Open Rank Professors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of open rank professors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for open rank professors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of open rank professors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for open rank professors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Open Rank Professors?
Do open rank professors need a degree? What kind of experience do open rank professors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for open rank professors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Open Rank Professors
Jobs Postings for Open Rank Professors By Education
- Master's degree: 19,807 (32%)
- Bachelor's degree: 13,734 (23%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 13,092 (21%)
- No Education Listed: 10,240 (17%)
- High School or GED: 4,138 (7%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of open rank professors. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 32% of positions. In 23% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 21% of postings a ph.d. or professional degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Open Rank Professors
Jobs Postings for Open Rank Professors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,485 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,989 (48%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,323 (19%)
- 7-9 Years: 292 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 423 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for open rank professors. In 48% of job postings for Open Rank Professors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for open rank professors.
What Kind of Degree Do Open Rank Professors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for open rank professors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective open rank professors, and in 2021 a total of 556,133 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective open rank professors.
Top Degree Programs for Open Rank Professors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Open Rank Professors (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 37,634 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,051 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 37,634 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,051 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Teacher Assistant/Aide. | 1,740 |
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education. | 1,302 |
| Teaching Assistants/Aides, Other. | 728 |
| Multicultural Education. | 354 |
| Montessori Teacher Education. | 252 |
| Online Educator/Online Teaching. | 79 |
| Driver and Safety Teacher Education. | 55 |
| Indian/Native American Education. | 34 |
| Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor. | 20 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Open Rank Professors
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- Years To Complete: 3
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- Years To Complete: 3
Educational and business settings need effective and ethical leaders. Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. with a focus on Organization Leadership equips you to become a transformative leader. With this 100% online doctor of education, you’ll develop expertise in educational technology, data-driven decision making and real-world change management.
- Years To Complete: 3
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
What Skills Do Open Rank Professors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by open rank professors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for open rank professors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Open Rank Professors
Based on 43,553 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Open Rank Professors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Open Rank Professors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
Based on 43,553 job postings related to open rank professors, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 8% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for lesson planning, pedagogy, physical education, social sciences and bilingual (spanish/english) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for open rank professors, followed by communications, multilingualism, research, writing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,018 | 5% |
| Learning Management Systems | 1,969 | 5% |
| Online Teaching | 1,871 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 1,867 | 4% |
| Merchandising | 1,762 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 1,751 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,668 | 4% |
| Powertrain | 1,632 | 4% |
| Biology | 1,587 | 4% |
| Special Education | 1,554 | 4% |
| Syllabus Development | 1,530 | 4% |
| Psychology | 1,524 | 3% |
| Colocation | 1,513 | 3% |
| Computer Science | 1,440 | 3% |
| Lecturing | 1,413 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
| English Language | 5,344 | 12% |
| Management | 4,514 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,422 | 10% |
| Planning | 4,339 | 10% |
| Innovation | 3,716 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 3,498 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,367 | 8% |
| Spanish Language | 3,159 | 7% |
| Mathematics | 3,155 | 7% |
| Advising | 3,082 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 2,698 | 6% |
| Sales | 2,427 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,323 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,156 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 1,850 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about open rank professors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for open rank professors.
What do open rank professors do?
How much do open rank professors make?
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