Korean Job Discussion Forums

[toomuchtime]

Hey.
I've been thinking about how some English teachers call themselves 'professor'- as they work at universities, but in reality, they don't have PhDs.
Does the term 'professor' only apply to those who have a PhD, or is anyone who teaches in a uni at 'prof'?
Personally, I think one has to have the doctorate, and that the expats that use the title are a bit high on themselves. But that's just my opinion.
Any thoughts?

(BTW, I call myself a 'lecturer' or 'instructor')

Hank- can you find a way to make my query anti-American? Please?

[Real Reality]

Some people seem to think you MUST have a Ph.D. or doctorate to be a professor. I looked at the faculties of two large Korean universities. Here is a list of professors without Ph.D.s (Notice they have various ranks--assistant, associate, and full--simply written as Professor).
I did not include their names (__ __ __). I am not interested in giving these professors unwanted attention. The highest degree is noted.

Archeology
1. Associate Professor / _ _ _ / Master of Archeology
Arts
1. Assistant Professor / _ _ _ / Master of Arts
Economics (and Management)
1. Professor / __ _ _ / Master of Business Administration
2. Professor / __ __ __ / Master of Arts in Management
Education
1. Professor / _ _ _ / Master of Arts
English Language and Literature
1. Professor /K__ __ __ / Master of Arts
Finance
1. Professor / K___ __ __ / Master of Business Administration
Fine Arts
1. At one university 12 professors have Master of Fine Arts (1 Full, 5 Associate, 6 Assistant)
2. Assistant Professor / K____ ___ ___ / Master of Arts
3. Professor / ___ ____ __ / Bachelor of Fine Arts
German Language and Literature
1. Professor / _ _ _ / Master of Arts
Japanese Language and Literature
1. Associate Professor / ___ ____ ____ / Master of Arts
2. Professor / _____ ____ / Master of Arts
Music
1. Associate Professor / ____ ___ ____/ Bachelor of Music
2. Professor / ____ _____ ___ / Bachelor of Music
3. At one university 10 (full) professors have masters� degrees.
Natural Sciences (Biology)
1. Professor / ___ ___ ___/ Master of Science
Physical Education
1. Professor / C__ ___ ___/ Master of Physical Education
2. Professor / H____ ____ ____/ Master of Arts
3. Professor / K___ ___ ____/ Master of Arts
Sociology
1. Professor / K___ __ __/ Master of Arts in Sociology
2. Professor / __ ___ ___/ Master of Arts in Sociology
3. Professor / ___ ____ ___/ Master of Arts in Sociology
4. Professor /L ___ ____ / Master of Arts in Sociology

This subject has been covered before.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=12990&highlight=

Are you sure about the Ph.D. requirement? Here is a position in the U.S.

Position Currently Available
Assistant Professor of ESL
(___) College seeks a full-time, tenure-track, 10-month/1 year position.
Required Education: Master's Degree
Required Experience:
- must meet one of the following under a) or b):
a) Master�s in TESL, TESOL, applied linguistics with a TESL
emphasis, linguistics with a TESL emphasis, English with a
TESL emphasis, or education with a TESL emphasis
b) Bachelor�s in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL
certificate, linguistics with a TESL certificate, applied linguistics
with a TESL certificate, or any foreign language with a TESL
certificate AND Master�s in linguistics, applied
linguistics, English, composition, bilingual/bicultural studies, reading, speech, or any foreign language

[desultude]

"Professor" is formally used as a specific job title- "professor", "assistant professor", "associate professor." If you are hired for one of those "visiting professor" positions, you are justified in calling yourself professor. I have taught as a visiting professor, instructor, and lecturer at different universities in the U.S., and the students there always call you professor. I never finished the dissertation, but I have been hired as a "professor." As I said, its just a job title. The PhD. entitles you to be called "doctor."

I call myself an instructor here, because I was hired as a visiting instructor. My students all call me teacher. Its the first time in my life I have been a "teacher". But it is only a title. A job title.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

In Korea you are a professor if you have 'tenure', and esl teachers don't get tenure. If you work in a uni and don't have tenure you're a ���� not ����.

[kangnam mafioso]

this is kind of a gray area. i always preferred "instructor," translated in korean as "yong-oh kangsa."

[Tiger Beer]

I just say 'professor de inglis' in spanish and leave it vague and confusing much like this post.

[Circus Monkey]

At my old university in the largest department (Arts and Science) there were about 192 professors with Phds and only 2 with a Masters. The rest of the folks listed as "assistants" all had masters except one person who had a Phd.

I second kangnam's take on it. Just call me an "instructor" and don't print glossy ads with made-up credentials.

[Ody]

[Gwangjuboy]

[The Lemon]

I think the "you can't call yourself a professor if you don't have a PhD" thing is actually a misunderstanding - you can't call yourself "DOCTOR" if you don't have a PhD. But if you look up "professor" in a dictionary, it says nothing about a PhD requirement for the term.

But I agree that anyone who goes around calling themselves that is a bit too high fallutin for me. But if someone else wants them to give them the title (which is usually the case here), then fine. Whatever.

[Lloyd Christmas]

I agree with the Lemon on this one. I work at a university and its the norm for the students to call me professor so i don't correct them.