Professor of English

Becoming a Professor of English involves teaching, research, and service. Most Professors of English have a Master's Degree in English or English Education. Some may have a terminal degree such as a Ph.D. in English or English Education. The duties of a Professor of English focuses on preparing and delivering lectures, grading papers, advising students, working with students on independent projects, conducting research, publishing research, writing grants, and attending conferences. Some Professors of English work primarily as researchers, while others work primarily as teachers. Those who work primarily as teachers may have more face time with students, while those who work primarily as researchers may have more face time with other researchers.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities of a Professor of English

During a typical day, a Professor of English may be preparing for a lecture, advising a student, grading papers, working with a student on an independent project, writing a grant, or working on research. Their day may also involve working on a journal article or book, attending a meeting, or answering emails.

Projects a Professor of English May Take On

A Professor of English may work on a variety of academic projects, including:

• Writing journal articles
• Writing books
• Editing journals
• Working with students on independent research projects
• Writing grants
• Organizing conferences
• Serving as department chair

Challenges Faced by Professors of English

There are a number of challenges that Professors of English may face in their day-to-day work. These challenges include:

• The need to balance teaching, research, and service
• The need to keep up with the latest research in their field
• The need to be effective teachers
• The need to meet the demands of students
• The need to fund their research