how much time is required for an adjunct professor to teach one course online

by Ethan Powlowski II 10 min read

It may be as little as one hour per week, per class. On the outside, you could even figure two hours. In the online environment, however, that fixed number may prove unnecessary. You may keep no office hours, preferring to respond to student questions via email.Nov 21, 2021

Full Answer

Is it time to become an online adjunct professor?

The number of U.S. college students taking online courses continues to grow, 1 and so does the demand for postsecondary teachers. 2 If you’ve always wanted to teach at the college level, those indicators may be your signal that it’s time to explore becoming an online adjunct professor. What is an adjunct professor?

What are the qualifications of an adjunct professor?

As an adjunct professor, you will be eligible for membership in certain professional groups. Organizations like the American Association of Adjunct Education and Adjunct Action provide learning and teaching resources for their members. Here are some steps you can take to pursue an adjunct professor career: Complete your undergraduate degree.

Do adjunct college professors get paid hourly?

For instance, an adjunct with a master's degree teaching at a community college will make less than an adjunct with a doctorate teaching at an Ivy League university. However, it is important to note that the majority of adjuncts are paid per course or credit hour rather than an hourly wage.

Do adjunct faculty interact with each other as equals?

Faculty members do not even interact with each other as equals. Most adjuncts aren’t included in regular faculty meetings, let alone conferences where ideas are exchanged and explored.

How are adjunct hours calculated?

*In general: Adjunct faculty should ordinarily be credited with (3) hours of work per week for each credit hour assigned to a semester-long course. For example, an adjunct faculty member teaching one (1), three-hour class would be calculated as working nine (9) hours in that week.

What do online adjunct professors do?

Your job duties include developing curriculum, preparing lesson plans, teaching students during online courses, evaluating student work, and posting grades. You may also assist with research in your chosen field, collaborating with full-time professors and research assistants.

Can you make a living being an adjunct professor?

Adjuncts typically earn between $20,000 and $25,000 annually, while the average salary for full-time instructors and professors is over $80,000. Some adjuncts cobble together a full-time schedule by teaching classes at more than one university.

What are your salary expectations teaching an online 8 week course?

The standard compensation for most courses is $2,200 per 8-week undergraduate course and $2,500 per 10- week graduate course.

Why are adjuncts paid so little?

Adjuncts are paid so little to help universities and colleges save money. Higher education institutions are businesses looking to lower overhead costs and generate revenue. Ultimately colleges save a lot of money by hiring several part-time adjunct instructors rather than full-time tenure-track faculty positions.

How do I become an online adjunct professor?

How to Become an Online Adjunct ProfessorStep 1: Explore the Field. Research the qualifications you'll need to become an adjunct professor at the online colleges that interest you. ... Step 2: Choose an Online University. ... Step 3: Earn Your Degree. ... Step 4: Get Employment-Ready. ... Step 5: Start Teaching.

Is being an adjunct professor worth it?

There are many reasons to become an adjunct professor. If you already have a full-time job in education, this will add a little more to your plate, but you will reap many benefits. You will get a little more money. Salary may vary from $1000 to $5000 for a 3-hour course, depending upon the university's pay scale.

How do I become an adjunct professor without teaching experience?

How to Get a Job As an Adjunct ProfessorTalk to other professors.Look for schools that hire people like you.Know the subjects you want to teach and tell people.Find classes that exist that you could teach.Start with continuing education classes.Guest lecture.Put together a CV.

Is being an adjunct professor stressful?

Working as an adjunct is probably the most underpaid, stressful, and thankless semi-professional jobs in existence today.

What is required to teach online courses?

To qualify, you'll generally need to hold a master's degree or be able to document that you've taken a cluster of advanced coursework in the areas you wish to teach. Though full-time jobs aren't common, some distance programs do hire online professors, including in tenure-track faculty positions.

Can you make a living teaching online?

Teaching English online provides great opportunities to earn a good salary on either a part-time or full-time basis. While it isn't the most lucrative profession, it does offer great flexibility and convenience, including the ability to make money from home while impacting the lives of others.

How can I teach online courses?

