Wanna be a professor of Geology but...

[BuffyGirl]

Hey all. I just thought I'd come here quick and see if anyone could answer something for me. I want to apply to University sometime next year. I want to be a professor, and more specifically of Geological science. I do not want to be a geologist. Just want to teach geology.

Anyone know what course name that would be under? I'm guessing my major would be teaching with a minor in Geology? I have no idea...I come to you wise ones.

 

[pixletwin]

If you are looking for a phd in geology you most certainly need to be a geologist.

If you are looking to teach highschool level I would assume there is a bachelor degree program for geology with an emphasis in teaching high school.

 

[BuffyGirl]

If you are looking for a phd in geology you most certainly need to be a geologist.

If you are looking to teach highschool level I would assume there is a bachelor degree program for geology with an emphasis in teaching high school.

Yes, I eventually am going for my PHD. So I put Geology as my number 1 choice when applying.

I do not want to teach high school. Maybe at the beginning, but I officially want to teach Uni.

 

[pixletwin]

Then prepare for a lot of course work to be a geologist.

 

[FQRizzo]

To be a professor, you don't really need any teaching courses. You get teaching experience as a grad student.

 

[The Craw]

pixletwin is right. if you wanna be a college professor you'll need many years of experience in the field of geology first and probably need to make some kind of breakthrough in the field and write a textbook. if you just wanna teach highschool science that is a different story. i would just forget all that and work in a factory like i do. less stress and more free time IMO.

 

[BuffyGirl]

Then prepare for a lot of course work to be a geologist.

Try not to remind me.

 

[The Ween]

Go to the Uni and tell them what you plan to become and they should guide you in the right direction.

 

[karamazov80]

pixletwin is right. if you wanna be a college professor you'll need many years of experience in the field of geology first and probably need to make some kind of breakthrough in the field and write a textbook.

Only true if you want to be a "big time" professor at a "big time" University (though lots of professors bring in a hefty chunk of their income from text books). However, chances are that that won't happen (nothing against you BuffyGirl, just talking probabilistically). Most Ph.D.s in academia work either at community colleges, liberal arts colleges, or smaller state schools, and mostly teach.

One word of advice, however--do some research in your field of interest as an undergrad, and try to get some experience doing what those guys actually do in the field. The earlier the better. That way, you can find out if what actual Ph.D.s in your field of interest do (apart from teaching) is really for you. I wanted to be a Ph.D. in psychology for a while, but after working at a psychiatric treatment facility and in research labs for a while, realized it wasn't for me.

Better not to invest too much time and coursework into something if it won't ultimately be for you.

 

[The Mike]

All right, here is the thing.

To be a teacher in the K-12 realm you need to go through and get a Bachelor's degree in whatever science you want to major in although a basic Science degrees usually suffice. Then you have to pass the CBEST (in California), which is usually just the SAT repeated to show you have a general mastery of educational concepts through the 9th grade. Then you have to pass the CSET (in California) other states have similar tests to show mastery of the subject you want to teach. Its a battery of tests, to teach English I had to pass four different individual tests. Then you have to get accepted into a Credential program which clears you to teach in the classroom and usually a year process. Then in California it is required to "clear" your credential through a BTSA program which is professional development in the first two years of your teaching. Only after that do you have a "cleared" credential which has to be renewed via professional development hours every five years. Tenure in CA is two years so once you've worked for two years in the same district you have a job for life as long as you don't leave the district. Other states have similar tenure policies.

To teach in College you need to have a Master's Degree in whatever subject you teach, then some colleges, not all, want you to have passed a mastery exam which here is the CSET to show that you could at minimum teach High School students. There is a credentialing process but it differs from site to site, the larger Colleges require it while smaller colleges or Junior Colleges usually show leanacy on those things. Now if you are teaching in a field that you have x number of years working in usually the Credentialing is waved because you've shown mastery via the workforce. Now the tenure process at a College is longer so you are at will under you reach it. Which means if "Dr. Geology" decide to work as UCLA where you work, well last hired - first fired kind of thing. Not to mention the amount you teach can be sporatic, some first year/second year college professors only being assigned "half-time" so they only get paid like a half-time professor and only teach two or three classes.

There are quite a bit of hoops to jump through to become a teacher in any capacity

 

[karamazov80]

The lives of non-tenured professors (visiting/adjunct profs) and assistant professors on the tenure track are not always pleasant, that's for sure. Particularly in this economy.

