Become An Adjunct Faculty Member

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Working As An Adjunct Faculty Member

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Getting Information
Training and Teaching Others
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Deal with People
Make Decisions
$90,840
Average Salary

Example Of What An Adjunct Faculty Member does

Developed and taught college courses in ethics, philosophy, sociology, religion and international affairs.
Graduate and undergraduate - Mathematics methods and content - Curriculum and Instruction Design
Provided instruction and lesson plans to adults on career and personal development courses.
Teach and guide students in the areas of networking and information technology.
Conduct research on Social media privacy models using Random Walk theory.
Design hybrid and online courses.
Report student progress through automated system (Blackboard).
Assess student learning through homework, quizzes, papers, projects and exams.
Help to develop and teach an online Nursing program for Maternal Child Nursing.
Instructed Medical Assistant evening classes Pathophysiology and Ethics and Law.
Designed, developed, and revised several graduate & undergraduate courses curriculums for hybrid & online courses
Facilitate class instruction by teaching the assigned class in accordance with learning objectives and session plan outlines.
Plan course syllabus, training materials and delivery style to customize a fully autonomous program with maximum benefit to the students.
Skilled in PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and Excel
Teach college courses in systematic theology, world religions, missions history, and ministry.
Have taught Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Management, Algebra I and II and Information Technology courses.
Utilize different teaching methods to present material.
Provide specialist talks to area school teachers on environmental topics.
Teach an online course entitled Principles of Nutrition to students across the United States.
Coached student presenters who won numerous top awards in collegiate public speaking competitions.

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How To Become An Adjunct Faculty Member

Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Most commonly, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. In career and technical schools, work experience may be important for getting a postsecondary teaching job.

Education

Postsecondary teachers who work for 4-year colleges and universities typically need a doctoral degree in their field. Some schools may hire those with a master’s degree or those who are doctoral degree candidates for some specialties, such as fine arts, or for some part-time positions.

Doctoral programs generally take multiple years after the completion of a bachelor’s degree program. They spend time completing a master’s degree and then writing a doctoral dissertation, which is a paper presenting original research in the student’s field of study. Candidates usually specialize in a subfield, such as organic chemistry or European history.

Community colleges or career and technical schools also may hire those with a master’s degree. However, in some fields, there are more applicants than available positions. In these situations, institutions can be more selective, and they frequently choose applicants who have a Ph.D. over those with a master’s degree.

Postsecondary teachers who teach career and technical education courses, such as culinary arts or cosmetology, may not be required to have graduate-level education. At a minimum they must hold the degree of the program in which they are teaching. For example, the teacher must hold an associate’s degree if they teach a program that is at the associate’s degree level. In addition, work experience or certification may be just as important as education for getting a postsecondary teaching job at a career or technical school.

Other Experience

Some institutions may prefer to hire those with teaching or other work experience, but this is not a requirement for all fields or for all employers.

In health specialties, art, or education fields, hands-on work experience in the industry can be important. Postsecondary teachers in these fields often gain experience by working in an occupation related to their field of expertise.

In fields such as biological science, physics, and chemistry, some postsecondary teachers have postdoctoral research experience. These short-term jobs, sometimes called “post-docs,” usually involve working for 2 to 3 years as a research associate or in a similar position, often at a college or university.

Some postsecondary teachers gain teaching experience by working as graduate teaching assistants—students who are enrolled in a graduate program and teach classes in the institution in which they are enrolled.

Some postsecondary teachers, especially adjunct professors, have another job in addition to teaching.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Postsecondary teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license, certification, or registration, may need to have—or they may benefit from having—the same credential. For example, a postsecondary nursing teacher might need a nursing license or a postsecondary education teacher might need a teaching license.

Advancement

A major goal for postsecondary teachers with a doctoral degree is attaining a tenure—a guarantee that a professor cannot be fired without just cause. It can take up to 7 years of moving up the ranks in tenure-track positions. The ranks are assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Tenure is granted through a review of the candidate’s research, contribution to the institution, and teaching.

Tenure and tenure track positions are declining as institutions are relying more heavily on part-time faculty.

Some tenured professors advance to administrative positions, such as dean or president. For information on deans and other administrative positions, see the profile on postsecondary education administrators. For more information about college and university presidents, see the profile on top executives.

Important Qualities

Critical-thinking skills. To challenge established theories and beliefs, conduct original research, and design experiments, postsecondary teachers need good critical-thinking skills.

Interpersonal skills. Most postsecondary teachers need to be able to work well with others and must have good communication skills to serve on committees and give lectures.

Resourcefulness. Postsecondary teachers need to be able to present information in a way that students will understand. They need to adapt to the different learning styles of their students and teach students who have little or no experience with the subject.

