testifying in front of the legislature, I remained intellectually unhappy. I’ve always wanted to learn more, and the more I’ve learned and studied, the more I’ve wanted to learn.

My wife and I had some money set aside to live on, so I took a fellowship at Baylor University to pursue a Ph.D. in religion and politics. She took a hiatus from her medical profession to be at home with our children. Pursuing a Ph.D. has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As a 33-year-old, I was ready to accomplish what I lacked the confidence to do as a 24-year-old when instructors pushed me to continue my studies.

Today, I work as a special assistant to the president of Houston Baptist University and teach in the government/political science department. I’ve been working there for two years. After years of being envious of my wife because she understood exactly what she wanted to accomplish with her life, I’ve finally discovered my own real calling.

My personal blog has additional information about myself.

2. What made you desire to be a professor in the first place? When did you realize you wanted to do it?

For a variety of reasons, I aspired to be a professor. First and foremost, I sought a career that motivated me to continue studying throughout my life. In order to accomplish a good job, I need to keep reading and researching. Second, being on college campuses has always been a highlight of my life. Being a professor puts you smack in the middle of everything. Third, and most importantly, I knew I wanted to inspire young people to be intrigued about basic principles and to be interested in ideas. We take so much for granted that we never get to the heart of the matter. I wanted to encourage pupils to think critically. People are, on the whole, cognitively inactive. Rather of taking part in the big arguments, they are bystanders. I’d want to see more people on the field.

My parents had been telling me since I was a youngster that I should become a college professor, but it wasn’t until I was in my late twenties that I began to believe them. I started to view myself as the kind of person who could write a dissertation and teach people in law school. And, to be honest, I started to consider college teaching as a divine vocation for my life.

3. There is a perception that professors are ready to push their students to pursue a Ph.D. while the fact is that obtaining a professorship is incredibly tough. What are your thoughts on the realities of the professorial job market and the odds of a Ph.D. student finding a solid position?

The career opportunities vary greatly depending on your specialty. Doctorates in professional subjects such as business or public administration, I believe, will normally have a very excellent chance. I also think the scientific and technological sectors have a promising future. My field, which is classified as either social sciences or humanities, depends on how you look at it. People that study political science or history do it because they are passionate about it. The fact that there are many individuals who go as far as the ABD (all but dissertation) but many fewer who ultimately grasp the brass ring protects you in the employment market.

If you go ahead and do it, make sure you earn your degree from a reputable college. I would not advise doing an online Ph.D. and then looking for job. That is going to be a difficult task. The situation may change, but that is what it is right now.

4. When applying for a professorship, what distinguishes a candidate from others?

The answer is very dependent on the institution. If the school values teaching and student character development, they will want a candidate who enjoys working in the classroom and mentoring. When they bring you to their school, they will place a lot of emphasis on your teaching evaluations and your teaching demonstration.

My university, like other religious private colleges, places a strong emphasis on a candidate’s Christian beliefs. Others may not have a specific litmus test in mind, such as a religious issue, but are nonetheless seeking for someone who “fits in” with their views on higher education, politics, philosophy, and so on. Universities are communities, and they want to employ people who share their values. That may come as a surprise to those of you who have grown up hearing about academic freedom, but that is the truth. Conservatives are conservatives, and conservatives are conservatives. Liberals are liberals, and liberals like liberals. Liberals now have the majority. Several decades ago, it was the other way around.

5. Can you explain what it means to “publish or perish” in detail? Is obtaining tenure a tough task?

Many colleges place a strong emphasis on research. They’ll look at the quality of your academic work as well as the quantity of articles you’ve published. If you don’t have any other publications than your dissertation, they’ll look at your chances of publishing in the near future. At such colleges, young faculty members are either on their way up or out. You either publish and advance, or you’re gone. Obtaining tenure may be a difficult procedure.

The disadvantage of tenure is that it encourages professors to labor tirelessly for the first seven years before retiring to a sinecure. Multi-year contracts appeal to me more. Tenure is meant to defend academic freedom, yet I’ve seen tenure denied to academics who had opposing viewpoints. The edge is sharp in both directions.

6. What percentage of your time is spent on research vs teaching?

The majority of time will be spent on teaching in a school that is more focused toward teaching, such as mine. Faculty often teach four courses every semester and their primary concentration is on teaching. You could just teach two courses at a research university, but you’ll be expected to do a lot of research.

I work at the school as both a teacher and a manager, so I’m a bit of a hybrid. But I still find time for intellectual work, and this summer I’ll be releasing a book called The End of Secularism.

7. What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

Teaching pupils who care is the finest part of my profession. I may feel exhausted before teaching a three-hour lesson. I’m energised when I emerge.

Another advantage is the schedule’s flexibility. Academics, more than nearly anybody else, are likely to be able to determine their own hours.

8. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

Teaching kids who don’t care is the most difficult aspect. Seeing a student clearly wasting class time to send text messages or peruse Facebook knocks the wind out of my sails quicker than anything else. You may believe that your teachers don’t care if you’ve dropped out, but we do. For us, this is a matter of the heart and soul.

9. What is the most common misunderstanding about the job?

I’m not sure. Many people’s perceptions about higher education are likely accurate. Is it common for teachers to be eccentric? Yes. Do academics ever shower with their socks and spectacles on? I’ve done so.

10. How do you strike a balance between job, family, and personal life?

Many individuals want to be professors because of the lifestyle benefits. You give up a lot of your youth and money to become an academic, but you get the opportunity to teach and study what you choose and have a lot of control over your schedule. For a family guy, college teaching is ideal. I can get away if I need to go visit my kids at gymnastics practice in the late afternoon.

11. What advise would you offer a graduate student that you wish you had received as a student?

Build a foundation for your dissertation using the papers you create while finishing your courses. The dissertation will not seem to be such an insurmountable mountain if you have written 50-100 pages ahead of time.

Also, if you’re writing a dissertation, don’t make it your master’s thesis. The trick is to concentrate on the end result. People get entangled in knots and never complete the task. Don’t allow anything, not even your own doubts and fears, get in the way of your goals.

12. Do you have any other advice, ideas, or stories to share?

Absolutely. When you’re a graduate student, try to help your department’s teachers. Encourage a mentorship connection by doing excellent job for them. These are the folks that will assist you in finding job after you graduate. You won’t have the supporters you need to assist you get the roles that are available if you go through in a semi-anonymous manner.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I become a college professor?

A: There are many reasons why you should become a professor. You could be motivated by the desire to teach, help develop new teaching methods or research new fields of study that will affect education globally. In addition, professors receive extensive training in classroom management and how to run successful classes with students who come from different backgrounds and levels of understanding. And finally, there is always room for improvement which keeps teachers engaged with their work

Why do you want to become a professor?

A: I would like to teach students and make a difference in the world.

How do you become a college professor?

A: Becoming a college professor is an extremely competitive process, and the most important thing to remember is that you need experience. Many colleges will only take people who have been working in academia for at least ten years or have some other type of relevant experience. You should also consider whether these schools can help you further your career by granting you graduate degrees if needed. For example, many universities offer joint doctorates through their departmental programs as well as Ph.D.s from research centers located on campus