How To Prepare For Teaching OnlinePlan Your Classes. Your students are not physically in front of you. ... Prepare And Master Technology. ... Set Up An Adequate Working Environment. ... Innovate And Stimulate Discussions. ... Communicate Regularly. ... Motivate Your Students. ... Ask For Help And Feedback. ... Final Thoughts.

How do you get started as an online adjunct instructor?

You can search for and apply to jobs listed through several different online career sites. The best ones for online adjuncts include the following:

How much do online teaching positions pay?

The pay scale for adjunct professors that teach online isn’t too shabby. The typical minimum for any semester-long course is $1,250, and some university semesters are defined as only four weeks long.

What equipment will you need to teach online?

Typically, the schools that you apply to will already have software in place that will help you create your online course material and teach. If you’re camera-shy, you needn’t worry about being “taped” because the majority of your lessons will take place through video screen-sharing of your computer whiteboard, not your face and/or body.

Make even more money with online instruction

Once you become adept at teaching an online course, you can create your own personalized version of its subject matter and offer it through several online schools simultaneously. For example, a Spanish 101 course will go through the same fundamentals of language learning in almost every classroom.

How to become an adjunct professor?

Here are some steps you can take to pursue an adjunct professor career: Complete your undergraduate degree. Choose a field of study. Attend graduate school. Gather your application materials. Apply for open positions. 1. Complete your undergraduate degree.

How much does an adjunct professor make?

Average salary. The national average salary for an adjunct professor as of November 2019 is $67.58 per hour. Salaries range from $34.25 to $200 per hour. An adjunct professor's salary can vary widely depending on education level and the institution.

What are the duties of adjunct professors?

Whichever school or department they work in, adjunct professors must adhere to institutional standards to create relevant lesson plans and ensure students' academic progress. Other duties for an adjunct professor usually include: 1 Grading papers and exams 2 Tracking assignment submissions and grades in online learning programs 3 Holding office hours to have discussions with students about the course 4 Interacting with students via email 5 Writing letters of recommendation for students seeking to attend graduate programs or obtain professional positions 6 Inputting grades into an online grade management system 7 Attending meetings with the department to stay up to date on the program's needs and objectives

Why do adjunct professors have to adhere to institutional standards?

Whichever school or department they work in, adjunct professors must adhere to institutional standards to create relevant lesson plans and ensure students' academic progress.

What is the job growth rate for adjunct professors?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth outlook for adjunct professors, or postsecondary teachers, is 11% for 2018-2028. This rate is higher than the national average for other professions, which is typically 5%. Job growth rates can also be higher for certain disciplines.

What is a teaching statement?

This one- to two-page document outlines your theories about teaching, including how to construct assignments, conduct classroom lectures and grade lessons or tests. A strong teaching statement usually includes examples of successful classroom approaches you've tried.

Where do adjunct professors work?

Adjunct professors work in institutions of higher education, including community colleges and four-year universities. They often work in one discipline—typically one in which they have graduate education—but may alternate if they specialize in more than one field.

What degree do I need to become an adjunct professor?

The education requirements for online adjunct faculty professor jobs vary by institution. At a minimum, you need a bachelor's degree in your field and some teaching experience. That may be sufficient for online programs for community colleges and some state school.

What is an adjunct professor?

An online adjunct professor works for a college or university, teaching students about a particular subject, either through an online course or as part of an online program. As an online adjunct professor, you are a part-time instructor in your field.

What fields do adjunct professors work in?

The greatest need for adjunct professors is in fields related to business, psychology, architecture, engineering, biology, economics, criminal science, and law. Online adjunct professors in academic departments related to health care, such as science, nursing, and pre-med subjects, are also in high demand. All Jobs.

What are the duties of a college teacher?

Your job duties include developing curriculum, preparing lesson plans, teaching students during online courses, evaluating student work, and posting grades. You may also assist with research in your chosen ...

Do colleges accept career experience?

Some colleges accept career experience as credentials in place of higher degrees. Practice developing curriculum and shadow other professors to gain experience and to boost your portfolio before seeking online adjunct professor positions.

What does an adjunct online faculty do?

Adjunct online faculty can teach a variety of subjects, from business to Spanish literature. Like in-person faculty, most adjunct online faculty have advanced degrees in ...

How much do adjuncts make?

Adjunct Online Faculties in America make an average salary of $119,689 per year or $58 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $191,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $74,000 per year.

image