Business professors provide students with the information and skills they need to be successful in the business world.
A business professor teaches college courses on a variety of business administration topics. Some teachers specialize in a particular subject, such as economics or accounting, while others teach more general classes. A business professor typically participates in departmental decision-making regarding the creation of new programs or policies, the establishment of budgets, and the allocation of funds within the program. Most colleges and universities require new professors to earn doctorates in their specialties before they can work independently.
Business professors may teach introductory classes to new first-year students.
The primary role of a business professor is to provide students with the information and skills they need to be successful in the business world. This is done primarily by preparing detailed lectures and administering fair and meaningful tests. The teacher usually stands and speaks to the class, preparing slide shows, drawing diagrams, and encouraging discussion. In addition, most teachers make themselves available to students before or after class or during office hours to provide additional assistance.
Professors are often heavily involved in administrative work and decision-making in a university’s business department. A business professor may serve on a departmental committee or advisory board to review statistics on programs, budgets, and enrollment. He or she can provide expert advice on how to improve situations or generate more money for the department. Some professors also participate in independent research of local, regional, and national trade trends and policies and publish detailed articles on their findings.
A Ph.D. from an accredited and respected university is usually the minimum requirement to become a business professor, although some community colleges and smaller universities hire professors with a master’s degree. Also, many schools prefer to select teachers with hands-on experience in corporations, small businesses, or government jobs. Previous work experience can be very helpful in better preparing students to find work in the professional world. To obtain a Doctor of Business Administration or Ph.D. in business philosophy, a person is typically required to complete about eight years of college work. Many doctoral students choose to work as teaching assistants to become familiar with the fundamentals of course design and teaching.
A new instructor usually begins their career as an assistant or associate professor. Her work is frequently evaluated by boards of directors and other faculty members to ensure that expectations are met. With time and success in an associate position, an instructor can officially become a business professor. A professor who performs exceptionally well for about seven years within a university can be awarded tenure, an arrangement that gives her great latitude in the types of teaching and research she can undertake.