How to Become a College Professor

Ever wonder what it takes to become a college professor? In this video, I'm walking you through the steps on how to become a college professor.
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[@theacademicsociety]

Are you interested in becoming a college professor? Where are you in your journey?

[@danieldebunker2500]

I really like archeology. Specifically ancient native American archeology. Aztec tradition is extremely interesting, but I know that there most probably won't be any earth shattering breakthroughs in my career, I'm also interested in cryptography but am unsure if there is any way to get a PhD in cryptography.

[@theacademicsociety]

@@danieldebunker2500 I don't know much about archeology but the topic you're interested in sounds awesome! I'm not sure if you can get a PhD n cryptography but in my Mathematics department they offered a cryptography course for math grad students.

[@theacademicsociety]

@@nigelmarvin1387 Awesome! I'm so happy you found this video!

[@adrianasuniverse6909]

I'm a junior in high school interested in becoming in archaeology professor, specifically biblical archaeology.

[@theacademicsociety]

@@adrianasuniverse6909 That's so awesome! I feel like I had no idea what a professor did before my mom became one! How did you learn about this career?

[@davinci2810]

I’m still in high school so I’m still figuring out what I want to do but I do know that I want to be a professor, so this was really helpful, thanks!

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so awesome! I'm glad that this video was helpful for you!

[@toothurtiee]

same here! personally, i’m a sophomore

[@theacademicsociety]

@@toothurtiee So awesome! Go for it!

[@lunaramamoon]

@@toothurtiee Omg I am a sophomore as well :D I know I want to be a math professor, but I don't specifically know *what* I want to teach.

[@lunaramamoon]

@@jhsprouse I've been researching about this topic ever since i made this comment. I have realized that I really like to work with formulas, and that's my strong suit(as working with calculus is largely working with formulas and deducting conclusions that way, from what I am aware of). I also have an AP calculus class that I am planning to take my senior year, so I think calculus is the topic I want to teach about :)

[@dejathomas3289]

Hey Toyin!! I remember watching this video 2 years ago when I began my journey to becoming a professor! I started as an adjunct faculty member in 2021 and I was promoted to a full time Lecturer role! Thank you for this wisdom you share on this channel! Dr. Williams is coming soon!

[@theacademicsociety]

Wow!!! I'm sooooo happy that you shared this with me! It means so much to me! And look at you!!! Congratulations on getting your first job and being promoted to a full time lecturer!!! I love to hear a success story like this!

[@dejathomas3289]

@@theacademicsociety Of course! I am so happy to share my story to inspire others. There were times I didn’t feel good enough and I heard a lot of ‘no’s’ on this journey, but I am a witness that this dream can come true. 😇❤️

[@theacademicsociety]

@@dejathomas3289 🙌🏾🙌🏾. Yessss!!! So here for this!

[@River-cm9tz]

I wish you were my mentor

[@theacademicsociety]

Aww! That's such an amazing compliment!

[@ashr7871]

Same!

[@meliinimeuwu3929]

I’m starting high school and I really want to become an art professor in the future and honestly thank you this video helped a lot and was definitely inspiring

[@theacademicsociety]

That is so awesome!!! Go for it!

[@nickrobinson1648]

This was great! Thanks for the video and thoughtful info on the road to becoming a professor!

[@ashr7871]

This is so helpful! Defined needed especially during times like these

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed the video!

[@vmbarlow_]

Thank you so much for this vlog, this helped a lot! ✨

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so happy that this helped you! Let me know if you have any other academic questions!

[@judy9218]

I just want to thank you so much because I've been watching this video again and again to keep me motivated. I'm a sophomore majoring in math who wants to become a math professor eventually as well. Thank you again and I hope you know how inspiring this video is.

[@theacademicsociety]

I love that! That's so awesome! So glad this video was helpful!

[@Gelassen2023]

Lovely. Thank you for this Ms. Alli. Regards from Germany. Please make more videos giving insights about life in academia

[@theacademicsociety]

Sure thing! And I actually prefer to be addressed as Toyin or Dr. Alli. Thanks so much for watching!

[@jackiejones6994]

This was really helpful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@theacademicsociety]

You are so welcome! I'm glad that this was helpful for you!

[@livelargewriting]

You're such a great teacher, Toyin. I'll follow those tips.

[@theacademicsociety]

That's awesome!! Best wishes!

[@JamesBrodski]

Toyin, thank you so much for making this video! I’m really considering becoming a professor but still need to learn more!

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so awesome! My suggestion would be to talk with someone in your subject area to see what their job is like. That's where you'll find the most insight!

