Depending on one’s specific career goals and professional aspirations, the path to becoming an art professor may be different for each person who wishes to pursue this career path. In general, any collegiate level teaching job has similar requirements, which include a combination of experience and education. To become an art professor, you’ll need a master’s degree at the very least, though those who want to become tenured, full professors may need to get a Ph.D. in a relevant field like art history. It’s also crucial to have a strong portfolio of professional work or performances.
To become an art professor, you must first obtain a bachelor’s degree and continue to create art. Even if you don’t want to be a professional artist and instead want to devote your entire career to becoming an art professor, you’ll almost certainly need a professional portfolio of visual art pieces that you can show to potential employers and continue to build throughout your education and career. This portfolio option may not be required for people who do not want to teach fine art and instead want to focus on art history, but it is up to you to do your research ahead of time.
To become an art professor, the next step is usually to obtain an advanced degree. For people who will be teaching hands-on art classes, an MFA (master of fine arts) may be considered a terminal degree in some fields. It might also help you get a job as an adjunct or associate professor at a smaller university or community college in your area. A more advanced doctoral degree will almost certainly be required for those who want to work for more prestigious universities, become full professors, or earn tenure.
While finding a doctoral degree program in applied arts may be difficult, there are other options, such as art history, which is a popular choice. One of the most important aspects of becoming an art professor, aside from your education and a strong portfolio, is to present yourself well in interviews. Getting hired as a professor at a university often entails multiple interviews with a hiring committee made up of various department members, and it is critical to present yourself in a professional, academic manner and demonstrate what you will bring to the school.