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The field of business offers students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs with both general knowledge in business and the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge and expertise in a particular area of the business field. In some cases, students begin their education with an idea of pursuing a teaching career at a post-secondary institution; others might decide to seek a position in a community college or university after beginning a career in business. When deciding to seek a teaching position at a post-secondary institution, it is helpful to understand the qualifications that are typically required.
Business Degree Disciplines
The type of degree a candidate has when applying for a teaching position can make a difference. There are a number of specializations within the field of business, and graduates of any of these programs from the bachelor’s to the master’s level are qualified to begin teaching at community colleges or universities in related fields. The types of courses a potential instructor is qualified to teach are often determined by a candidate’s degree focus. Some of the most popular business degrees to pursue at the undergraduate level include accounting and business administration. With an accounting degree, post-secondary teaching candidates are able to teach courses in accounting, while degrees in more general fields such as business administration qualify candidates to teach more courses.
Beyond an undergraduate degree, the most common business master’s degree is the master’s in business administration (MBA). Other common master’s degrees include management and leadership programs. Graduate programs can also be found for more specific career paths, from accounting to information systems to healthcare management. For additional information on the different business programs to study, visit the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business at http://www.aacsb.edu/.
Degree Levels for University Teaching
Different colleges and universities have varying requirements for teaching positions. At the majority of community colleges, the minimum requirement for most teaching positions is a bachelor’s degree. For most universities, teaching candidates must have a minimum of a master’s degree in order to qualify for adjunct or part-time instructor positions. Additional information on pursuing a post-secondary teaching career can be found at the American Association of University Professors at http://www.aaup.org.
Whether applying for a position at a community college or university, the majority of institutions will require candidates to have a doctorate or terminal degree in a specific discipline in order to qualify for all levels of professor titled positions. The majority of higher educational institutions have three levels of professors: assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. To find information on accredited business programs around the world, review the information from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs at http://www.acbsp.org/.
Depending on the type of teaching positions a candidate wishes to pursue and what institution one is applying to, the requirements for hiring will vary. The discipline a teaching candidate has studied is important. Another qualification is also the level of degree, which could be a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate. Generally, however, in order to advance to full professor positions at any post-secondary education institution, prospective instructors and professors should consider pursuing a doctorate degree.
