7 Useful Tips on How to Become a Professor in Canada
If you are one of those people who are interested in taking up a career in academics you can pursue a profession as a university professor. In this article, I am attempting to help you understand How to become a professor in Canada?
To be a university professor you must have adequate knowledge and skills. It can be one of the amazing career decisions as you get an opportunity to teach critical skills and share interesting things and can influence students directly. Furthermore, it is a chance to engage with like-minded people and grow your knowledge base, making it a rewarding experience on both a personal and professional level.
1. What do College professors do?
Before knowing how to become a college professor in Canada the first thing you must know is what college professors do. University professors and lecturers teach courses to graduate and undergraduate students, design its curriculum, and guide students on their academic journey. They also conduct research regularly and also publish books and articles to gain academic experience and reputation.
Some professors concentrate on both academic research and teaching. However, some people only work for a college as assistant professors or guest lecturers and have an additional career in a different field as well. College professors also give motivation and support to students. But sometimes they give too much support… like when a professor offers to help a student with their paper right before the due date.
1.1. Requirements for a college professor
When it comes to how to become a professor in Canada, the process varies from subject to subject but generally follows the same steps. A career in academia is focused on learning and developing expertise in a field. In order to achieve your goal of becoming a professor at a college in Canada, follow these steps:
1.1.1. Educational requirements
Many college professors are expected to have a Ph.D. in their subject area. However, some institutes only accept professors with a Master’s degree if they’ve had excellent publications. In addition to their careers, most college professors earn multiple Master’s degrees. If you are in school you have to aim for an excellent GPA if you want admission to a graduate program.
Therefore, it is essential for college professors to not only have multiple degrees, but also an impressive academic portfolio and a high GPA to secure admission to a competitive graduate program.
1.1.2. Experience requirements
How to become a professor in Canada requires experience. If you want to be a college professor, you can start by applying for a teaching assistant position. This will enable you to acquire experience. The assistantship can be counted as credits for graduation and as financial aid. While doing this you can also focus on publishing your books and journals and on your Ph.D. research.
With the assistantship, you could also take advantage of the opportunity to network with other faculty and other professionals who could be of assistance in your journey to becoming a college professor.
2. How to become a professor in Canada?
So how to become a professor in Canada? A college professor in Canada must complete a few steps to become a professor. College professors can teach in many subject areas. To become a professor, you just have to focus on getting qualifications and establishing yourself as an expert in one field. Here are the steps that need to be taken on your journey how to become a professor in Canada :
- Get a Bachelor’s degree in the subject of your choice
- Pursue a master’s degree
- Increase your area of network
- Teaching undergraduate and graduate students
- Join a professional association
2.1. Get a Bachelor’s degree in the subject of your choice
Before getting an advanced degree, apply to a university or college for a bachelor’s degree. While pursuing your undergraduate degree you can decide which subject you would like to specialize in the future. During postgraduate studies, you can also choose the major you want to teach as a professor. While you are in the process of completing your bachelor’s, focus on creating a strong graduate school by helping your professors with research projects.
2.2. Pursue a Master’s Degree
Find a graduate program that interests you as you decide on the subject you plan to major in. A graduate school with an excellent reputation, the professors you want to work with, and amazing classes is the right choice for you. Post graduation, you can complete a thesis project related to your major that demonstrates your proficiency.
2.3. Increase your area of a network.
Increasing your network is an essential part of being a professor. To gain credibility and to gain career opportunities, you must create a network of industry experts, publishers, and academics. A college professor’s job prospects are determined by this factor.
2.4. Teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Students
You can take up the opportunity as a teaching assistant after or while pursuing a college education. Before you become a professor, this will allow you to gain amazing classroom experience. It is also possible to gain teaching experience by collaborating with your classmates or high schoolers.
Additionally, becoming a teaching assistant gives you insight into the inner workings of the college education system, providing invaluable knowledge and expertise you can use in the future.
2.5. Obtain professional certification
Needing a certification to be a teacher as a college professor depends upon the state you live in as well as the subject you are going to teach. Depending on the field you work in, you must carefully research which certificates and licenses you need. It displays your knowledge and dedication to your profession if you take the time to get a certification, even if your job does not require one.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that certifications are often a great way to stand out in the job market, as it shows that you are an expert in your field and have devoted time and effort to obtaining the necessary qualifications.
2.6. Join a professional association
Joining a professional association will provide you with opportunities for promotion, networking, and leadership. Some associations you can join are; the Academy for academic leadership which provides leadership support and training in the academic community; the American Association of community colleges organization which promotes the value of the community college experience; and the American Association of university professors and Lecturers which promotes best practices and high standards for university professors.
Following a long period of employment with the institution, you become eligible for tenure status as a professor. In most research universities, professors are both conducting research and publishing research articles.
2.7. Publish Research work
You must gain experience in research, along with publishing your research work related to your subject, before you become a college professor. As you must be thinking of teaching. You will be more attractive to universities if you have published research on your resume.
Research publications can help you stay on the academic job market since many colleges expect their professors to be recognized and well-known in the community.
3. Do university professors need a Ph.D./Doctoral degree?
In a journey on how to become a professor in Canada, the first step toward becoming a professor at a college is to complete the degree requirements for the position. Although a master’s degree is enough for you to qualify any individual for a job as a community college professor, if you need a full-time tenure track position as a university professor, a Ph.D. is a requirement. So to be a college professor you have to get a bachelor’s degree, complete graduate school, and a Ph.D. You must conduct independent research and get your scholarly journals published.
Additionally, you can become a graduate assistant professor. This will enable you to earn research and teaching experience as well as work experience in NGOs, private sectors, and government sectors related to your field of study. This will help you in developing computer, communication, and classroom management, as well as critical knowledge, and developing critical thinking skills, all of which are essential skills that are on the journey how to become a professor in Canada. Just don’t forget to develop your coffee-making skills too – you’ll be needing them!
4. Valuable Skills for Being a College Professor
During high school, students learn valuable skills that will help them become professors in Canada. After you earn a Ph.D., you will also need to maintain research skills and study habits. Whatever field of study you have, it does not matter at all.
Academics are expected to pursue publishing and research opportunities along with teaching one or two subjects. They will grade and administer exams, conduct laboratory assignments and sessions, direct research programs for students, and advise them on career decisions and academic matters. The academic community also expects academics to keep active in professional organizations associated with their fields, write book reviews, and attend professional conferences.
5. Final Thoughts
Finally concluding the article on how to Become a professor in Canada it must be kept in mind that to be a university professor you must have adequate knowledge and skills. Undergraduate and graduate students are taught courses by lecturers and professors at universities. Students are guided on their educational journey by those who design the curriculum. For scholarly experience and reputation, they publish articles and books and also research on a daily basis. Professors who are both academic researchers and teachers can be found.
These professors are often highly knowledgeable in their field and can provide valuable insights to students. The courses they teach are designed to help students understand the material and gain the skills they need to succeed. Furthermore, their research helps to further the knowledge in their field, making it easier for students to access the most up-to-date information.