[@saanvibapu960]

I'm a high school senior who has always been interested in academia...thank you so much for this video....helps so much

[@theacademicsociety]

I love it! That's wonderful! I say go for it!

[@contemplativegirl21]

Love this. I am an academic advisor in a PhD program in Education thinking of going faculty route. Always expected would work my way up in staff positions, but am pretty certain faculty is my track. Really appreciate your insights. This is great advice for undergrads and prospective students especially. Thank you for providing this info!

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you so much for watching! I think it's awesome that you are considering becoming a faculty member! I love it!

[@davidsharif2696]

You provide very good details with your personal experiences of teaching and appropriate strategies in finding a good graduate concentration. This year I graduated Pace University Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies. I am currently teaching English as a Foreign Language in China to 5th and 6th graders. This teaching experience is giving me an idea of where my knowledge is going and it is helping me navigate my interests to a graduate program I want to concentrate on. I want to do graduate studies for sure but the concentration is hard to choose.

[@kevinketchum7030]

This was very helpful! Everything was great. Everything!

[@theacademicsociety]

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@angelinavargas8511]

You're gorgeous btw! I'm just getting into finding my right grad program for Neuroscience and I'm so glad I found someone that looks like me! Your channel is so organized and the videos are concise. Thank you so much! You've got a new subscriber!💕💕

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you so much! And thank you for subscribing! Welcome to The Academic Society! Best wishes on your grad school search!

[@damionevans3973]

Hi Dr. Toyin, I am so glad I came across your channel. I am a History PhD candidate currently at the ABD stage (all but dissertation). I have been on the fence of either teaching or applying to a higher position with my current employer once I am finished. Your video seems to have pushed me over the edge towards teaching which is actually a good thing because I am passionate about teaching. I am just not sure if I have the patience. Thank you for the video, I will definitely subscribe and recommend my peers to your channel.

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so awesome! I'm so happy that I could help! I definitely feel so privileged to love what a do! Also, one thing to note is that by the time you are tired of your students, you'll be getting a new batch for the next semester! So that's always nice!

[@mokrysalimi4795]

I love this vlog content. And I strongly agreed with you that choosing your mentor, or your supervisor is very important before you started any grad school, especially phd program. Some students couldn't even finished this program due to the fact that they didn't know their research about, or some probably had bad luck with their supervisor. So yeahh, choosing a supervisor is very very important for phd student. I am a master grad in food microbiology and your vlog seriously inspired me to pursue my phd. I knew its a tough road but the feelings once it get done are so immensely satisfying.

[@theacademicsociety]

Thanks so much for sharing! Good luck with your program! I'm glad you're enjoying my content!

[@loganmarquis7378]

It makes me so happy you got that fellowship for being underrepresented! The field really needs more African American females, especially someone as joyful as you. The video was extremely engaging because of your personality. I’m so happy for you :)

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed the video!

[@cathlandemmanuel831]

Great video! Thank you so much Prof. ❤

[@theacademicsociety]

You’re so welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@Hey-lc2oy]

This is very helpful and it means a lot.

[@theacademicsociety]

This makes me so happy! So glad this video was helpful for you!

[@happinessvolunteers]

Oh my god, your video is a savour ♡ I am currently in the fit-out construction industry and just completed my master's degree. I am applying for teaching jobs at universities and found your video super helpful. I was so lost and sad that I got no return calls from anywhere because of my lack of "teaching experience" and now I should check the link you said that you can build up my experience. Thank you so much, dear.

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so happy this video was so helpful! Good luck on the job market!

[@happinessvolunteers]

@@theacademicsociety thank you so much dear

[@clarkharney8805]

Love this ! Thanks !

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@solinvictus2132]

I'm still in high school right now and I'm just trying to figure out what level of teaching I want to do and how to do it. Thanks for the video, found it really insightful.

[@theacademicsociety]

Yay! So happy this was helpful for you! You still have so much time to figure things out but it's so good that you are actively looking for what will be a good fit for you!

[@ryanwalters3531]

I’m getting my BA after the spring 2020 semester and have an immense passion for English. I want to be an English professor at a college (at least at a community college level) , but might start by teaching high school. A couple of questions I have: 1. Is the process long towards becoming a professor post Bachelors? How long was it for you? 2. Do you need actual teaching experience to be a professor? I have done work through my college writing center and have joined programs for tutoring, but never had real teaching experience. I was wondering if this qualifies or helps toward the goal. 3. Sort of lines up with the first question, but Is a doctorate necessary for being a college professor? I enjoyed the video. Thank you for the insight.

