What does an Associate Professor do?

Assistant Professors help advance their fields by educating students and conducting research. They also assist colleges and universities in fulfilling their academic mission by preparing students for their future careers.

By carrying out the duties outlined in an Associate Professional job description, they can contribute to institutions’ student satisfaction and job placement rates. These metrics may drive the overall success of colleges and universities, potentially allowing them to recruit more students and obtain future funding.

Associate Professor skills and qualifications

To carry out their assigned job duties, Associate Professors rely on certain skills. The following are qualifications you could list in your Associate Professor job description:

• Extensive knowledge related to their field of study

• Interpersonal skills to interact positively and professionally with students and colleagues

• Verbal communication and presentation skills to deliver effective lectures

• Decision-making skills and attention to detail to grade exams and assignments

• Creative thinking skills to develop innovative assignments, course materials and exam questions

• Research and writing skills to produce high-quality papers

• Organizational and time management skills to complete their research and manage teaching responsibilities

• Computer skills to utilize presentation, word processing, email and student records management software

Associate Professor experience requirements

Most Professors begin their careers working as Assistant Professors. The job description of an Associate Professor generally has no experience requirements beyond holding a relevant degree. As a result, most employers prefer to hire candidates who have worked as Associate Professors for several years. In addition to considering work experience, colleges and universities typically compare candidates’ bodies of research and the quality of their papers when hiring an Associate Professor.

Associate Professor education and training requirements

Most 4-year colleges and universities prefer to hire Associate Professors with doctorate degrees in their fields. At community and junior colleges, a master’s degree may be sufficient.

Prospective Associate Professors working in fields that require professional licensing may need to hold a valid license. For example, Associate Professors of Engineering typically need a Professional Engineer (PE) license, and those specializing in nursing must usually be licensed Registered Nurses (RNs). If your position involves preparing students for a regulated field, you may wish to consider listing a valid license or certification in your Associate Professor job description.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the above Associate Professor job description isn’t the right fit for your needs, explore the descriptions for the following related jobs:

• Adjunct Professor

• Researcher

• Teaching Assistant

Associate Professor job description FAQs

What’s the difference between an Associate Professor and an Adjunct Professor?

The difference between an Associate Professor and an Adjunct Professor comes down to the nature of their employment. An Associate Professor is a full-time employee and a member of the school’s faculty. An Adjunct Professor is a part-time employee who generally teaches one or two classes per semester and isn’t a permanent staff member. An Adjunct Professor is also not the same as an Assistant Professor, as Assistant Professors are also full-time, permanent faculty members. They typically have less experience than Associate Professors and are considered entry-level instructors.

What’s the difference between an Associate Professor and a Full Professor?

A Full Professor has more seniority than an Associate Professor. To become a Full Professor, an academic usually needs several years of experience and a significant body of completed research. Full Professors often have additional responsibilities, such as assisting with graduate student admissions and developing degree requirements.

What’s the difference between tenure-track and non-tenure track Associate Professor positions?

Academic tenure provides Professors with permanent employment. They can only be removed in specific circumstances, such as program cancellation. Colleges and universities establish strict requirements for obtaining tenure. With a tenure-track Associate Professor position, a new hire becomes eligible for tenure once they meet these requirements. A non-tenure track position doesn’t provide the opportunity for tenure.