How to Become a College Professor: Making the Shift from Industry to Academia

If you’ve spent years building experience in your field and are now feeling called to teach, research or mentor the next generation, you’re not alone. Many professionals reach a point in their career where they want to share what they’ve learned, not just apply it. Whether your interest lies in higher education or academic research, transitioning to a role as a college professor can be a rewarding next step.

But how do you make that switch? What qualifications do you need? And how does an advanced degree factor into your journey? Here’s what to know if you’re thinking about moving from the workplace to the classroom or research lab.

Why an Advanced Degree Is Essential

Becoming a college professor or researcher starts with earning the right academic credentials. While professional experience matters, nearly all full-time faculty positions require at least a master’s degree and in most cases, a doctorate. These degrees show that you’ve not only mastered the subject matter but also have the academic training needed to teach or conduct research at a high level.

A master’s degree may be sufficient to teach at the community college or adjunct level, especially if you’re teaching applied courses in business, exercise science, healthcare or education. But for tenure-track positions at universities or roles that involve research and publication, a doctorate is often required.

Graduate education prepares you for more than just content delivery. It helps you develop skills in curriculum design, research methodology, data analysis and academic writing. These are key elements of success in higher education and the reason why employers in academia place so much value on advanced degrees.

Translating Industry Experience into Teaching Strengths

If you’ve spent your career in corporate, clinical, nonprofit or athletic environments, you already bring valuable real-world insight. That’s something students appreciate. College faculty who have worked in the field can offer relevant examples, speak to current trends and bridge theory with practice.

The key is learning how to communicate your experience in a way that fits academic settings. That includes understanding how to design learning outcomes, assess student progress and integrate scholarly sources into your teaching. It’s also important to recognize that your industry knowledge becomes more impactful when paired with research and pedagogy.

Many graduate programs help you develop this academic fluency. For example, Concordia University Chicago’s advanced degrees are taught by faculty who have worked in the field and understand the needs of professionals making this transition.

Research as a New Avenue of Impact

If you’ve always been curious, analytical and interested in solving problems, academic research may be a natural fit. Faculty researchers contribute to their field by publishing studies, analyzing data and creating knowledge that shapes policy or practice.

A doctoral program can give you the training and platform to pursue this kind of work. You’ll learn how to ask meaningful research questions, design studies and share your findings through presentations and publications. If you’re already working in a specialized industry, you might even bring a unique perspective that academic peers haven’t explored yet.

Many professionals find that academic research offers them a fresh way to make an impact, one that complements the work they’ve done in the field and allows them to influence the next wave of innovation.

Steps to Start Your Transition

If your goal is to become a college professor or researcher, here are a few steps to get started:

1. Explore Graduate and Doctoral Programs

Look for programs that align with your career goals and area of expertise. Choose one that offers a research component if you’re interested in publishing or pursuing tenure-track roles.

2. Start Teaching or Guest Speaking

Consider teaching a class at a local college or offering to guest lecture. This will help you gain experience and decide whether the classroom is the right fit.

3. Talk to Current Faculty

Reach out to professors in your field. Ask about their career path, what they enjoy and what challenges they’ve faced. Their insight can help you plan your own next steps.

4. Build a Research Portfolio

If you’re aiming for a research role, begin developing ideas now. Stay current on academic journals, attend conferences and identify the kinds of questions you want to explore.

5. Develop Academic Skills

Advanced degrees help you build expertise in writing, presenting and research design. These are all necessary for success in higher education. Take these skills seriously as you move through your program.

Your Experience Matters, Now Share It

Higher education needs more professors who have walked the walk. If you’ve spent years in the field and are now thinking about stepping into a teaching or research role, you have something valuable to offer. An advanced degree can help you turn your experience into influence, giving you the tools to lead, teach and inspire in new ways.

At Concordia University Chicago, we offer fully online master’s and doctoral programs that prepare professionals like you to succeed in academic environments. Whether you’re interested in research, leadership or instruction, we can help you take the next step with purpose.