[@theacademicsociety]

Hi Ryan, it all depends on where you want to work and what kind of position you want. If you want to be a professor at a research university, you will need a PhD. It took me 5 years to get a PhD in Math. The length of time is different depending on the field. In most other places like a community college or to be an Instructor at a university, you'll likely need a master's degree, which could take 1-2 years. For my position as a lecturer, I needed a lot of teaching experience which I got in grad school. I'm sure that different fields have different requirements. You should look up job ads to see what the requirements would be for your field.

[@muhammadmukhshaf4778]

The Academic Society with Toyin Alli Thank You so much for your comment! I'm also in pursuit of being an English Professor as well in a Private University!

[@SonyaAcuna]

Thank you so much for this video! I remember searching KZbin for this topic earlier this year and not finding anything good. SO glad you exist and you're making these videos! You're a blessing! Just subscribed. :) Also, I'm currently in my undergrad for my BA in Psychology and Minor in Communications. Next for me is grad school. I'm passionate about becoming a community college professor. Particularly because I spent four years at my local community college and became so invested in the California Community College system. The students that you meet in those classrooms are special and critical. I can't wait to be a professor. I know it's going to be a fulfilling career and I could truly see myself retiring being a professor.

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! Also, I love your passion for becoming a community college professor! It's so needed!

[@johnoluwadare5382]

Dr. Alli, thank you much for this. I was looking for a video on how to become a professor and your video made the cut for me. I desire to be a professor in Sociology Your calmness and smile was topnotch I must say I'd love to communicate with you.

[@theacademicsociety]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ijyoyo]

Great Video! Thanks for sharing

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you for watching!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@KenyaGoodsonDR]

Great video!

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it!

[@alirezaa6530]

Thank you for your video.

[@theacademicsociety]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ahnjiwonibjalexi6538]

I’m hopeful now thank you 🙏

[@theacademicsociety]

Yay for hope! I love it!

[@austinimonikhe8392]

Thanks for your wonderful speeches. I'm currently doing Doctorate degree in Business and interested in lecturing business courses but don't have teaching experience at the moment.

[@theacademicsociety]

Thanks for watching! I would recommend asking if your department has any teaching opportunities for grad students.

[@laddennison]

Love the vlog. I’m currently getting my M.A.L.S degree in cultural studies and I’m passionate about African History.

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so awesome!!!

[@theuniverse3782]

Thank you!!!!

[@theacademicsociety]

You are so welcome!

[@kevinbl7821]

Teeth brighter than my future

[@theacademicsociety]

Haha! Thank you!

[@Prettyordying]

Literally 😭

[@ariflyy]

I didn’t have a panic attack so I subscribed! #hereforit 😍

[@theacademicsociety]

Haha! Welcome to The Academic Society!

[@naymyers1]

As a recent Ed.D graduate, I am having such a hard time getting a lecturer position. Glad I found your channel. I’ve been getting really discouraged lately.

[@theacademicsociety]

I think that Lecture positions (especially in my field) are fairly new! Make sure that you look for other titles like Instructor, Clinical Professor, because they may mean the same thing as a Lecturer at a different school.

[@naymyers1]

@@theacademicsociety Thank you so much! I will do that.

[@chrissamwell5375]

Very good content! I am currently in my LLB and thinking about doing a PhD but I am not sure.

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you! I'm unfamiliar with what an LLB is but if you decide to do a PhD, you have to be passionate about it. The road is tough!

[@lunaramamoon]

Oh my gosh! I am 15 years old, and I have been dreaming of becoming a math professor for many years(I think since like 5th grade or 6th grade lol). This is the perfect video for me!

[@theacademicsociety]

Yay!!! That's so awesome! Go for it!!!

[@InvestBetter.]

Great video

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you!!!

[@EverEducating]

Thanks so much for this information! I'm going on the academic job market this fall. Looking for a teaching-focused position as close to home as possible. Considering alt-ac jobs, as well, but I love designing and teaching college courses. What worries me about lecturer positions is that they seem so unstable. Aren't the contracts on a year by year basis? While I'm not a "tenure track or bust" type of person, job stability is what really worries me in academia.

[@theacademicsociety]

I think it definitely depends on the school. At my school, Lecturers are permanent faculty members. And while, I can't be tenured, my job comes with a promotion track. I can be promoted to Senior Lecturer after 6 six years. I like to think of the Lecturer track at my school as running parallel to the tenure track. I hope that answers your question.

[@EverEducating]

@@theacademicsociety Good to know! I'll have to keep my eye out for the fine print on whether or not a NTT position is permanent or not at each particular institution.

