Q&A for How to Become an English Literature Professor

If you're in college, you'll probably want to study English or a related subject, as stated in step 1. However, you cannot become a professor straight out of college. You'll need a doctorate in English literature to be a professor. With a master's degree, you can teach freshman writing, and in some community colleges, sophomore literature. But without a doctorate degree, it's hard to get a full-time position. There are tons of part-time adjunct positions for people with master's degrees in English, but the pay is incredibly poor and you have very little say in what and sometimes how you teach.

NET is compulsory for starting career as a professor. If you have a good academic record, you can join as a guest faculty in any private college as per the criteria of the college.

Take as many different types of English classes as your high school offers as well as your required courses.

Based on the article, you have to achieve your B.A or B.S., then your M.A. or M.S. and finally a PhD. You will likely need to attain at a minimum your PhD as well as continue your studies in other related fields.

Yes, definitely.

As long as you have your Masters degree you can be a college professor.

English literature classes are the most important. Concentrate on areas you think you'd like to specialise in as a professor. Other useful classes include foreign languages (French, German, Russian, and Spanish literature, all of which have had big influences on the development of English literature), history (especially if you want to focus on Mediaeval or Romantic literature), theatre, and media. Your MA will likely be a thesis about a single topic - you will discuss this with your university's professors closer to the time.

A Masters takes one to two years of full time study. A PhD can take up to eight years but the aim is to complete it full time within 3 years.

Usually, you must have completed a Bachelors degree, often with an Honors component. Masters may or may not be needed, depending on what course you are going for. If you have previous exceptions or publications, some universities may be willing to waive this requirement. Talk to the education consultant at the university you're interested in first.

PhDs usually take between three (full-time) and seven years (part-time) to complete. They are a big commitment and you'll find most of the rest of your life gets placed on hold while doing it.

You need enough of a high school education to get into university in your country. Then, you usually need a Bachelor of Arts (then an Honours year, if you're in Australia or New Zealand), a Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts, and a PhD in English Literature (your actual title may be more specific). Sometimes you can do an MA or MFA with a different undergraduate degree, and some universities only require lecturers to have a Masters (but pay more if you have a PhD).