Melvin Said:

Questions about the career of an instructor at a community college.?

We Answered:

I don't teach the sciences and can note that most positions in the sciences will require a PhD - if not required for the position, there is enough competition out there that has a PhD that not having one makes getting the job very difficult.

- Is a master's degree enough qualification to get a good job?

No, it's the bare minimum requirement to be permitted to teach at the academic level. Having just a master's degree and no other qualifications (industry experience, research, publications, teaching experience) will not be sufficient to get most jobs - let alone the "good jobs". It will be sufficient to get the jobs nobody else wants and will get you started.

The requirement is "a master's degree in the subject area or a master's degree and 18 hours in the subject area" and that minimum will meet the academic requirement for most teaching appointments at the undergraduate level.

Your competition for those jobs is likely to have a higher degree, teaching experience, or industry experience though. You don't want to apply with just the minimum requirement met.

- How is the pay?

Really good considering the hours worked and what you do for the money. But, most people don't become CC instructors hoping to make big bucks. This isn't an industry known for paying the entry level workers (instructor) top dollar.

- Are the job opportunities (for both present and future) fairly decent?

In many subjects the prospects are very good. There is always a demand for good teachers at all levels. In some subjects there is a continuing high demand for instructors.

- What are the hours like? Do you find yourself working more or less than 40 hours in a typical week?

A beginning instructor rarely has a full course load to teach at one college. This is usually a part-time job starting out and won't become full-time until you prove yourself. In some subjects it will never be full-time because there just aren't enough courses to teach. In other subjects (English, Math, etc) there are plenty of courses to teach and a FT appointment is easier to get.

- Do the benefits typically provide health insurance for your entire family?

If you're hired into a FT position and especially if it's at a public college then, yes. The benefits package can be very nice at some - nonexistent at others.

- Are summer vacations and winter vacations fully paid holidays?

No. The more "usual" arrangement for instructors is a contract based on payment for courses taught and not a monthly salary. I generally expect $2000 - $2500 per course per semester with no additional benefits. Some pay considerably more, some less.

If you're appointed into a FT instructor position then you'd be salaried with a stable monthly income throughout the contract period - usually 9-10 months.

- Is it a career with decent job security?

Not unless/until you are appointed with tenure. Very many new instructors are working on semester contracts, some on a school year contract. Without a permanent FT tenured position, there is no job security at all.

- Are there many opportunities for promotions/raises?

Yes. Based on credentials and experience. An instructor may advance to senior instructor and then into the tenure track leading all the way to professor. Some educators with a master's degree do achieve those professorships but usually you can expect to need the PhD.

For most at the instructor level, raises come as a result of increasing your teaching load.

- How would you describe the "stress level" of the job?

There's some - at the instructor level it's not too bad. Instructors are usually only required to teach. There's no demand for political engagement, research, advising, publishing, etc... just teach your classes and go home.

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Explore a little about how community college instructors are hired. Very many (in some subjects most) are not full-time employees of the college. Teaching in the core subjects is more likely to result in a full-time seat than teaching courses that have a limited audience.

You can review open positions and see exactly what they're looking for at The Chronicle of Higher Education http://chronicle.com/search/jobs/

Note that my opinions above come from someone that isn't interested in a full-time or tenured seat. Your mileage may vary.

Jimmie Said:

Does anyone work as a respiratory therapist and do you like this career feild?

We Answered:

yeah. i love it

Katie Said:

Phys Ed teaching opportunities?

We Answered:

PE is one of the harder areas to get a job in. Especially if you are in the Midwest or Northeast, it could be quite challenging. You'll have an easier time in the South. Also, you can improve your chances of getting a PE teaching job if you have the skills and abilities to coach multiple sports (almost all PE teachers are coaches too).

If you want to make it much easier to get a job, consider getting certified in special ed. This is the area with the most severe shortages of teachers. If it won't add too much time to your degree and if you want to be sure you can get a job, I'd recommend doing it. At the high school where I teach, one of the PE teachers teaches special PE classes for the special ed students, so maybe you could even combine the two of them to get a job doing something like that.

Good luck!

Agnes Said:

Would anyone recommend Medix School, Medical Office Asistant?

We Answered:

I am presently enrolled in the MOA ( Medical Office Assisant ) program and I am finding it very rewarding, challanging and informative. I feel that once I graduate from this coruse I will be able to succeed in the Medical field. The teachers are very welcoming and helpful to be around, as well as understanding of lifes' difficulties . ie. if you miss a class in community colleges, they dont care and move forward in the subject , here they make sure you catch up and get the work you need to get done. everyone here is very supportive. As far as the differneces between comm. colleges , this is a faster pace, and more rewarding course as you finish sooner and get out to the real world and make make money...

Henry Said:

what are my chances of getting into Barnard College, BU, Northeastern & Holy Cross with a 3.7 unweighted gpa?

We Answered:

Holy Cross is custom made for you since they went SAT optional last year. You are exactly the type of student they like. They prefer very involved students with great academic records and don't rely on standardized tests unless you submit which obviously you should not.

It is a great school and a breathtaking campus. You must interview if at all possible. Showing interest is key!!!!

Amber Said:

Which class will better prepare me for college?

We Answered:

go with either of the first 2 and your good

Joseph Said:

Which class is most relevant to the field of medicine and psychology?

We Answered:

Biological Anthropology/Archaeology sounds like a rigorous, interesting course where you'll learn about the scientific method, some anatomy, and some laboratory procedures not commonly seen. It would be number one for a medical career.

Family Life and Human Development is very relevant to the field of psychology. Not only will it tackle questions that come up all the time in professional practice, but it will do a lot to develop personal maturity.

Sociology 101-102, at least the way it was taught in my university, was a combination of common sense and easy reading assignments. It was interesting, but not a very serious course.

Philosophy 101-102, at least the way it was taught in my university, was a head-in-the-clouds course that had absolutely no value in the real world except to demonstrate that I'd been exposed to a liberal-arts education. I hated it. The only person I knew who was a philosophy major was a girl from a rich family who would never actually have to hold a job, even if she didn't get married.