Being a professor?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Greekopedia

History professors are RARE. I am sure you will be doing well. Some professors at UF make upwards of $200,000 a year!

Really? Boston U. had quite a few history professors, and schools like UCLA have big departments. I'd guess that it's one of the more common subjects, with larger departments (especially since it is a pre-req at many places).

From what I've heard, being a professor can be a long and not so lucrative profession, especially when you first start. You basically have to wait until you get tenure, and even then it can heavily depend on your outside work (writing, research, etc.).

Definitely make sure it is the right career path, though. Good professors can make quite a difference on campus, and bad professors can make just as much of one.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Really? Boston U. had quite a few history professors, and schools like UCLA have big departments. I'd guess that it's one of the more common subjects, with larger departments (especially since it is a pre-req at many places).

From what I've heard, being a professor can be a long and not so lucrative profession, especially when you first start. You basically have to wait until you get tenure, and even then it can heavily depend on your outside work (writing, research, etc.).

If you want to do it though, be sure you want to do it. Good professors can make quite a difference on campus.

Correct. People generally don't go into academia because they are money-hungry.

If academics are money-hungry, they tend to go to private research organizations, government entities, and so forth. Not teaching.

[tinydancer]

I have a MLS and a Ph.D. in Library Science. I spent my whole career as a school librarian, with several semesters as an adjunct prof. at Texas Woman's Univ. and Univ. of North Texas.

Public schools don't pay squat for a doctorate, though. I got a whopping $600 a year extra for it.

[Scandia]

Tinydancer- did you find your PhD worth it for non-teaching library positions?

I am applying for the Specialist Degree, and have pondered getting a doctorate in the future.

[tinydancer]

Originally Posted by Scandia

Tinydancer- did you find your PhD worth it for non-teaching library positions?

I am applying for the Specialist Degree, and have pondered getting a doctorate in the future.

Personally, it was worth a lot because it gave me insight into other parts of the library world. Also, I wanted to teach at the college level some.

I probably was not clear about the pay and public schools. I worked for the city public school district, not a public university. However, the school district payed more than the 2 closest public universities that have a library school.

[gamma_girl52]

I'm glad I found this thread, because I am about to start making steps in this direction.

I'd like to know more about being an English professor (and it's probably a lot of those). I already have a B.A. in English, with a literature concentration. I've had an interest in teaching, but not high school or anything. I think I might do better teaching in a university setting.

[Munchkin03]

History professors are so not rare.

I've gone back and forth about becoming a professor of architectural history. It's less competitive than becoming a history prof, but there's still no love.

Unless you're a named professor at a very major university, and constantly on the lecture/book circuit, there's no way you're going to make 200K. Chances are that UF professor is either in the School of Medicine, in the hard sciences, or a superstar.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by tinydancer

Public schools don't pay squat for a doctorate, though.

That depends on 1) the doctorate, 2) whether the public institution is research 1 or liberal arts, and 3) how in demand the candidate is which determines the recruitment package.