Can I teach at the college level with an MD but no PhD?

January 6, 2009 on 4:03 am | By | In bluefreesky.com | Can I teach at the college level with an MD but no PhD?
  • Can I teach at the college level with an MD? I have a BS in biology and an MD. I have completed a residency in internal medicine and have practiced medicine in a clinical setting for several years. I have realized that I no longer wish to practice medicine. I would like to teach undergraduate level biology, preferably at a small liberal arts college, although I would consider other settings, including community colleges. I have no experience teaching. I am currently in a Masters program (interdisciplinary, biology, psychology, anthropology) and had intended to continue onto a PhD, but I have already had so much schooling that I am beginning to wonder if there is a more efficient way to reach my goal. My question is this -- can I teach at the undergraduate level with an MD? Is there a precedent for this? Or do I need to have a PhD in biology? Or is there some sort of post-doctoral fellowship that would provide me with teaching experience? Thank you for your help! I look forward to your answer!


  • Hello Tomdornottomd, Some academic institutions hire people with master?s degrees and not a Ph.D, and some ask for a Ph.D. or equivalent. Certainly an M.D. would qualify as an equivalent for some positions. If you are not looking to be on the tenure track, or willing to be an adjunct or an instructor in a community college, you will have more opportunities. As you will see by the requirements I have posted further down in my answer, every institution has its own list of what it is seeking in a candidate. Some colleges, such as Duke University offer a teaching biology program, which would surely improve your chances of getting hired. Most postings do ask for a Ph.D., some ask for a Ph.D., or equivalent, and some simply request your C.V. I would certainly send your C.V. in to any position that interests you, and see what happens. I know from my daughter, who is a Ph.D. professor, that some colleges who don?t see adequate candidates will accept commensurate diplomas/education/title. It certainly appears that a teaching program similar to the Duke program would be beneficial, and most programs run one year or less. ?The Certificate in Teaching College Biology aims to enhance the professional development of graduate students by preparing them to teach biological sciences in academic venues that range from community colleges to Research I universities. In this program, graduate students work with faculty from nearby partner institutions (e.g., Durham Technical Community College, Elon University, and Meredith College) and from Duke to develop as teachers and to gain awareness about the roles of faculty. These experiences help to prepare graduate students for the academic job market. Program participants take courses on pedagogy, are mentored by faculty at partner institutions, gain practical teaching experience, and receive formal evaluation of their teaching. These requirements are designed to be flexible enough to be pursued alongside full-time disciplinary studies yet ensure that participants are rigorously trained in biological pedagogy.? http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/departments_and_programs/tcb.html University of Missouri ?1) Required Teacher Certification Courses at the Graduate Level (17 hours) Tch Ed 5311, Foundations in Education (4) Ed Psy 6109, Learning and Development in Educational Environments (4) Tch Ed 5310, Instructional Design (3) Tch Ed 5313, Introduction to Learners with Disabilities and Inclusive Education (3) Tch Ed 4391, Teaching Reading in Secondary School Content Areas* Required Teacher Certification Courses at the Undergraduate Level (19-21 hours) These courses are not applicable to the Master's degree. Sec Ed 4xxxx, Curriculum and Methods of Teaching -----(3) Sec Ed 4989, Secondary Education Professional Internship (3) Sec Ed 4990, Secondary School Student Teaching (12) Sec Ed 4xxxx, Student Teaching Seminar (1-3) http://www.umsl.edu/bulletin/2005_2006/Ed/SecEd.htm Ferris State University ?The biology education degree program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree through the School of Education, College of Education & Human Services. Graduates of the biology education degree program must complete all of Ferris State's general education, biology, and education requirements. Professional education requirements include a semester of directed student biology teaching. Consult the biology education degree program description for all graduation requirements.? http://www.ferris.edu/bachelor-degree-biology-education.htm University of Arizona http://www.utc.arizona.edu/tas/certificate/certificate.html ?Goode, 47, is one of a growing number of people who have traded in their private sector careers for the classroom. These career changers have taken teaching jobs, enrolled in training courses provided by the school system and eventually received a state teaching certificate within three years - all without taking extra classes at a university. It's a process known as alternative certification. The state cleared the way for such programs in 1998, allowing people without education degrees to teach. All Florida school districts are now required to operate programs. Some educators question whether such programs place unskilled teachers in the classroom, but many districts say it has helped them fill vacancies caused by a flood of teachers leaving the profession after only a few years.? http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/08/Tampabay/Making_the_switch_to_.shtml ? ?Opportunities for postsecondary teaching jobs are expected to be good, but many new openings will be for part-time or non-tenure-track positions. ? Prospects for teaching jobs will be better and earnings higher in academic fields in which many qualified teachers opt for nonacademic careers, such as health specialties, business, and computer science, for example. ? Educational qualifications for postsecondary teacher jobs range from expertise in a particular field to a Ph.D, depending on the subject being taught and the type of educational institution. ?Four-year colleges and universities usually consider doctoral degree holders for full-time, tenure-track positions, but may hire master?s degree holders or doctoral candidates for certain disciplines, such as the arts, or for part-time and temporary jobs. Most college and university faculty are in four academic ranks?professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor. These positions usually are considered to be tenure-track positions. Most faculty members are hired as instructors or assistant professors. A smaller number of additional faculty members, called lecturers, are usually employed on contracts for a single academic term and are not on the tenure track. In 2-year colleges, master?s degree holders fill most full-time positions. However, in certain fields where there may be more applicants than available jobs, institutions can be more selective in their hiring practices. In these fields, Master?s degree holders may be passed over in favor of candidates holding Ph.Ds. Many 2-year institutions increasingly prefer job applicants to have some teaching experience or experience with distance learning. Preference also may be given to those