Do YOU want to be a prof?

by Anne Hasenberg

Vanguard Staff Writer

April 7, 2008 —

Students looking toward academia as a viable career path may elect to go further than K-12 education by earning a doctoral degree and starting a career as a professor. If you think you want to become a professor, read on for some helpful tips.

If you're interested in the humanities/liberal arts...

Step 1: Complete undergraduate studies

Maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended, since most graduate programs have GPA requirements. Extracurricular activities such as tutoring and club memberships are helpful, although not necessary. Be sure to cultivate relationships with professors in the disciplines you find yourself interested in: they'll prove valuable as references when you apply to master's and Ph.D programs.

Performing research, getting published, attending conferences and winning writing awards in your discipline as an undergraduate will brighten your curriculum vitae (Latin for "life's work.") It's the academic version of a resume.

At SVSU, you have ample opportunities to do all the above. The Student Research and Creativity Institute offers large grants to students that want to perform research. The Vanguard has covered a number of these students. Other research opportunities are available, and the money to perform such research exists if you're willing to put forth some effort in exploring those opportunities. If you're at a loss, just ask a professor.

There are also many types of publications, both print and digital, that undergraduates can publish research in. Cardinalis, SVSU's scholarly magazine, publishes all kinds of material, be it research or otherwise, every semester. Cardinal Sins publishes creative work. The SVSU Bulletin of Faculty and Student Research publishes scholarly monographs. All of these opportunities and more are available to proactive students, and all will enhance your vita considerably.

Finally, attending undergraduate conferences can convince graduate admissions directors that you're serious about being an academic. Ask a professor or the dean of your department what conference opportunities are available for undergraduates. Depending on the conference, the department may cover your expenses.

Step 2: Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Upon completion of your bachelor's degree, you should take the GRE. The goal of the GRE is to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. Many graduate schools require applicants to take the general GRE and a specialized GRE; most graduate programs will specify.

You can register for the GRE online or by mail. The test is adminstered on a computer. Paper-based tests are offered in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available. So unless you plan on taking the test in Bhutan, expect a computerized exam.

Step 3: Apply to and complete a master's program

Your GRE scores, application essay, letters of reference and GPA as an undergraduate will help admissions directors determine your qualifications. Depending upon the school, you might end up with a teaching assistantship to help cover the costs of your education.

Good letters of recommendation from your undergraduate professors are especially helpful. Program directors take the word of their academic peers seriously when determining the qualifications of applicants.

Keep in mind that many schools have minimum GPA requirements that must be met for all applicants. Research schools accordingly; most have requirements posted online. During your graduate education, it's important to continue improving your vitae. Present papers at conferences. Get published wherever and however you can. And a B in grad school looks about as good as a D in undergrad.

You'll also want to start to narrow and focus your academic interests into a particular topic during grad school. Like American fiction? Pick an author, or a period, and really dive in. Like economics? Pick a country, idea, or place, and start digging. Your goal is to become an expert - a scholar - at something.

Step 4: Apply to a Ph.D program

First, look for a department at a college or university that suits your academic specialty or specialties. If you're interested in 15th century Bulgarian monks, look for experts in that field and find out where they work and teach. Read their books. They'll be more likely to direct a dissertation - a piece of research on a particular subject, usually taking the form of a book - on a topic that with which they're somewhat familiar. For example, if you're interested in sports culture in North Africa, find a physical culture scholar at a university with a Ph.D program. When admissions directors - usually department chairs - see that an applicant has put forth the effort to read their own work, their interest will be piqued.

It varies, but most Ph.D programs consist of a year of classes, and a dissertation year.

There have been books written on dissertation writing. At most universities, it's a pretty structured process, and a thesis adviser makes suggestions and edits as you write. You perform research and write every day while teaching for the department, but it varies from school to school. Research accordingly.

Defending your dissertation is also a pretty structured process. With most programs, a panel of reviewers, usually termed a thesis committee, will ask questions concerning your dissertation, which you will respond to orally. Your thesis adviser's job is essentially to make sure you will be able to answer the committee's questions authoritatively and comprehensively.

By now, your vitae should contain a number of papers, presentations, and other professional activity. You'll only add to this during a Ph.D candidacy.

Step 5: Find a job

There are job databases on just about every university's Web site detailing openings, and there are other resources job seekers can pursue. One of the best and more comprehensive job-related sites on the Internet is the Chronicle of Higher Education's job database, available at chronicle.com/jobs.

Don't forget to ask your academic peers if they've heard of openings or would be willing to put in a good word. The academic job market is as competitive as it's ever been, even with the growth of higher education, because more people than ever before possess advanced degrees, especially in the humanities. Some Ph.Ds get stuck teaching part-time because full-time opportunities in their discipline don't exist at nearby colleges or universities.

There are also opportunities outside of higher education. Federal and state governments employ Ph.Ds in any number of ways. For example, the National Security Administration employs more Ph.Ds in math than any other single employer in the country. Government job databases exist at usajobs.com and at the Web sites for the individual states, for example, Michigan.gov.

The liberal arts aren't for everyone, so what if you wanted to become a professor in a more technical discipline, like nursing? The step-by-step process is somewhat similar.

Step 1: Complete undergraduate studies

You'll want to graduate with a bachelor's degree in nursing, and like liberal arts majors, you'll want to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, cultivate relationships with professors, and participate in extracurricular activities.

Step 2: Gain work experience

Practicing RN duties through work experience is essential. A minimum of three years practicing experience in hospital or health care is necessary for most graduate programs. The GRE is no longer required for most nursing programs.

Step 3: Apply to a master's program

The program averages two to three years. Continue to practice nursing during your teaching assistantship.

Step 4: Apply to a Ph.D program

Ph.D programs in nursing help to qualify and engage students in all dimensions of professional and scholarly life, including the conduct of scholarly inquiry, leadership in health care delivery systems and public policy formation. Like in the liberal arts, your admission to a Ph.D program will hinge on your vitae. Published research, recommendations for your professors, papers you presented, and other scholarly activity will help admissions directors determine your qualifications.

In general, Ph.D programs prepare nurse scholars and researchers to contribute to nursing science through scholarly research that advances the theoretical foundation of nursing practice and health care delivery.

Step 5: Find a job

Like with the liberal arts, if you're interested in teaching nursing, the most reliable job databases are those on university Web sites that list openings for that particular university. And don't forget to ask your professors if they know of any openings. Nurses have the added option of simply practicing nursing in the private sector. The job database at nurse.com/jobs has a number of openings in all states.

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