How to Be a Literature Professor

Literature professors help students explore the great authors and ideas that have shaped our culture.

Working as a literature professor requires you to be engaged in teaching, writing and research about the authors and ideas that have shaped our culture. Tenure-track positions at a four-year university are harder to obtain than positions at community colleges, but the salary gap between the two is around 50 percent. Full-time professors can also enjoy other perks, such as free or reduced tuition at the college for family members.

Instructions

1. Earn at least a master’s degree in literature, which will give you the minimum credentials needed to teach. A master's is generally the minimum education requirement for community colleges. Usually four-year universities require their professors to have a doctoral degree.

2. Study a literature specialty, such as British literature or American literature. Picking a specialty in college can help you land a teaching position over other candidates that may have a more generalized background in the subject.

3. Get to know other graduate students and professors who share your specialty. This allows you to build a valuable network of colleagues, which you can use when applying for teaching positions. You can also work as a graduate teaching assistant to build your network while gaining teaching experience.

4. Publish your work in scholarly journals, which is expected of doctoral students interested in a tenure-track teaching position. Faculty advisers can assist you with journal submission.

5. Apply for post-doctoral teaching fellowships through your university once you finish your Ph.D. These fellowships give you something to add to your resume while allowing you to hone your skills as a professor. Such fellowships are generally used for financial support until a tenured teaching position is found.

6. Visit the employment websites of the colleges at which you want to teach to look for open teaching positions. Check also with your network of colleagues. Once you find an opening for a literature professor, apply for it by submitting the documents required, which usually includes your curriculum vitae, transcripts of graduate work, samples of publications, teaching record and letters of recommendation.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Teachers—Postsecondary
• CNN Money: Best Jobs In America - 3. College Professor

Resources

• NYU: English Departments Around The World