A Sudden Career Change...

[Ammer]

I decided to become a University English Professor instead of a Computer Programmer-yes a major career change. Now I decided this after I chose my courses next year for becoming a Computer Programmer. Now I need help because I can easily change these courses again at the beginning of next year but I don't know what to take.

I am taking these courses:

Computers
Marketing
Accounting
Math University
Physics (Might drop out due to a sudden career change)
French Extended
Religion Extended French
English

I know I should keep English, Religion, French and Math. But I'm not sure about the other three. I took Marketing and Accounting for a buisness credit but I think I need to replace Physics. What courses can you guys reccomend me to replace Physics? Or is Physics a necessity for becoming an University English Professor?

[Medusa]

Are there any courses you can take like:

Creative Writing
English Literature
Postmodernism and Literature

Looking at my Universities English degree the units that can be taken are much like the three I mentioned above and also include, drama/production/theatre, image, poetry, mythologies, etc.

I don't know if that will help any. Here's the URL to the list of required units at my University:
http://handbook.murdoch.edu.au/Action.lasso?[database]=AP2004_Courses.fp3&[layout]=web&[response]=handbook/courses/searchresult04.html&[noResults]=handbook/courses/noresults04.html&[maxRecords]=20&[sortField]=ct_HB_section&[sortField]=t_Title&t_CourseCdHB=englb&[search]

[hellyer]

Sorry I don't really know much about that sort of stuff yet. I was wondering though, what prompted you to make this change.

[Lillie]

Or is Physics a necessity for becoming an University English Professor?

I'll give you what I researched on UK requirements.

Take Bachelor in English, then a Master's in English, then a PhD to become a professor (as far as I am aware). I'm pretty sure you also need a PhD in the USA and Canada. That would be 4 years Bachelor, 2 years Master and 2 (?) more years for PhD, so it's a surprising change. You really did consider all these years you need to put in? Picking courses for next year (is it your first year?) will have to take into account those 8 years or so.

Then there's also the teaching training. You need to have teacher training as well or a degree(s) in Education.

If colleges only offer undergraduate courses, then university professors probably have to teach undergraduate and graduate students, which increases the need for them to be capable at doing it.

You should definitely do some thorough research yourself on courses offered within your college in specific detail instead of generalise, but find out the usual combinations within universities and colleges around the world in general. It's not much use trying to find out details of courses outside of your college as they might not be offered. Try and consult some professors as well, especially an English one if possible.

[Ammer]

Or is Physics a necessity for becoming an University English Professor?

I'll give you what I researched on UK requirements.

Take Bachelor in English, then a Master's in English, then a PhD to become a professor (as far as I am aware). I'm pretty sure you also need a PhD in the USA and Canada. That would be 4 years Bachelor, 2 years Master and 2 (?) more years for PhD, so it's a surprising change. You really did consider all these years you need to put in? Picking courses for next year (is it your first year?) will have to take into account those 8 years or so.

Then there's also the teaching training. You need to have teacher training as well or a degree(s) in Education.

If colleges only offer undergraduate courses, then university professors probably have to teach undergraduate and graduate students, which increases the need for them to be capable at doing it.

You should definitely do some thorough research yourself on courses offered within your college in specific detail instead of generalise, but find out the usual combinations within universities and colleges around the world in general. It's not much use trying to find out details of courses outside of your college as they might not be offered. Try and consult some professors as well, especially an English one if possible.

I'm in my third year of High School--the reason for all the vague courses. I am quite aware of all the years I need to put in to become a professor and I'm willing to do it. The only other English course which is relevant to the topic is Yearbook and that does not help me at all. I would have to devote my entire lunch hour and I am not willing to do that for I might be moving in my last year of High School.

[Lillie]

In that case, completely different - research all the colleges you are planning to apply to, career tracks in general and that career in specific. As far as I know there are certain courses that must be taken and then there are suggested courses, such as a second language and history. You might actually check out philosophy as that seems good for teaching as well, if it's offered in your school. I know in the UK English is offered as an English Language or Literature degree most of the time, but I don't know about the USA. If it's the same, you probably have to research each option as well as requirements can differ.

So again - definitely research everything you can in the world. Allow some flexibility for yourself and make sure you pick a degree that can allow other career paths you like as well in case you do change your mind again, once you actually do the job. (Loads of English students end up to be journalists, for example.)

[Ammer]

In that case, completely different - research all the colleges you are planning to apply to, career tracks in general and that career in specific. As far as I know there are certain courses that must be taken and then there are suggested courses, such as a second language and history. You might actually check out philosophy as that seems good for teaching as well, if it's offered in your school. I know in the UK English is offered as an English Language or Literature degree most of the time, but I don't know about the USA. If it's the same, you probably have to research each option as well as requirements can differ.

So again - definitely research everything you can in the world. Allow some flexibility for yourself and make sure you pick a degree that can allow other career paths you like as well in case you do change your mind again, once you actually do the job. (Loads of English students end up to be journalists, for example.)

Thank you Lillie for the advice and guidance. I am thinking to go to two or three universities and I'm going to research them as soon as I get home in about a day.