[@theacademicsociety]

@@EverEducating Exactly! And they may be disguised as different names as well like Clinical Assistant Professor or Teaching Assistant Professor. They mean the same as Lecturer at my school. I know...so confusing!

[@jacoblopez2995]

I too, am interested in teaching but I just can’t decide if I want to go through with it. I feel like time is ticking. Great video though 👍

[@theacademicsociety]

Thanks so much! You know, you can always change your mind about what you want to do. I didn't know I wanted to teach until my third year of grad school.

[@cyyrious]

Thanks for the tips ... I have my PhD in Org Management and Leadership Studies ... I have been working for the last 20 yrs in corporate I love research and teaching and I’m trying to get a gig where I can teach. I also have a MBA and a BS in Comp Sci and math... I applied for a couple of jobs but was turned down because they said I had no teaching experience 👀🤔... I will figure this out soon. I wish you the best.

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so happy that you enjoyed the video! It can be very difficult to get a teaching position without teaching experience! Maybe adjuncting can be a foot in the door or connecting and networking with someone in the department where you want to work.

[@natalietommasino3156]

Ugh! Loved this video!! Do you have any advice or know any youtubers that talk about becoming a college professor for liberal arts studies. I'm not sure if the experience would be different?

[@theacademicsociety]

I believe that the experience is very different! I can only give the perspective of a mathematician and my education and the road to PhD is so much different than someone outside of STEM. My most popular videos are my day in the life videos and videos about becoming a professor. It's a field that people don't know anything about! And people really value seeing and hearing from someone who has gone through it.

[@emilycarroll2250]

Thank you so much for sharing! I’m a new professor who took a non traditional path into academia, so this is super helpful for getting oriented to academia.

[@theacademicsociety]

I love this!!! Thanks so much for sharing! And best wishes in your academic journey!

[@edgardoortiz9947]

Can you be anymore cool? I love watching your videos, they make me feel ready and hungry for the next step! Thank you!

[@theacademicsociety]

Haha! Thank you!!! So glad you are enjoying my content!

[@TheInnerExpedition]

I just want to say Hi! And thank you so much for sharing this. I have been getting heavy imposter syndrome so it's inspirational to see women of color obtain PhD's! Bravo gorgeous!

[@theacademicsociety]

Thanks so much!!! This really is the goal of my channel so I'm so happy that my content is helpful for you!

[@alisawilson7196]

Hi! I enjoyed the simplicity of your video. Thank you for speaking clearly and giving your sincere advice. I earned my doctorate in education in 2021. This is my 17th year as a middle level public school teacher (math, science, ss) with 3 years as a special education teacher. I taught as an adjunct professor in the fall of 2021 and this spring semester. Do I need more experience teaching such as an adjunct before applying for full time college professor positions at a teaching institution? Are there benefits to non-tenure track positions? Do you recommend living in the city of the university/college prior to applying?

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm so happy you enjoyed this video! I only have experience with the job search process in my field, but I would say that you have more than enough experience to become a professor. I chose a non-tenure position because I wanted to focus on teaching instead of research. So it definitely depends on your interests when you decide what type of job you want to apply for. In my experience, you don't need to live in the same city prior to applying. My department offered me funds to help me relocate after I accepted the position. I'm excited about your next step! I hope this was helpful!

[@ahanafabid4954]

I'm very pleased for this invaluable information will lead me the right pathway to become a professor but I'm still a high school candidate .

[@theacademicsociety]

That's wonderful! It's so nice to have an idea of what you want to do for a career so early on!

[@mrblue___]

What’s a post doc? Is being a TA enough prep for becoming a Professor? Really like the channel btw

[@theacademicsociety]

A post doc is a full time (temporary) position where you work on your research and/or teaching before getting permanent university job. They typically last 2-3 years. I'd say that it's similar to a residency for doctors. If you are an instructor of record as a TA for multiple courses, it may be easier to skip a post doc. But most academics do a post doc before landing a permanent position.

[@yayatorres8]

Thanks. This is my ultimate career goal. Whenever I thought about possible careers, I always considered teaching math at the secondary or post secondary level. I also found out that you don’t necessarily need a master’s to get a PhD in the STEM fields. Would you recommend doing both or does it just depend? If so, what is the most important thing to consider?

[@theacademicsociety]

Wooo! That's so awesome! We need more passionate math professors! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@theacademicsociety]

Oops! Just saw the rest of your comment. I didn't get a Master's first. I went straight into a PhD program. In math, the requirements for getting a Master's is the same as the requirements for the first two years of a PhD program. So if you know that you want to get a PhD, I would recommend going straight to a PhD program!