 

[The Mike]

Definitely even the untenured teacher at the elementary/secondary level is definitely with their share of problems. For example, if you teach 10th grade English and have been for two years, you aren't tenured until year three. So let's say the Junior High school has to cut teachers and some want to come to the High School who are tenured, you lose your job because someone with seniority wanted it. In teaching without tenure you have to worry not only about your site's cuts but the cuts from other sites or departments with teachers able to lateral move.

 

[Agent0028]

Only true if you want to be a "big time" professor at a "big time" University (though lots of professors bring in a hefty chunk of their income from text books). However, chances are that that won't happen (nothing against you BuffyGirl, just talking probabilistically). Most Ph.D.s in academia work either at community colleges, liberal arts colleges, or smaller state schools, and mostly teach.

One word of advice, however--do some research in your field of interest as an undergrad, and try to get some experience doing what those guys actually do in the field. The earlier the better. That way, you can find out if what actual Ph.D.s in your field of interest do (apart from teaching) is really for you. I wanted to be a Ph.D. in psychology for a while, but after working at a psychiatric treatment facility and in research labs for a while, realized it wasn't for me.

Better not to invest too much time and coursework into something if it won't ultimately be for you.

Awesome advice. I just earned a Masters degree and realized I don't want to work in that field. Now I'm stuck between being overqualified or being under experienced for alot of jobs since I am attempting to change fields.

 

[BuffyGirl]

This is all great advice. I am so far into geology that I can't see anything else. I just mean, I love it, and I want to study it, and I will. And I want to be a professor. And the only way that's gonna happen is if I go for it, and work hard, and push. Otherwise, I'll just be sitting around wondering if I should have gone for it...that wont be me. I definitely know it's what I want. I waited a long time to go to university, I'm 27. I'm not making this decision at 18. So, it's time to leap, and make a change.

 

[The Craw]

if you wanna learn about geology, you can stop by my place and help me lay down some landscaping rocks. LMK.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

To be a professor, you don't really need any teaching courses. You get teaching experience as a grad student.

You mean as a Doctorate student?? Is it different for each major?? (I'm asking because I just finished my Masters program and never had the opportunity to teach, but when you continue to the Doctorate level you're expected to teach your second year)

 

[The Mike]

Depends on the Doctorate. Most have field research and studies as part of the prerequisite. As get your Ph.D in medicine for example you are expected to intern at a Hospital which continues past your degree and into your specialization. If you are getting your Ph.D in English or Education you have to do action research papers and prove your thesis with real world examples from the classroom. I will say this though, the time were you don't need teaching courses has passed. In this economy, Universities are securing whomever they want and they are going for more experienced or more classically trained teachers instead of those who just have work/life experience because they can.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

There are quite a bit of hoops to jump through to become a teacher in any capacity

Which is very true, and one of the many reasons why I think teachers should get paid a lot more than what they do.

 

[Agent0028]

This is all great advice. I am so far into geology that I can't see anything else. I just mean, I love it, and I want to study it, and I will. And I want to be a professor. And the only way that's gonna happen is if I go for it, and work hard, and push. Otherwise, I'll just be sitting around wondering if I should have gone for it...that wont be me. I definitely know it's what I want. I waited a long time to go to university, I'm 27. I'm not making this decision at 18. So, it's time to leap, and make a change.

Good luck, although with hard work and dedication I don't think you will need it. A word of warning though, three years ago, I had no doubt what I wanted to be. But don't let that discourage you, because its as you say, if you don't go for it you will always wonder. Just be open to the possibility that it may not be what you think it is. Sorry if this post is a downer, it may be a reflection of the mood I'm in.

 

[karamazov80]

Don't mean to speak for Rizzo, but most Ph.D.s don't need courses in teaching (or even to pass a knowledge proficiency exam) to get a job as a professor. Some places may, but I have been on the job market for awhile, and have yet to run across a position where either of those were prerequisites.

However, experience actually teaching is key for most teaching positions, and for some research-oriented positions, as well.

Some Masters students in some departments at some institutions will be able to teach. Others won't. In my department, grad students aren't allowed to teach upper level courses unless there is an emergency, and generally aren't supposed to teach without getting their Masters or the equivalent (beginning the 3rd or 4th year for those taking the thesis by-pass route).