Becoming a Psychology Professor
Teaching psychology is a noble and rewarding endeavor, but finding the right position at the right college can be a daunting task.
This book is designed to guide you through this complicated process by helping you find the job that matches your long-term goals — whether you want to focus on research, teaching, or both — and to become a strong, competitive candidate in today's challenging academic job market.
Author Guy Boysen begins by surveying the wide array of programs and institutions aspiring faculty should consider, including doctoral and master's programs at public and private universities, community colleges, and baccalaureate colleges. He then reviews the ideal skills, experience, and professional connections that students should accumulate during graduate school.
Readers will learn strategies for writing CVs, cover letters, and other application materials; securing effective letters of recommendation; preparing for phone, video, and on-campus interviews; and negotiating terms of employment after being offered a job.
Introduction: Welcome to the Profession!
- The Varieties of Academic Experiences: Types of Institutions
- The Fundamental Research and Teaching Experiences Needed to Be a Psychology Professor
- Professional Service, Engagement, and Connections
- Searching for and Selecting Open Positions
- Creating a Curriculum Vitae
- Application Materials and the Application Process
- Interviewing
- Job Offers and Negotiations
Epilogue
Appendix: Job Search Timeline
References
Index
About the Author
Guy A. Boysen, PhD, is a professor of psychology at McKendree University.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and his PhD from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
His scholarship emphasizes the teaching of psychology, professional development of teachers, and stigma of mental illness. He previously coauthored a book on model teaching characteristics entitled An Evidence-Based Guide to College and University Teaching.
Dr. Boysen's scholarship has led to consulting editor appointments at the journals Teaching of Psychology and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology.
Guy Boysen lives in O'Fallon, Illinois.
Visit The Full Professor website and follow @GuyBoysen.
In this pithy book, Boysen demonstrates that landing a good academic post is all about understanding and leveraging the fit between an applicant’s characteristics and the available types of institutions doing the hiring. Aspiring professors will learn to navigate the academic job market while benefitting from Boysen’s savvy advice, which is backed by research and experience.
—Dana S. Dunn, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
This is the single best resource for graduate students today. It pulls no punches as it captures the changed face of higher education — old rules and norms do not apply. Boysen’s research and teaching chops give him credibility and a refreshing voice.
—Regan A. R. Gurung, PhD
Professor of Psychological Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis
This book is for undergraduate and graduate students who are thinking of becoming psychologists. Or for psychology professors (hint: it’s a good gift for your students). In short, it will help anyone considering academic psychology as a career.
—Henry L. Roediger III, PhD
James McDonnell Professor of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Welcome to the supplemental material for Becoming a Psychology Professor: Your Guide to Landing the Right Academic Job. The materials on this page are intended to help you tailor your application materials based on the type of professorship and institution you are seeking.
This page is organized by chapter and includes self-assessment activities to identify the types of colleges that best suit your career goals; timelines indicating various experiences accumulated during graduate school that will help you become a competitive job candidate; sample CVs, cover letters, and teaching and research statements; and checklists you can use to make sure your application materials are in order and to prepare for phone, video, and on-campus interviews.
These documents are offered for your personal use. If you reprint or adapt them for publication, permission is required from the publisher. All material is ©2020 by the American Psychological Association unless otherwise noted. The opinions and statements presented in these documents are the responsibility of the authors, and such opinions do not necessarily represent the policies of the American Psychological Association.
- Chapter 1. The Varieties of Academic Experiences: Types of Institutions
- Chapter 2. The Fundamental Research and Teaching Experiences Needed to Be a Psychology Professor
- Chapter 3. Professional Service, Engagement, and Connections
- Chapter 4. Searching for and Selecting Open Positions
- Chapter 5. Writing a Curriculum Vitae
- Chapter 6. Application Materials and the Application Process
- Sample Application CV (PDF, 85 KB)
- Doctoral University Job Advertisement and Cover Letter (PDF, 122 KB)
- Master’s University Job Advertisement and Cover Letter (PDF, 172 KB)
- Baccalaureate College Job Advertisement and Cover Letter (PDF, 174 KB)
- Community College Job Advertisement and Cover Letter (PDF, 169 KB)
- Teaching Statement for a Research-Focused Institution (PDF, 152 KB)
- Teaching Statement for a Teaching-Focused Institution (PDF, 151 KB)
- Research Statement for a Research-Focused Institution (PDF, 244 KB)
- Research Statement for a Teaching-Focused Institution (PDF, 239 KB)
- The Job Application Materials Checklist (PDF, 94 KB)
- Chapter 7. Interviewing