Speaking skills. Postsecondary teachers need good communication skills to give lectures.

Writing skills. Most postsecondary teachers need to be skilled writers to publish original research and analysis.

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Adjunct Faculty Member jobs

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Adjunct Faculty Member Career Paths

Adjunct Faculty Member

Nurse Practitioner Associate Professor Associate Dean

Academic Affairs Dean

12 Yearsyrs

Nurse Practitioner Nurse Manager Education Director

Academic Dean

10 Yearsyrs

Educator Adjunct Instructor ESL Instructor

Academic Director

8 Yearsyrs

Lecturer Assistant Director Coach

Assistant Principal

10 Yearsyrs

Clinical Psychologist Clinical Director Adjunct Instructor

Associate Dean

10 Yearsyrs

Physician Assistant Assistant Director Coach

Athletic Director

5 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor Instructor Program Manager

Business Development Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Faculty Member Assistant Professor Program Director

Chief Executive Officer

8 Yearsyrs

Faculty Assistant Professor Program Manager

Chief Information Officer

11 Yearsyrs

Assistant Professor Adjunct Professor Senior Project Manager

Chief Operating Officer

11 Yearsyrs

Clinical Psychologist Adjunct Professor Senior Software Engineer

Chief Technology Officer

11 Yearsyrs

Faculty Nurse Practitioner Assistant Professor

Department Chairperson

7 Yearsyrs

Physician Assistant Physician Medical Coder

Director Of Information Management

10 Yearsyrs

Faculty Member Adjunct Instructor Instructor

Director Of Instruction

6 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor English Instructor Instructor

Education Director

7 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Professor Faculty Chairperson

Program Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Professor Senior Project Manager

Project Director

8 Yearsyrs

Educator Long Term Substitute Teacher Kindergarten Teacher

School Director

7 Yearsyrs

Assistant Professor Program Director Operations Director

Senior Project Manager

12 Yearsyrs

Lecturer Research Associate Program Manager

Technical Director

7 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Top Careers Before Adjunct Faculty Member

Top Careers After Adjunct Faculty Member

Adjunct Faculty Member Demographics

Gender

Female
53.8%
Male
44.1%
Unknown
2.1%

Ethnicity

White
82.3%
Hispanic or Latino
8.2%
Asian
6.8%
Unknown
1.9%
Black or African American
0.8%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
38.0%
French
15.0%
Italian
8.0%
Arabic
6.0%
Russian
5.0%
German
5.0%
Hindi
3.0%
Chinese
3.0%
Turkish
2.0%
Mandarin
2.0%
Portuguese
2.0%
Persian
2.0%
Urdu
2.0%
Telugu
1.0%
Romanian
1.0%
Dutch
1.0%
Konkani
1.0%
Korean
1.0%
Cayuga
1.0%
Dari
1.0%

Adjunct Faculty Member

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Adjunct Faculty Member Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
22.8%
Capella University
7.6%
Walden University
6.9%
Michigan State University
4.7%
Webster University
4.3%
Pennsylvania State University
4.0%
University of Memphis
4.0%
Towson University
4.0%
Ohio University -
3.6%
Wayne State University
3.6%
Arizona State University
3.6%
Regis University
3.6%
University of Texas at Austin
3.6%
Northern Arizona University
3.6%
Ball State University
3.6%
Grand Canyon University
3.6%
George Washington University
3.3%
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
3.3%
Indiana Wesleyan University
3.3%
Ohio State University
2.9%

Majors

Degrees

Masters
52.3%
Doctorate
18.8%
Other
11.1%
Bachelors
10.8%
Certificate
4.5%
Associate
2.2%
License
0.2%
Diploma
0.1%

Adjunct Faculty Member

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

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Real Adjunct Faculty Member Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Adjunct Faculty Member	Woodbury University	Burbank, CA	Sep 10, 2009	$81,581
Adjunct Faculty Member	Johnson & Wales University	North Miami, FL	Sep 01, 2009	$56,349
Adjunct Faculty Member	Bay State College	Boston, MA	Jul 12, 2010	$55,368
Adjunct Faculty Member	Bay State College	Boston, MA	Jul 11, 2013	$42,387
Adjunct Faculty Member	East Tennessee State University	Johnson City, TN	Aug 27, 2011	$36,000

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Top Skills for An Adjunct Faculty Member

Top Adjunct Faculty Member Skills

Class Instruction
Online Courses
Curriculum Development

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Designed and delivered class instruction through the development of lesson plans and development of activities to support lesson objectives.
Design hybrid and online courses.
Developed online course revision and created undergraduate courses.
Designed and developed course syllabus, assignments and examinations for economics curriculum.
Captured timely news and critical management messages, wrote contents, and continuously improved distribution methods.