Well my subject line said it all....

I'm 2 quarters away from completing my Masters in Counseling, is an online adjunct instructor position possible at this point?  I'm looking to teach at a associate's level online program in either in psychology, sociology, human services, etc.  I do have some teaching experience.

Well, once you have your Master's, then yes, you'll be qualified to teach counseling at the undergraduate level.  Unfortunately, schools won't necessarily consider you to be qualified to teach psychology, sociology, or human service, even though that's kind of a stupid restriction.  Since you're in Tennessee, you're in the region of the country where universities are accredited by SACS, and they're widely considered the strictest of the regional accreditors.  If there are any schools close to you on the Arkansas side of the river, then they may be a little more flexible, since a different regional accreditor holds sway over there.

-=Steve=-

donald11:

Or you can teach for a nationally accredited school. I'd imagine they would be the most lax...

donald...you might imagine wrong.  Even though NA schools may have different standards for their instructors from an accrediting agency viewpoint, the schools themselves tend to hire exactly the same type of people you would expect at any RA school out there.  One of the reasons is that from the employer's point of view, it's a buyer's market.

what's the pay for online adjunct professors anyway?  I read on one site that Univ. of Phoenix pays minimum wage!  Here is a comment from someone who claism to be a Phoenix professor:

I am currently in the mentorship program to become an Axia/U of P faculty member. I have taken this job to supplement my income while finishing my PhD at another online university. I have been teaching online for over 5 years at various online colleges. I have taught at one college – online – for over 3 years. Being that I love teaching and providing my students with what I would expect – good facilitation and guidance, I spend an average of 20-30 hours a week with 30-40 students. Today I was told that average time spent in the online classes would be about an hour a day, 5 days out of 7. That is 7 hours a week facilitating 20 students. I have spent about 15 thus far – which puts my pay at Axia at just over $9.37 an hour – not even minimum wage.

I will not continue to teach here after next quarter. It is against my moral and ethical code to work less than an hour a week per student. It is NOT conducive to a good learning environment and I can not work for less than $15 an hour no matter where I teach. At my other college, I make about $19 per hour. If Apollo wants quality teachers to provide quality instruction and to stop their turnover rate in these instructors – it is time they stopped lining the pockets of their investors and started respecting those who are making them rich – the students and the faculty.

Just my two cents worth.

http://illegitimatedegrees.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/instructors-comment-about-the-university-of-phoenix/ 

Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.  Sounds like someone is given to exaggeration.  That and he said he spent "15 hours thus far" but thus far in what?  Today, this week, this month?  Two words, time...management.  I'm sure he expects it of his students (assuming it is a "he") and thus should look into doing a little himself (herself).

They should give themselves a raise and learn to work faster or more efficiently, or quit, that's an option too. 

donald11:

Or you can teach for a nationally accredited school. I'd imagine they would be the most lax...

I don't agree.  Many nationally accredited schools hire to the same standards that regionally accredited schools do.  One reason is that, as Cajun remarked, it's a hirer's market.  Another reason is that it keeps the door open for them to consider regional accreditation for themselves at a later date.

Qualified faculty are very inexpensive.  Why would they try to cut corners here when there's no advantage to it?

-=Steve=-

Ok, just in case you didn't notice, it was me that initially answered the question, different username and different picture, but same pretty face.

But, I am getting ready to prepare to revise my CV and submit it to different universities, what are some of the application or hiring processes can I expect?  I will be finished in December once again, but I want to start applying for adjunct instructor positions in November.  For those of you who are presently teaching online, what are some of the perks or things that I can expect?

Do they pay per credit hour?  Or does it depend? 

JaynaB:

But, I am getting ready to prepare to revise my CV and submit it to different universities, what are some of the application or hiring processes can I expect?  I will be finished in December once again, but I want to start applying for adjunct instructor positions in November.  For those of you who are presently teaching online, what are some of the perks or things that I can expect?

Perks?  If you can find a spot at all, the perk is that you get to be paid, very modestly, for teaching online.  Alas, adjuncts are usually treated as disposable.

Do they pay per credit hour?  Or does it depend?

Usually it's per course, but it can vary. At a few schools, but not many, the number of students in the course will affect how much they pay.  Sometimes someone with a Master's will be paid even less than one with a doctorate.

-=Steve=-