[@noemirojas3632]

Hi! I loved your video. I did have a question though as to what specific field I would like to “learn about forever” as you put it. I currently work at a rehab but the topic that is my absolute favorite is alcohol/drug addiction. Would it be psychology? Is there a specific field for just ADA?

[@theacademicsociety]

Great question! When you go to grad school, your research area will be very very specific. Probably even more specific than "drug/alcohol addiction". I would imagine that psychology would be a good place to start. And you can talk with your professors about their research areas and get their advice on your next steps.

[@alisawilson7196]

Noemi, I suggest you consider a doctorate in education along with considering psychology. Also, check into taking courses in behavior that would prepare you for certification as a behavior analyst (BCBA). Best of luck to you!

[@ok-zf1sd]

It really is much harder than I thought. I still haven't found the subject I have passion with despise all the studies that I've been through. As much as a shy person I am, I'm quite worried about the interview the most. I don't really have a way with my words. Thank you so much for this video! I'm really happy for you to get to pursued your dream job. God bless!

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! For job interviews, it's really best that you are yourself and being shy is ok. I always prepared questions to ask beforehand and that always helped!

[@mikegloudemans5937]

Great video! When you decided you wanted to focus entirely on teaching, did you regret at all that you were giving up doing math research? I like teaching a lot but feel reluctant to give up research completely, so am exploring options

[@theacademicsociety]

For me it was a no-brainer. I don't really like research

[@mikegloudemans5937]

@@theacademicsociety Haha thanks for answering :) I saw this afterwards in one of your other videos about the different career path options. Glad you found one that works well for your interests!

[@diondoinit]

Mike is cute 😍

[@FernandinhoCruz]

Good afternoon, congratulations on your video, it's very good. Did you do any content for immigrant teachers? I am a PhD student and my wife did a PhD. She has experience in Brazilian universities. We are a Brazilian couple who dream of teaching at Canadian universities. If you can help us with any information, we would be very grateful.

[@theacademicsociety]

Hi! I think it's amazing that you and you wife are pursuing careers in academia. However, I do not know anything about teaching in a new country. I hope that you can find the answers you are looking for.

[@peytonblotsky5263]

I originally went to college just for an English major but I realized I felt like I was being called to education so I added English education to the list!

[@jadebethj4807]

i would love to become a professor and I'm applying to graduate schools now. Everyone shoots me down and says there are no jobs, etc. I know it's important to be realistic but I'm also like...my professors aren't vampires. So there have to be SOME jobs somewhere. I even had professors now (as an undergrad that's an older student) who are in their early 30s. So...I am determined to try at least. If anything I'll enjoy the journey.

[@theacademicsociety]

I didn't have any issues finding a job. I would encourage you to not let the "lack of jobs" deter you from your dream career!

[@SmileSmile-gk7jk]

Hello! I am in the second year of High School but still I would like to follow my parents' career and become a professor. My love has always been to get in order, to have prestige, to transfer all my knowledge to the students. Specifically I want to become a philologist. I read a lot, almost all day, and I hope my dream comes true.

[@theacademicsociety]

I love it!!! You should go for it!!!

[@Angel-ii5jf]

So i like teaching people and i LOVE LOVE arts, so I actually decided to be an art teacher 😂

[@theacademicsociety]

Love it!

[@nikkiname5509]

Hey! What skills would you say are necessary if you want to be a professor/lecturer? What characteristics are helpful? Thanks!

[@theacademicsociety]

I can only answer this as a mathematician teaching math, a class that most students are afraid of. I think that having empathy is the most important thing. To make sure that your students are not only learning but having a good experience in your class.

[@sophiafortain5135]

Would recommend doing bachelor's, 2yrs for masters, then back for 2 more yrs for PhD. Or bachelor's then straight to 4 yr PhD program?

[@CB-hs7pv]

Hi! Thanks for the info! What about adjunct professor? I am an undergrad in psychology and love psychology, I plan to pursue between MS in higher education administration or Organizational Science. Idk if that can lead me to become an adjunct professor. Thank you!

[@theacademicsociety]

I don't know much about adjuncting. I think that it would depend on the field. But we don't have many adjunct professors in my department. I would recommend finding someone who is an adjunct in your field and asking how they got there

[@nicolebettle]

I loved your video! I am currently in grad school pursuing my masters degree. I graduate in November 2022, and if all goes well I plan to apply for a PhD program at the current school I am at. Would it be okay to get all 3 degrees, bachelors, masters and PhD from the same school?

