There are several paths to becoming a community college professor, but they all focus on gaining expertise in a subject that is commonly taught in educational settings. Professors at community colleges and junior colleges (JCs) can typically expect to teach classes that are comparable to those offered in most colleges’ first two years. Expertise can be established in a variety of ways, depending on the institution.
To begin with, people who want to work as a community college professor may be perplexed by the term professor. A professor, in general, holds a doctorate degree, and many community college instructors do not. A junior or community college, on the other hand, may prefer to refer to their professors as professors, and thus confer the title in a different way than a PhD or related doctorate.
To add to the confusion, some PhDs teach at community colleges, and people with doctorates may be preferred over people with master’s degrees in competitive job markets. This may vary by region, but general education teachers should be prepared with at least a master’s degree, and possibly a doctorate if they want to work in a highly competitive area or college.
As a result, obtaining a Master’s degree is the first and most important step for anyone interested in becoming a community college professor in most subject areas. This entails earning a four-year bachelor’s degree before applying to and completing a Master’s degree program. The chosen major must simply be something that the college offers.
Because community colleges place a strong emphasis on teaching, make the most of every opportunity to gain teaching experience. Tutor, read papers, work as a teaching assistant, and, if the opportunity arises, teach classes in a master’s program. Furthermore, if a person wishes to work at a specific community college, they should begin cultivating relationships with the faculty in the department that makes hiring decisions at that college. Try to get either volunteer or paid jobs at the college and do well at them so that when you go in for interviews, the faculty already knows how strong you are.
Many community colleges offer special certificate classes or training in various fields that do not always require traditional college degrees, in addition to a full complement of general education courses. Developing expertise in one of these special areas is another way to become a community college professor. For example, a JC might have an excellent culinary arts training program for students, and many people without a master’s degree have extensive training and experience in this field. Instead, a combination of field experience and training from recognized sources such as culinary schools may be a viable option for gaining the necessary experience to become a community college professor.
In a variety of practical fields, the same is true. An auto mechanic with a lot of experience might be a good fit for a professorial position in an auto repair certificate program. Again, in addition to education and experience, the ability to teach is usually the deciding factor in getting hired. All the experience in the world won’t help you if you can’t explain it to others logically. Look for ways to teach while gaining expertise in a specific vocational or trade field. Working as a teacher’s assistant can help you learn how to create lesson plans and evaluate students, and it’s one of the best ways to do so.
Changes in the economy have hit many community colleges hard, and some may be cutting staff rather than adding it. This can make it difficult to find work, particularly in more competitive fields or in densely populated areas. Many professors begin their careers by working part-time. This is a start, but it’s also a good idea to keep looking for more permanent positions. People should think about whether they can use some of their skills to teach online, which appears to be a growing market.