University Professors and Lecturers
Formal Description
“University professors and lecturers teach courses to undergraduate and graduate students and conduct research at universities. University professors who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Anthropology Professor
Criminology Professor
Department Chair
Department Head
Economics Professor
Geography Professor
Indigenous Studies Professor
Law Professor
Political Science Professor
Psychology Professor
Public Administration Professor
Public Health Professor
Religion Professor
Social Work Professor
Sociology Professor
Teacher - Teacher's College
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- “A doctoral degree in the field of specialization is required for university professors.”
- “A master’s degree in the field of specialization is required for university lecturers.”
- “Licenses or professional certification may be required for professors teaching future practitioners in certain professionally regulated fields, such as medicine, engineering, architecture, psychology or law.”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs.
Health, Aging & Society Learn More
This degree provides in-depth knowledge of aging, health, and societal issues, equipping Health, Aging & Society students with the foundation to teach courses and conduct research related to public health, aging, social policies, and healthcare systems.
Indigenous Studies Learn More
Indigenous Studies emphasize the importance of community involvement and respecting Indigenous knowledge systems. This can help students develop meaningful research and teaching that honours Indigenous ways of knowing and supports the needs of Indigenous peoples.
Society, Culture & Religion Learn More
Understanding how religion and culture influence social issues such as inequality, migration, conflict, and human rights, equips professors to teach courses that explore these critical topics and inspire students to think about how cultural and religious factors shape societies.
Work & Labour Studies Learn More
Work & Labour Studies explores how work is influenced by social, political, and economic factors. This understanding is important for analyzing and teaching about how labour systems function within broader societal contexts, including issues like inequality, exploitation, and worker rights.
