University Professor
University Professor
Career Overview
University professors teach and inspire students in subjects ranging from science and engineering to business, medicine, technology, arts and humanities. They share knowledge, conduct research, and often become experts in their fields. Today, professors may also use AI, digital learning platforms, data analysis, and other technology to enhance teaching and research.
Education
A doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) is typically required to become a university professor. Some teaching and lecturer positions may require a master's degree instead. Your education will usually focus deeply on the subject you want to teach and research.
Work Environment
University professors work at universities, colleges, and other higher-education institutions. Their work can include teaching, research, mentoring students, developing courses, publishing research, and collaborating with experts around the world. Some also work in laboratories, studios, clinics or field settings.
Future Outlook
Higher education continues to evolve through AI, digital learning, new research technologies, and changing workforce needs. Professors who combine deep subject expertise with strong teaching, research, and technology skills can play an important role in shaping the next generation of knowledge and innovation.
Recommended High School Courses
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Business
- Social studies
- Public Relations
- English
- Mathematics
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
- Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Research topics in area of expertise.
- Develop instructional materials.
- Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.
- Evaluate student work.
- Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
- Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
- Prepare tests.
- Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
- Supervise student research or internship work.
- Guide class discussions.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Evaluate effectiveness of educational programs.
- Advise students on academic or career matters.
- Perform student enrollment or registration activities.
- Promote educational institutions or programs.
- Maintain student records.
- Direct department activities.
- Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
- Select educational materials or equipment.
- Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
- Collaborate with other agencies and institutions to coordinate educational matters.
- Write grant proposals.
- Advise educators on curricula, instructional methods, or policies.
- Train staff members.
- Plan community programs or activities for the general public.
- Compile specialized bibliographies or lists of materials.
Schools
Appalachian State Univers...
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Azusa Pacific University
Ball State University
Bethel University
Boston College
Bowling Green State Unive...
Brooklyn College
Cal Poly Pomona
Capella University
Central Connecticut State...
City University Of Seattl...
Clemson University
Columbus State University
Concordia University- Irv...
Concordia University-chic...
Concordia University-wisc...
Dallas Baptist University
Drexel University
East Carolina University
Florida Atlantic Universi...
Florida State University
Frostburg State Universit...
George Mason University
Georgia Southern Universi...
Georgia State University
Grand Valley State Univer...
Hofstra University
Immaculata University
Judson University
Liberty University
Mercer University
Missouri Baptist Universi...
Morehead State University
National Louis University
Northwest Nazarene Univer...
Saint Louis University-ma...
Salisbury University
Temple University- Main C...
University Of Alabama- Tu...
University Of Lynchburg
University Of Missouri- C...
University Of North Carol...
University Of Northern Io...
Western Carolina Universi...
Athabasca University
Lakehead University- O...
Queen's University- Ki...
University Of Alberta
University Of British...
University Of Ottawa
Western University
York University- Keele...
Potential Scholarships
5 Strong Scholarship
Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...
- Traditional Fulbright P...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$49,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$84,000.00 /yr
High End:
$200,000.00 /yr
Related Careers
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.