Is a PhD generally required to become a college level teacher? Is a Masters enough? Any teaching cert needed?

Question

I am starting my BA in Human Development, with a concentration in Psychology this fall. After I graduate, I intend to get my Masters in Gen. Psychology. I want to join the faculty of an online university eventually, but a PhD in Psychology would be nearly impossible for me to obtain. Could I still teach? Also, would I need certification as a teacher? I was told no, but that was with the assumption of me having my PhD. Anybody know the answers to my quandries?

Answer 1

Generally speaking you do not need teacher certification to teach at the university level but many universities do require that their faculty at some point obtains it. A masters will get you a job at a university but it will not get you a professorship nor tenure. At a masters level at a university you will be able to teach undergraduate psychology and possibly some master level course. However you will not progress through the ranks without a PhD and you may also find your options are quite limited with a masters in psychology. If you want to be a professor of psychology or tenure you will have to get your PhD.

Answer 2

No you do not need to be certified....master's for community colleges, Ph.D. for universities.  Many on-line "universities" are not accrediated nor respected, and pay very little.  

apa.org   for more info

(college psych professor)

Answer 3

phd for universities...masters for most community colleges

Answer 4

high school diploma to teach online universities.

I'm not kidding.

Answer 5

First, I have to ask, why an on-line university?  As somebody else pointed out, they pay very little and there is zero to no prestige.  

Second, if you want a career (become a tenured professor even at a community college) you need a PhD.  You can be an instructor (a non-tenured contract player who gets a semester/yearly contract) but you have almost no job security and the pay is awful.

Third, you do need a teacher certification to teach at a university level.

Fourth, why would getting a PhD in Psychology be almost impossible for you to attain?  It is incredibly competitive but if you can get into a program, you will be paid to go to school and will gain very valuable teaching experience.

Best of luck!