Becoming a professor typically involves a rigorous academic journey. Building a strong research portfolio and gaining teaching experience is crucial. As positions become available, candidates can apply for assistant professor roles and work their way up through promotions. It's a demanding but rewarding path for those passionate about academia and knowledge dissemination.
Becoming a college or university professor allows you to combine your love of scholarly research with teaching the next generation of students. Professors work in a wide range of academic disciplines while pursuing their intellectual passions.
The road to becoming a professor is long, requiring many years of higher education and dedication. However, it culminates in a rewarding career of discovery, thought leadership, and developing minds.
What Does a Professor Do?
College and university professors generally have three core responsibilities:
- Teaching - Lead lectures, seminars, labs, and discussion sections.
- Research - Conduct original research in their field of expertise.
- Service - Contribute through committees, student advising, publications.
However, specific duties vary by factors like institution type, rank, and full/part-time status.
Professor Job Duties and Responsibilities
Here is an overview of the key duties and responsibilities of a professor:
- Teach undergraduate or graduate-level courses
- Develop curriculum and prepare course materials like syllabi
- Evaluate and grade students' work
- Advise and mentor students academically and professionally
- Conduct original research experiments and analysis
- Publish research findings in academic journals and books
- Present research at conferences to share knowledge
- Apply for research funding through grants and fellowships
- Serve on academic committees related to curriculum, hiring, policy
- Participate in conferences, workshops and other development opportunities
How to Become a Professor
Here is an overview of the educational milestones on the typical path to becoming a college professor:
- Earn a bachelor's degree - Complete undergraduate education in your desired field.
- Obtain a master's degree - Further deepen your knowledge base in 1-2 years of graduate study.
- Earn a PhD - Spend 4-6 years doing intensive doctoral research.
- Complete postdoctoral training (optional) - Do 1-3 years of temporary research.
- Apply for professor jobs - Seek faculty appointments after earning your PhD (± postdoc).
Next we'll explore these steps in more detail.
Choosing an Undergraduate Major
Aim to select an undergraduate major that aligns with the academic field you hope to teach and research as a professor. Common majors for aspiring professors include:
- Sciences - Biology, chemistry, physics, etc.
- Social Sciences - Psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc.
- Humanities - English, history, philosophy, etc.
- Arts - Music, theater, visual arts, etc.
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Some professors opt for interdisciplinary majors before specializing further in graduate school.
Earning a Master's Degree
After completing your bachelor's program, the next step is enrolling in a master's program in your field. Aim for prestigious, funded programs when possible.
A master's degree develops your graduate-level knowledge and primes you for the rigor of PhD research. Programs usually take 1-2 years to complete.
Options include research-based MA/MS programs or professional master's like an MFA in creative writing. Some PhDs don't require a master's degree.
Getting a PhD
The doctoral degree is the definitive credential for professorship. Earning a PhD requires 4-6+ years of intensive research culminating in a dissertation.
Aim to get accepted into top-ranked PhD programs that align with your research interests and are funded with teaching/research assistantships.
PhD candidates take advanced coursework, pass qualifying exams, publish academic papers, teach classes, and defend the dissertation.
Postdoctoral Training
After obtaining their PhD, many pursue optional postdoctoral training for 1-3 years to extend their research experience. Postdocs involve:
- Conducting temporary research under an established professor
- Publishing findings from your PhD and new projects
- Gaining grant writing experience
- Potentially teaching classes
Postdocs boost your research credentials and opportunities for professor positions.
Searching for a Professor Job
Once you have the required credentials, it's time to start applying for open faculty appointments. Steps include:
- Identifying job vacancies - Consult job boards, university sites, academic publications.
- Tailoring application materials - Customize CV, cover letter, research statement for each role.
- Submitting complete applications by deadlines - Follow instructions closely.
- Lining up strong recommendation letters - Give letter writers plenty of notice.
Be prepared to apply broadly until you land interviews.
Continuing Education and Career Development
Once hired, successful professors continue expanding their skills and advancing their careers through:
- Publishing research regularly to build credentials
- Applying for grants and fellowships to fund research
- Presenting at academic conferences to gain exposure
- Taking on additional leadership roles like program director
- Mentoring graduate and PhD students
- Joining tenure review committees
How Much Do Professors Make?
Professor salaries vary by factors like discipline, university type, and rank. Average earnings:
- Assistant Professor - ₹12-17 lakh
- Associate Professor - ₹16-25 lakh
- Full Professor - ₹24-40+ lakh
Professors earn additional income through consulting, publications, and research grants.
Job Satisfaction and Lifestyle
Being a professor offers meaningful career satisfaction for many. Benefits include:
- Intellectual freedom to research captivating topics
- Opportunities to publish and expand human knowledge
- Flexibility to set your own schedule
- Interacting with students and shaping future generations
- Potential for tenure with job security
Tradeoffs include long work hours and high pressure to publish.
FAQs
How competitive is it to become a professor?
Landing a professor job is very competitive, especially at top universities. Having strong research experience, publications and recommendation letters is key.
What is the easiest way to become a professor?
The "easiest" path is to excel in your undergrad and doctoral programs, publish prolifically, complete a postdoc, and apply broadly to open faculty positions.
Is 30 too old to start a PhD?
No, many professors do not begin their PhDs until their late 20s or 30s after gaining work or research experience. Age is typically not a barrier.
Is getting tenure difficult?
Yes, tenure is very difficult to obtain, especially at research-focused universities. Tenure decisions weigh factors like research impact, funding secured, and student evaluations.
What percentage of professors get tenure?
Currently, only about 20-30% of applicants achieve tenure in India. The process is highly competitive at most institutions.
