Expert: Bonnie Shimmin - 6/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello I'm currently a college student, and I see some of my professors are only 23 and 24 years old, but I thought you need to had a ph.d or atleast a masters to be be a professor?

ANSWER: Dear Romain,

I can't imagine a professor who doesn't at least have a master's degree in the subject being taught.  There are only a few possible scenarios here:

1.  They are older than they look.
2.  They aren't professors, they are actually teaching assistants who are working on their own advanced degrees, or
3.  The university is not accredited.

My money is on number one.

Bonnie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The professor I had said she was working on her masters, but can you teach while working on your masters?

ANSWER: I guess there are no hard and fast rules for college teaching - especially in private colleges.  I have heard of people teaching classes who aren't college graduates, but have some special ability or background - such as celebrities teaching a class in their field.  However, I would think that MOST people teaching at the university level have at least a masters degree in the subject they are teaching.

Bonnie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Also I need some career advice I'm considering majoring in B.A. English-Literature, but I'm not sure if I can even get a job with that degree. Any tips, advice? Thank you.

Answer
You can get a job in many fields with a BA in English Literature - not just teaching.  My daughter has just such a degree and is working successfully in the field of capital management.  My husband had a degree in music and was a director for technology.  Your degree doesn't necessarily detirmine your final occupation.  Though, if you want to be a CPA, it might be a good idea to major in math.  Or not - but it couldn't hurt.  The most important thing is to major in something you are very interested in learning more about.  

Bonnie