Opportunities in Academia for those with Graduate Degrees John Keyser For CPSC 481

Academia – Types of Schools Research Universities –Research is a major part of the school’s function –Usually offer full range of graduate degrees Teaching Universities –Primary focus is on the teaching aspects of education –Usually focused on undergraduate education

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive –Several Doctorates/Year over several subjects –TAMU, UT-Austin/Arlington, Texas Tech, North Texas, Houston, Rice, SMU Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive –Several Doctorates per year –TAMU-Commerce/Kingsville, UT-Dallas/El Paso, Baylor, TCU Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I –Bachelor’s, Several Masters in 3 or more subjects –Remaining TAMU/UT schools, Sam Houston State, Houston – Clear Lake/Victoria, ACU, Trinity Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II –Bachelors, several Master’s –LeTourneau, St. Edward’s, Texas Wesleyan Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts –Mainly Undergrad, most in liberal arts –TAMU Galveston, Univ. of Dallas, Southwestern University Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General –Mainly undergraduate, minority in liberal arts –Houston – Downtown, Texas Lutheran, McMurry, Lubbock Christian Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges –10-50% Batchelor’s, rest Associate’s –None in Texas Associate’s Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive Master’s Colleges and Universities I Master’s Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges – General Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges Associate’s Colleges –Associate’s but no or few Batchelor’s –Blinn, Texas State Technical College, most Junior/Community Colleges

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Specialized Institutions –Theological seminaries –Medical Schools –Health Schools (e.g. nursing/chiropractic) –Engineering/Technology focused –Business and Management –Art, Music, Design –Law Schools –Teachers Colleges –Others (e.g military academies, maritime, etc.) Tribal Colleges

Positions in Academia Faculty Administration –For many upper-level positions, graduate degree is needed –Often move to administration from faculty Support –Specialized services/technologies/knowledge

Faculty Positions Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Teaching Faculty/Lecturers Research Faculty

Primary duty is research –Expected to be funded from grants –Sometimes coordinate rather than work directly on research topics Limited other duties –Usually don’t teach, limited service –Might still serve on graduate student committees, but usually won’t chair

Teaching Faculty Primary role is teaching –Most do not actively pursue research –Usually have ~2x teaching load of tenured faculty Research Universities: –Lecturers –Not Tenure-Track Teaching Universities –Faculty –Can be tenured

Tenure-Track/Tenured Faculty The “regular” faculty members Research, Teaching, Service Supervise graduate students Tenure-track (pre-tenure) or Tenured

What is Tenure? Reviewed after ~5 years, by senior faculty/administrators –Process takes about 1 year –Sufficient experience prior to joining can be used Demonstrate “high level of scholarly accomplishment” –Research (publications/grants) often considered most important –Reviews from faculty outside of your own University –Teaching, Service also considered Usually either get tenure or must leave Security –Freedom to choose research directions/express opinions –Economic security (Incentive for academic jobs)

The Role of Research The role of Universities is the “the pursuit, understanding, and dissemination of knowledge” Knowledge transfer is expected –Teaching in classes –Graduate students –Publications/Presentations to larger community –Cooperation with industry/government Research plays a large role at Research Schools, less so at Teaching Schools Research is a (THE) major part of graduate studies, particularly for Ph.D.

Why do You Need a Graduate Degree for Academic Jobs? Of course, provides a “certification” of sorts If you will be doing research, need to have demonstrated research aptitude –Almost always means Ph.D. Supervising graduate students (know expectations) Can demonstrate knowledge level sufficient to teach Master’s/Ph.D. needs change depending on school type.

Recommended Resources Texas A&M Faculty Senate, TAMU Faculty Facts (Answers to questions about faculty roles and responsibilities at TAMU) – Tomorrow’s Professor Preparing for Academic Careers in Science and Engineering –Richard Reis, IEEE Press, 1997 Carnegie Classification: –