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Do you want to become a college professor? You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree and at least a master’s. To become a professor, your undergraduate major doesn’t matter so much as your graduate major, but depending on your field, it might need to be same or at least related. Here’s an overview of what professors do, how you can pursue it as a career, and what you need to know about your undergrad major.
What Do Professors Do?
Everyone knows: college professors teach. But what does that exactly entail? There’s a lot more to it than getting up in front of a class and talking about your favorite subject.
The exact job of a college professor depends first on their rank. A full-time, tenured professor is going to have more responsibilities than an assistant professor, for example.
But here’s a quick look at these instructors tend to do during their day-to-day:
- Design courses. Professors create lectures, assignments, materials, and tests for their students, while also leading discussions in and outside the classroom. They may create material for existing classes or propose new course ideas to the college.
- Hold office hours and help students. Instructors often have to offer a certain number of office hours to their students each week. During these times, students are invited to meet with them to discuss concerns, review assignments, and get 1:1 help. Some professors make these mandatory, especially for more advanced projects.
- Depending on the field, the instructor may have (or want) to complete research and publish work for the school.
- Complete service requirements. Some colleges require professors to participate in the community, serve on a school committee, or complete volunteer work.
- Stay current in their field. Professors have to make sure they’re giving their students up-to-date and correct information, which means a lot of research and study in their free time.
What Do Professors Have a Degree In?
The degree you need to become a professor depends on your area of expertise, the school, and your career goals.
College professors need to have at least a master’s degree in their chosen field. In some subject areas, a master’s is the terminal degree, or the highest degree they can earn. In other subjects, you might need a doctorate or professional certificate in order to teach in a college.
Two-year and some four-year colleges may accept a master’s degree, even if that isn’t the terminal degree in the field. Other four-year colleges and universities will require the terminal degree.
In addition, your role can also dictate how much education you need. If you’re entering the school as an assistant professor, are working part-time, or only want to teach entry-level courses, you might be able to land a job with just a master’s, even if a Ph.D is offered.
Undergrad Majors To Consider If You Want To Be A College Professor
All professors, whether they have a master’s, doctorate, or professional certificate, have an undergraduate degree. After all, you need to have a bachelor’s in order to get a master’s!
In most cases, future professors choose undergraduate majors that relate to their interests and desired career. A student who wants to teach history would likely major in History in both undergrad and graduate school. However, if you’d like to teach a more niche topic, you could major in History as an undergraduate and major in Medieval History as a graduate. An English undergraduate student isn’t likely to study Physics in graduate school, but they might pursue a master’s in Creative Writing.
Your undergrad major doesn’t always have to be directly related to your graduate major – it really depends on your field. But keep in mind, you’re more likely to get accepted to a master’s program if you have a pertinent bachelor’s. Research your intended career path and see what other professors have studied to get an idea of what you should pursue.
If you know you want to teach but aren’t quite sure about your focus or whether you’d like to teach in a college setting or K-12, Education is a solid major. You’ll learn about teaching theories, practices, designing coursework and curriculums, and child development. Depending on the program, you might also get real-world experience.
How To Become a College Professor
You can become a college professor by following these general steps:
- Get a bachelor’s degree. Choose an undergraduate major. To improve your chances of getting accepted to a master’s program, select an area of study related to the field you’d like to enter. If you attend full-time, you should have a bachelor’s degree in four years.
- Complete a master’s program. You’ll need at least a master’s to teach as a college professor. To get started, take the GRE, apply to universities, and complete the FAFSA if you need loans. It’ll take about two years to complete your thesis and graduate with your master’s if you attend full-time.
- Pursue a Ph.D. or professional certificate (if needed). Some fields and universities require college professors to have a terminal degree. For many areas, this is a Ph.D. or professional certificate. You’ll need to conduct research and then write and defend a dissertation, all of which can take between four and six years.
- Apply for jobs. You don’t have to wait until you complete your dissertation before you apply for jobs as a college professor. Many schools hire current Ph.D. students. Submit the appropriate materials to colleges and universities, attend your interview, negotiate your salary, and choose a position. Many schools hire even if you don’t have your Ph.D. yet.
How Much Do College Professors Make?
How much college professors make depends on their field! Here are 10 examples of the highest paying fields for professors in 2025, including information about projected job growth between 2022 and 2032 and some undergraduate majors you should for each:
- Law
- Median salary: $127,000
- Projected growth rate: 3%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Labor and Industrial Relations, Advanced Legal Research/Studies, U.S. Law
- Economics
- Median salary: $115,000
- Projected growth rate: 4.1%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Economics, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Business/Managerial Economics
- Engineering
- Median salary: $106,000
- Projected growth rate: 9.2%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering
- Architecture
- Median salary: $105,000
- Projected growth rate: 3.7%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
- Health Specialties
- Median salary: $105,000
- Projected growth rate: 19.1%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Public Health, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Audiology
- Forestry and Conservation Science
- Median salary: $101,000
- Projected growth rate: 6.7%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Wildlife Fish and Wildlands Science and Management, Natural Resources/Conservation, Ecology
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences
- Median salary: $100,000
- Projected growth rate: 3.7%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Geology/Earth Science, Geosciences, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Physics
- Median salary: $98,000
- Projected growth rate: 3.7%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Physics, Science Teacher Education, Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Business
- Median salary: $97,000
- Projected growth rate: 7%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Business Administration and Management, Accounting, Finance
- Computer Science
- Median salary: $96,000
- Projected growth rate: 5.5%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Computer Science, Computer and Information Sciences, Information Science
Becoming a college professor isn’t easy. It requires extensive education – up to 12 years if you pursue a Ph.D. However, some fields do accept professors with just a master’s, which would take around six years. To pursue this career, research what other instructors have studied and completed to get an idea of what you need to aim for over the next few years.
No matter where you teach as a college professor, though, you’ll need an undergraduate degree first. Ready to explore majors? Use our Major Search to get insight into various areas of study, the best schools for each, and more.
