How to Become a College Mathematics Professor

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that up and coming college professors, including mathematics professors, can expect more job openings to become available due to faculty retirements and increased college enrollment. Most colleges require students to take one college-level math class to graduate, and they hire math professors to take on the workload, especially at large universities. As a mathematics professor, you can teach math on a full- or part-time basis, on campus or online.

Instructions

1. Complete a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Take the core curriculum courses required to earn a bachelor's degree, which may include English, psychology, science and foreign language, depending on your college or university. Enroll in and pass the math major requirements, which may include, but are not limited to, advanced algebra and calculus, statistics, applied mathematics and computer science. Generally speaking, you must have at least an "A" or "B" average to gain acceptance to graduate schools offering fellowships and teaching assistantships.

2. Take the graduate record exam, commonly known as the GRE. Some, but not all graduate schools, require applicants to submit GRE scores for consideration. Additionally, few schools publish a required minimum GRE score, but advise students to earn as high a score as possible to be considered competitive applicants. You can register and pay for the GRE general and mathematics subject tests online or by mail. As of July 2011, the GRE general test costs $160 and the subject test costs $140.

3. Apply to a graduate mathematics program. To become a college mathematics professor, you should apply to graduate programs that offer graduate teaching assistantships. A teaching assistantship, awarded to the best applicants, pays you a stipend to teach undergraduate mathematics courses, thus giving you the experience you need to get a teaching job when you graduate.

4. Complete your graduate studies. Graduate mathematics programs can be completed in two to four years or more, depending on whether you pursue your education on a full- or part-time basis. You can finish your graduate mathematics studies at the master's or doctoral level, depending on whether you want to teach at a two-year or a four-year college. Some two-year colleges hire mathematics professors with master's degrees only. To complete your graduate program, you must pass a comprehensive written exam, write a dissertation, or both.

5. Apply for college mathematics professor job openings posted on college and university employment websites. You can also apply for such openings posted in higher education publications. Include information about the experience you gained as a graduate teaching assistant on your resume or job application. You can also include a statement about your teaching philosophy to help you stand out among the competition.

References

• GRE: Information and Registration Bulletin
• Stanford University: Department of Mathematics
• Purdue University: Graduate Program Overview
• University of California Santa Cruz: Graduate Degree Programs and Requirements
• The Chronicle of Higher Education: Mathematics Jobs
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Teachers -- Postsecondary