[@theacademicsociety]

Yes! It's totally fine! My mom did that! She got her undergrad, masters, and PhD at the same university. However, when she was ready to get a job in academia, her school didn't hire her because they wanted her to go out and make her mark in a new place.

[@Juanaaaa]

How long did this take you? Getting your phd?

[@ArchitectMouaed]

Graduate of the College of Management and Economics, University of Baghdad, Department of Public Administration, accepted into the College of Engineering, Al-Mustansiriya University, and I love physics and engineering

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so awesome! Congratulations!

[@ArchitectMouaed]

@@theacademicsociety How happy I am to read my comment and reply to me, thank you very much

[@bantehromarick5053]

Thanks a lot for this video. I wish you where in my country ☹️. You would have been the perfect mentor. Again, thanks a lot. Oh! And I also wanted to ask if it's possible to have a PhD in more than one subject?

[@theacademicsociety]

Thank you for your kind words. When you get a PhD, you study very specific topics. There are graduate programs that are interdisciplinary but it's not like undergrad where you can double major.

[@bantehromarick5053]

Thanks you have been very helpful 😇

[@lyricxlmxchi8676]

I'm thinking about being a math professor as well, but I want to work at a community college to start. I know that you have to have experience in teaching, but do you HAVE to have experience teaching a middle/high school level class? Cuz I can tutor or anything like that or basically teach in grad school.

[@theacademicsociety]

I think that it depends on the field. In math, teaching college would be preferable to teaching middle or high school. But in education, maybe teaching elementary school would hold more value. I would recommend finding someone who is a math professor at a community college and reading their educational background. That will give you a better idea of how to prepare yourself.

[@lokaitnt]

Thanks for the advice but how does it work if you are an international student?

[@theacademicsociety]

I think it depends on if you did grad school in the US. I'm not familiar with how the transition would be coming from a graduate program outside of the US

[@Kennis255]

I'm planning on becoming a professor too. Would you recommend having a BA in education and then going to grad school for the field you're interested in? Or is it better to just major completely in that field in your bachelor and graduate school degrees?

[@theacademicsociety]

Great question! Most academics have never taken an education class. Unless you are planning on getting your degree in education, you don't need to major in it.

[@glenmohlamonyane5689]

now im a student doing BSc in mathematical sciences and wanna take maths as my mojour subject ...just wanna know what to do after my degree ...bcos wanna continue with my studies online and get a PHd in mathematics .....?

[@theacademicsociety]

There are so many things that you can do with a mathematics degree. But if you want to do research or go into academia, you'll likely need a PhD

[@Lapatahaisab]

Hey Toyin ! I want to become an English professor, I'll be doing my Bachelor's in English, can you give some guidelines on what should i do further?

[@theacademicsociety]

That's so wonderful! I would definitely recommend talking with your English professors and asking them about their academic journey!

[@dinitimangal1845]

My ambition is to be a professor

[@theacademicsociety]

That's awesome!!! I love getting to share about what I love everyday!

[@montanaman238]

Thanks for the video! Don't know if you reply anymore, but I have a question. I want to become a math professor and am worried that when I do go to college (in senior year of high school right now) that I will not be able to find a job coming out of a PhD since math jobs tend to be scarce. Is this fear rational or is it more likely than not that I will be able to get a job?

[@theacademicsociety]

I don't think that you should worry about that right now. Who knows what the job market will look like after 4 years of undergrad and 5 years of a PhD program. It's most important to figure out what you enjoy and study that. Personally, I didn't have any issues on the job market. I was able to figure out what I loved and apply for the jobs that aligned with that and was offered 3 positions within 3 months of submitting applications.

[@montanaman238]

@@theacademicsociety I won't worry about it then, thanks for your help.

[@Syrilian]

I am interested in becoming a professor but worried about getting another Masters and PhD to get a job that is super competitive and I don't want to adjunct.

[@theacademicsociety]

That's definitely a valid concern. However, the best thing about going into grad school already knowing what you want to do is that you can focus a lot of your energy into making yourself super marketable. Would it be valuable to get a lot of teaching experience in grad school? Would you be more competitive on the job market with more papers published? A great question to ask yourself is, what kind of position are you looking for and what kind of activities should you focus on in grad school to be a good fit?

[@NusratJahan-zv7ww]

What about getting an EDD? Can you be a lecturer with that?

[@theacademicsociety]

I don't know much about education but I would imagine that if they have lecturer positions in an education department, EDDs would be more than welcome.

[@David.cheriton]

Currently in sophomore year

[@theacademicsociety]

That's wonderful! Keep going!

