At a university level?
(I wasn’t sure if including these words would make the title too long!)
I’m now finishing up my undergrad degree in film. I went back to school after several years of owning my own business, so I am an adult with life experience. (That might be relevant to the advice I’m looking for; I don’t know.) I’m looking around and evaulating what I want to do now- basically, I’m changing careers (long story.) If I decided that I wanted to be able to teach at a university level, what kind of credentials do I need? Is a graduate degree enough, or do they expect a doctorate? (I’m thinking about critical film studies.)
All advice appreciated!
At a 4-year college, a terminal degree (i.e., a doctorate), is almost always required, especially if you want a tenure-track position. If you’re thinking of a community college, or an adjunct position (non-tenure), then you might not need a doctorate. And there are less technical fields where a masters degree might be enough. Maybe a MFA in film is one of those. Best way is to ask your film profs where you’re going to school today.
It depends entirely on the school and what you’re teaching. I got a “special credential” to teach computer science in the California Community College system without even having a degree. In fact, I was teaching there while still attending classes. I have also taught in a four-year college in another state that has no credential requirements, again with no college degree of my own.
In some subjects, they’re so desperate for qualified instructors that they don’t really care whether you got a degree 20 years ago. They want to know whether you (a) know the material now and (b) whether you can teach.
(That might be relevant to the advice I’m looking for; I don’t know.) I’m looking around and evaulating what I want to do now- basically, I’m changing careers (long story.) If I decided that I wanted to be able to teach at a university level, what kind of credentials do I need? Is a graduate degree enough, or do they expect a doctorate? (I’m thinking about critical film studies.)