holding dual master?s degrees, especially at smaller institutions, because they can teach more subjects. Schools and programs that provide education and training for working adults generally hire people who are experienced in the field to teach part time. A master?s degree is also usually required.? http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos066.htm For Iowa Community Colleges Initial requirements: 1.Have a master's degree in a field of instruction from a regionally accredited graduate school. ***** Note this ---- >>> (In special fields or areas which require education and licensure beyond the bachelors degree, including accounting, engineering, law, law enforcement, and medicine; the applicant may be certified on the basis of two or more years of successful experience in the fields or areas they will instruct and the possession of the academic preparation ordinarily required for such special fields or areas.) and 2.A new teacher's workshop of approximately thirty clock hours in specified competencies, and 3.Competency attainment in the four basic study areas of: methods and techniques of teaching, course and curriculum development, measurement and evaluation of programs and students, and history and philosophy of the development of the community college, and 4.Completion of an approved human relations component. http://www.state.ia.us/boee/ccreq.html Some school's requirements ========================== Henderson State University ========================== ?Assistant Professor of Biology, available August 2007; tenure-track, nine-month appointment with additional stipend for summer teaching possible. Ph.D. preferred, ABD considered? http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175205406 Community College of Philadelphia ================================= ?Biology: Two tenure track positions (rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor) beginning September 2007. Successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of innovative teaching techniques in biological sciences plus a strong background in Anatomy/Physiology or Microbiology/Cell Culturing techniques. Teaching experience at the community college level and expertise in biology curriculum development an advantage. Earned doctorate preferred; Master's in Biological Sciences or a related field with twenty graduate credits in biological sciences required.? http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175205313 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania =================================== ?The Department of Biology invites applications for a full-time temporary faculty position to teach introductory biology for non-majors for the Spring 2007 semester. Required: A Master's degree in Biology or related field; Ph.D. preferred. One year of college-level teaching experience involving non-science majors, or equivalent, required; additional teaching experience is desirable. Full-time temporary faculty are also expected to meet some service obligations to the department, which could include participation in the revisions of the non-majors biology courses, and other departmental duties.? http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175205300 Glendale Community College, CA ============================== ?Minimum Qualifications: Master's in any biological science OR Bachelor's in any biological science AND Master's in biochemistry, biophysics or marine sciences from an accredited institution OR the equivalent.? http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175205246 St. Mary?s University, TX ========================== ?A Ph.D. in Biology or a related discipline is required and postdoctoral experience is preferred.? http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175204889 Carelton College ===================================================== ?Candidates must have a Ph.D. in biology or a related field, and post-doctoral experience is preferred.? http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/doc/position_openings/?job_id=242029 University of Kansas Medical Center =================================== ?A Ph.D. (or equivalent) and 2-3 years of postdoctoral training are required. Salary will be commensurate with experience.? OUCOM Biomedical Sciences ?Minimum requirements include a Ph.D. degree in the biological sciences and/or a M.D. degree, and relevant postdoctoral research experience.? http://www.sdbonline.org/career/jobs.php Morningside College, Sioux City, IA =================================== Screening for the positions will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. Send letter of application, e-mail address, curriculum vita, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation addressed to the specific search, c/o Dr. William Deeds, VPAA, Morningside College, 1501 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City, IA 51106. Morningside College is an EEO employer. http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000475194-01 Blue Mountain Community College =============================== Professional-Technical: Minimum Qualifications ? Bachelor?s degree in field and /or certification by recognized national certifying organization and appropriate experience. Business College Prep (pre-College) reading, writing, math Computer Aided Drafting GED/ESL (correctional institutions assignment) Lower Division Collegiate: Minimum qualifications: Master?s degree in field or bachelor?s degree + 20 graduate hours in subject area. http://www.bluecc.edu/apps/employment/employment.php One of the better places to seek an academic teaching job is the Chronicle of Higher Education Chronicle Careers site. (I know, I monitored this site for months for my daughter!) You may sign up to be notified of jobs in biology and receive a emails quite often of new postings. http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000472996-01 Another site for biology jobs is http://www.biologyjobs.com/ Here is one example: Skills: BS or BA in Biology or related field. Job Description: The Marine Science Consortium in Wallops Island, VA, is searching for biology enthusiasts to teach our precollege Coastal Ecology program. Join our hands-on, feet-wet approach to education. Room and board for instructors is provided on station, in addition to a biweekly stipend. A two week training period begins on September 4th. http://www.biologyjobs.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=402&requesttimeout=500 Would the Peace Corp or Doctors Without Borders interest you? Peace Corps http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatispc.notable Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ These articles may interest you: http://www.nextgenmd.org/vol2-5/teaching.html Former doctors find new careers http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2003/06/30/story2.html I hope this has answered your questions. You can see that requirements vary widely, school to school, state to state. If anything is unclear. Please request an Answer Clarification, and allow me to respond, before rating this answer. Sincerely, Crabcakes Search Terms ============ Biology instructors College biology + teach Teaching college biology + requirements Degree needed for teaching college biology Chronicle of higher education + searched biology jobs Biology instructor + open + positions







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