Looking for a teaching job online? Want to be an online faculty member? If you
are interested in becoming an online adjunct, but don't know where to begin your
search, here is some information to help you get started on your career as an
online instructor.
Qualifications to Teach Online
If you are interested in teaching online, here are some of the qualifications
that most schools require/prefer:
- A directly related degree in the field in which you want to teach.
Usually at a minimum, a master's degree is required. (Looking for master's degree programs offered online?)
- Previous teaching experience.
- Experience as an online student.
- Recent industry experience.
- Your own computer equipment (exact specifications will vary) with
reliable, high-speed Internet access
- Willingness to complete some kind of orientation and/or online faculty
development training before beginning
- Strong technical aptitude and familiarity with the Internet
Where to Search for Online Teaching Positions
Now, if you think you've got what it takes and are ready to start searching,
visit the sites listed below.
Here are some higher education employment websites at which you can begin your
search:
HigherEdJobs.com
http://www.higheredjobs.com/adjunct/search.cfm?PosType=2&type=1&SortBy=2
This will show you all adjunct faculty positions - online and traditional -
currently listed, sorted by the school.
- Click Ctrl-F to search the page for "online" and "on-line" to help find
the online adjunct listings.
Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/search/jobs/
- In the Keyword field, enter on the phrases below and select "Match every word" in the drop-down box next to it.
- "online adjunct"
- "online faculty"
- "online instructor"
EDUCAUSE
http://www.educause.edu/SearchJobs/1230
- In the Keyword field, enter the phrase
- "online adjunct"
- "online faculty"
- "online instructor"
AdjunctNation.com
http://www.adjunctnation.com/jobs/search/
- Select "Distance Ed/Online Faculty" in the "of the following type:"
drop-down box.
Last, but certainly not least, don't forget to search "regular" job search
websites like Monster.com or
CareerBuilder, using the same search
terms listed above. Happy Hunting!
Online Colleges & Universities
Here are direct links to schools (in no particular order) where you can view
current job listings for online instructors, request information about adjunct
teaching positions, or apply directly for online teaching jobs:
University of Phoenix
http://www.uopxonline.com/join_the_faculty.asp
Capella University
http://www.capella.edu/careers/faculty.aspx
Kaplan University
http://www.kaplan.edu/careers/default.aspx
DeVry University
http://www.devryinc.com/careers/online_teaching_opportunities.jsp
American InterContinental University
http://careers.aiuonline.edu/careers/jobs/default.aspx
Walden University
http://www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About_9115.htm
Jones International University
https://jiu-web-a.jonesinternational.edu/eprise/main/JIU/facultycenter/facultyapp.html
The Art Institute
http://www.aionline.edu/aboutus/online_learning_careers.asp
Colorado Technical University
http://www.higheredjobs.com/institution/search.cfm?University=Colorado%20Technical%20University%20Online
South University
http://online.southuniversity.edu/about_us/employment.asp
ITT Educational Services, Inc.
(ITT Technical Institute)
http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/jobs/submit.cfm?company_id=15665&version=1
Note: You have to really comb through the results to find the online adjunct
positions.
Laureate Education, Inc.
(Walden University, National Technological University)
http://www.laureate-inc.com/careers/searchCareersFS.html
Corinthian Colleges, Inc.
(Florida Metropolitan University Online, Everest College Online)
http://www.cci.edu/employment.php?page=Online%20Adjunct%20Instructor%20Positions
Elluminate
http://www.elluminate.com/employment_online_instructor.jsp
Related Reading
USDLA's
Distance Learning
magazine (in .PDF) has a great article about the use of adjuncts in
distance education. Although geared towards administrators and program
directors, Gaillard-Kenney nicely summarizes this "new breed of faculty
member," in her discussion of administrative considerations related to
recruitment, hiring, and orientation.
Some highlights:
- "Anderson (2002) reported that adjunct faculty members are likely to be female
and younger than full-time traditional campus faculty. They are also
likely to hold a master’s degree. In terms of health and other
benefits, compensation, and academic
support, they fare significantly worse than their full-time
counterparts. However, they show the same level of overall job
satisfaction. This might be due to the job flexibility adjuncts enjoy
as opposed to full-time faculty."
- "Part-time adjuncts can be divided into four different categories. The
“experts” are people employed full-time outside of academia. They may be
employed in the corporate world and teach specialized courses. This is one of the
selling points of the University of Phoenix for example (University of Phoenix Website,
2005). The “career enders” are people retiring or cutting down on their hours as
they approach retirement. The “freelancers” like the flexibility of part-time assignments
and combine work with several different institutions. The “aspiring academics,”
who are trying to get tenured positions, are the fourth type of adjuncts, but remain a minority (Lyons, 2000)."
- "Isolation, frustration, and lack of recognition are common
feelings of adjuncts as they feel marginalized in the teaching
profession (Pratt, 2000; Yohe, 2000)."
Read the article at:
http://www.usdla.org/html/resources/3._USDLA_Distance_Learning.pdf.
Final Words
Keep in mind that you will likely have the most luck finding an online teaching job with for-profit
institutions. Why? Read
yesterday's post about the debate over
part-time instructors.