[@emperor___palpatine]

Can you be a fully online professor and work remote? I want to do online courses so I can live wherever but I’m not sure if that is allowed

[@theacademicsociety]

This is definitely a possibility. Just not at every school. There are universities that offer programs fully online. Those would be good places to look.

[@subrinaally3]

I’m a freshman in college, majoring in Childhood Education. I plan on getting my MST and teaching for 10 years before getting my EdD and teaching college students. Do you recommend this is a good plan? Should I modify how I’m going about doing this?

[@theacademicsociety]

It's more about what's best for you and what is normal in your field. From what I know about education, it's common for people to get teaching experience first. But I'm definitely not knowledgable in the norms of that field.

[@sarpong09]

I’m starting my masters program this fall! And looking at getting a graduate certificate in college teaching. You think this will help to become a community college / college professor?

[@theacademicsociety]

That's awesome! I'm not familiar with this certificate but it sounds like something that would be helpful for getting a job at a community college. I would look at the faculty at a school that you are interested in teaching at and see what kind of degrees they have.

[@armaanmooradian]

where I'm from university classes start in September and end in April, so what do you do after April, do you have a massive break??

[@theacademicsociety]

I do! I usually choose to teach a summer class in July.

[@armaanmooradian]

@@theacademicsociety Thanks for the answer

[@buix4338]

Your teeth are so bright that they blind me

[@theacademicsociety]

Haha! Thank you!

[@marvinmandela948]

@@theacademicsociety your teeth are as bright as my future 😁

[@LaudvekkysGrooveLab]

😂😂😂

[@cecilyg]

Lol shine bright like a diamond. Yaas!

[@ac1455]

@@marvinmandela948 bold statement

[@danielcarrillo4385]

Do you have any videos on becoming a college professor later in life? I am currently working a federal job and would like to become a professor in History after I retire though I will be 55 by then

[@theacademicsociety]

I don't have any advice about becoming a professor later in life because that wasn't my experience and I don't think I know anyone who has done it. But I definitely know it can be done. I know that some fields hire retired professionals as professors. But if your field isn't one that does that, I imagine that the process would be the same (get a PhD first).

[@isaiaholaniyi1931]

Kudose Dr Toyin Alli, Kindly give a succinct yet clear delineation between tenure-track and non-tenure track academic positions. How do teaching non-tenure lecturers become full professors with less research, graduate supervison and grant writing responsibility? Are non-tenure assistant professors or lecturers placed on limited time renewable contract? People GENERALLY believe that lecturers are not in a secured track as their tenure counterparts, how true is that assertion? There is also the assumption that ALL non-tenure lecturers earn less than their colleagues, does that apply to every school and every field? What are the ascending promotional steps in the non-tenure teaching academic path. In laconic terms, without mincing words, kindly buttress the advantages of being a teaching faculty further. (please answer) Best regard.

[@theacademicsociety]

Great questions! Have some videos on the topic. Here's my video on how much tenure track v. non-tenure track make: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5PJhJx4h6mIbJI And I share the details of my promotion process in this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4m9gIJ9ZcSbmc0

[@zacharygarland9227]

If you have a PhD in a topic say like some type of engineering - do you also need to get some form of Education degree to be able to teach or lecture at a university? Or does that apply more to school teachers for children?

[@theacademicsociety]

That's a great question! Most professors are never trained in Education. A PhD in your field is enough to become a professor.

[@sabrinaprioleau1710]

Dr. Alli, thank you for the excellent videos! I'm pursuing my EdD online and I'm less than a year away from graduation. I've worked as an English instructor at a small private learning center and as an English language assistant abroad, however I'm trying to land an online teaching position to gain experience before I graduate. Is the application process still the same and is it more challenging for someone who didn't do a graduate assistantship (GA, TA or research?) Thanks!

[@theacademicsociety]

Hi Sabrina, if I'm not mistaken the process for applying for an online teaching position should be similar. You may not need to have a research statement. But I do think it's a benefit that your degree was online so you have experience with the process. It seems like you do have teaching experience so I'm not sure if it would be more challenging without being a GA/TA.

[@AlenKreho]

With PhDs, I heard you wrote a lot of academic papers. Is there a doctorate degree that is less paper writing? Like just learning more practical on the job things? I am interested in a DSL. Doctorate of Strategic Leadership.

[@theacademicsociety]

From what I understand is that PhD is more research based compared to professional doctorates like PsyD. You'll want to confirm that with someone who has done the degree that you are looking to do.

