Professor

Professor (often shortened to Prof.) is an academic rank at most universities and colleges. The word professor comes from Latin. It means a "person who professes", so professors are usually experts in arts or sciences.  A professor is a teacher of the highest rank. Professors are often active in research. In many institutions, the job title 'professor' means the same as "instructor".

Description

A professor is an accomplished and recognized academic. In most Commonwealth nations, as well as northern Europe, the title professor is the highest academic rank at a university. In the United States and Canada, the title of professor is also the highest rank, but a higher percentage achieve it. In these areas, professors are scholars with doctorate degrees (typically Ph.D. degrees) or equivalent qualifications, though some have master's degrees. 

Most professors teach in four-year colleges and universities. An emeritus professor is a title given to selected retired professors with whom the university wishes to continue to be associated due to their stature and ongoing research. Emeritus professors do not receive a salary. However, they are often given office or lab space, and use of libraries, labs, and so on.

Division

Professor is also used in the titles assistant professor and associate professor, which are not considered non-tenured professors. In Australia, the title associate professor is used in place of reader, ranking above senior lecturer and below full professor.

Beyond holding the proper academic title, universities in many countries also give notable artists, athletes and foreign dignitaries the title honorary professor, even if these persons do not have the academic qualifications typically necessary for professorship and they do not take up professorial duties. However, such "professors" usually do not undertake academic work for the granting institution. In general, the title of professor is strictly used for academic positions rather than for those holding it on honorary basis.

Adjunct

An adjunct professor, also called an  adjunct lecturer or adjunct instructor is a non-tenure position in the U.S. and Canada. They usually rank below a full professor. They are usually hired on a contract basis. They are often hired as part-time instructors especially at universities and colleges with tightening budgets. The position of an adjunct can often lead to a full-time professorship. It is also an opportunity for professionals to teach part-time.

Salary

A professor's salary can vary by education, school, subject taught and country. A professor typically earns a base salary and a range of benefits. In addition, a professor who undertakes additional roles in her institution (e.g., department chair, dean, head of graduate studies, etc.) earns additional income. In the United States, in 2014, a tenured Law professor made an average of $143,509 a year. By comparison, those teaching history, English, the Arts or Theology make about half that amount. But both are far above the median income for a person in the US.

Average by country

 Country Average/month  Average/week Australia  5,945 AUD   Brazil 2,604 reals  26.9 Canada 4,631 CAD  36.0 Czech Republic 21,064 CSK  33.5 Finland 3,155 euros (men) 36.4 Germany  4,902	euros  Hungary  242,296 HUFs   Italy  4,220 euros   Japan  582,421 yen   Kuwait  960 dinars  36.0 Latvia  419 lats  29.8 Mexico 13,877 pesos 42.0 Peru 2,583 PEN  Philippines 19,524 PHP  Portugal 1,519 euros  36.8 Romania 2,168 RON (men)  38.8 Thailand 21,067	THB (men)  38.0 United Kingdom  3,119 GBP  36.0 United States  6,103 USD  32.3

Related pages

 Teacher
 Lecturer
 Habilitation

References

Category:Academia
Category:Education occupations