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What does an Adjunct Faculty do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

An adjunct faculty member is a part-time professor who is not on the tenure track. Adjuncts typically teach one or two courses per semester and do not have the same job security or benefits as full-time faculty members.

Adjunct Faculty job duties include:

  • Preparing and delivering lectures and seminars
  • Researching and preparing course materials
  • Assessing student coursework
  • Supervising student research projects
  • Providing academic and career advice to students
  • Attending departmental meetings
  • Serving on committees
  • Publishing research in scholarly journals
  • Engaging in professional development activities

Adjunct Faculty Job Requirements

An Adjunct Faculty member is a part-time instructor who is hired to teach specific courses on a semester-by-semester basis. The minimum qualifications for this position include a Master’s degree in the teaching discipline, 18 graduate hours in the teaching discipline, and previous teaching experience. In addition, Adjunct Faculty members must be able to work well with students and other faculty members, and be able to effectively communicate course material to students.

Adjunct Faculty Skills

  • Patience
  • Creativity
  • Organization
  • Communication
  • Time Management
  • Flexibility
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Active Listening
  • Presentation Skills
  • Teamwork

Related: Top Adjunct Faculty Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become an Adjunct Faculty

There are a few different ways that one can become an adjunct faculty member. The most common way is to have a terminal degree in the field in which you wish to teach. For example, if you want to teach English at the college level, you would need to have a PhD in English. Once you have your terminal degree, you can then apply for adjunct teaching positions at colleges and universities.

Another way to become an adjunct faculty member is to have significant experience in the field in which you wish to teach. For example, if you want to teach business courses, you may be able to do so without a terminal degree if you have significant experience working in the business world. In this case, your experience would be more important than your educational background.

Once you have either your terminal degree or significant experience in the field, you can then start applying for adjunct teaching positions. To do this, you will need to submit your resume and cover letter to the colleges or universities where you wish to teach. In your cover letter, be sure to highlight your qualifications and explain why you would be a good fit for the position.

If you are selected for an interview, be sure to dress professionally and prepare well for it. During the interview, be sure to emphasize your qualifications and explain how your teaching style would benefit the students. If everything goes well, you should then be offered a position as an adjunct faculty member.

Related: Adjunct Faculty Resume Example

Related: Adjunct Faculty Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

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Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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