[@noahplays3698]

I have an MBA and CPA. I would like to be an accounting professor. However I do not to get a phd

[@theacademicsociety]

Every field is different. So, real world experience may be enough to be a professor in your field. You’ll have to check what the norms are for accounting

[@dotwilson7512]

I'm in school right now to become a mathematician. I plan to use my degree to be a math professor as well. As a mathematician could I choose to teach specific courses only or would I have to be open to teach any math course?

[@theacademicsociety]

That's awesome! You'll likely be expected to be able to teach any math course but you'll definitely have courses that you prefer and if you teach them well, you can teach those classes every semester. I'm an undergraduate faculty member who was hired for our Small Class Size Initiative which only includes Precalculus and Calculus 1. However, I also teach Applied Linear Algebra and could request to teach other classes that I'm interested in teaching. It also depends on the size of your department. I'm in a big department with a lot of faculty and grad students who teach so there are a lot of teaching opportunities. I hope that helps!

[@tristinjudd2595]

These times of political turmoil led me to major in History so that I may inform the next generation on true history and not just what they'd read on Facebook. I firmly believe that, like an armed society, an educated society is a politie society.

[@theacademicsociety]

That is so awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@devaynhenning9560]

I can't believe I stumbled onto this!! Hopefully you can give me advice.... I'm considering going back to graduate school for math but I have a degree in civil engineer with a year of professionally experience. Do you think it's possible for me to go back to school for math?

[@theacademicsociety]

Definitely! There are actually a couple math professors in my department that started out as engineers.

[@devaynhenning9560]

Would there be anything you'd recommend during the application process?

[@theacademicsociety]

@@devaynhenning9560 I think that figuring out which professor's research interests you most and writing about that in your personal statement is always helpful.

[@devaynhenning9560]

Sweet thanks for the advice!!!

[@michaelharvey702]

Do you think that age comes into it? What would you say the cut off age is? Are you likely to be passed over due to younger people applying even if they have less experience or skills? You say that you get to do some teaching. Did the college organise this for you or did you personally have to take the initiative to apply? All of the plans and statements you make including the CV and cover letter would probably be many pages? I was told that I should keep the personal statement to a minimum as the ones considering us for such a post are not keen enough to read long applications. It is just about getting the interview and that is what most of us are struggling to get. How do you get to the actual interview?

[@theacademicsociety]

I don't think there is a cutoff age. Most of the students in my program were older than me. They started after working or getting a Master's degree first. For teaching, it depends on the program. Since math is typically a service department and almost every student has to take a math class, we need a lot of instructors so most math grad students are hired as graduate teaching assistants to fund their degree. The documents I listed here are for applying for faculty positions. I don't think I'm an expert on grad school application materials so I won't give advice on that topic. My grad program didn't require an interview so I can't comment on that either. Hope this helps!

[@carolmarch3720]

Hello and thank you for this video. In 2015 I got a master's degree in Health Care Administration and would love to become a professor in college and teach health courses. Currently I work in an office position that I am very unhappy in. Please help any information would be grateful.

[@theacademicsociety]

I would definitely recommend talking with a professor in your field to see what the roadmap looks like.

[@mariannimoh9514]

I do not know if i heard this wrong, but did you jump from bachelor's o phd and not get a masters

[@theacademicsociety]

That's correct! Getting a master's degree in math is equivalent to the first 2 years of a phd program. So many mathematicians jump straight into a PhD program if they know they want one.

[@muhammadirsyd2039]

can i be a professor??..i realize that i got heat up slow in school level..but i am doing fantastic in A level hurmmmm...but i always feel that im different from the A level student who has cgpa same as me.

[@yoon3056]

Could you become a fashion professor? Like is that a thing?

[@theacademicsociety]

Definitely! Someone has to teach those classes at FIDM

[@asahb3406]

Do you get to decide how you curate your content in your class? Are you able to suggest classes that may not be currently presented in your dept?

[@theacademicsociety]

In most cases, you design the class how you want. There are typically departmental learning objectives that everyone has to cover and this is mostly for school accreditation requirements. At my school, if you want to teach a new class, you have to write a proposal, the department has to vote on it, and then the college has to approve the request.

[@princeidiomas6573]

I am graduated in Languages in Brazil, and I also have a master’s degree in the English language in Brazil. How can I work as a college instructor or professor in the USA?

[@theacademicsociety]

I'm not sure but I think it would be helpful to have connections with someone in the department that you are interested in joining

[@veronicakiss4987]

the first thing is get a phd? I'm confused. A phd in education or a phd in the subject that i want to teach?

[@theacademicsociety]

It depends! If you are interested in education and want to teach education, a PhD in education would be good. But if you want to be a college professor of a specific subject, you will likely need a PhD in that subject.