Business Teachers, Postsecondary

The business professor teaches and researches in business schools—educating students in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and other business disciplines while producing scholarship that advances knowledge and informs practice. A typical week during the academic term blends teaching with research and service. Perhaps 35% of time goes to teaching: preparing lectures, conducting classes, meeting with students. Another 40% involves research—conducting studies, analyzing data, writing papers. The remaining time splits between grading, committee service, advising, and professional activities.

People who thrive as business professors combine scholarly expertise with teaching ability and the self-discipline that academic productivity requires. Successful professors develop research specializations while building the pedagogical skills that engaging business students demands. They must balance research pressure with teaching quality and navigate the politics of academic departments. Those who struggle often cannot produce research at the pace tenure requires or find teaching undergraduate business students unrewarding. Others fail because they cannot manage the multiple demands of academic life.

Business education prepares students for management and business careers while advancing understanding of how organizations function, with professors teaching everything from introductory accounting to executive MBA courses while producing research that influences both scholarship and practice. The field has grown with business school expansion and the proliferation of business education programs. Business professors appear in discussions of management education, business research, and the academic preparation of business professionals.

Practitioners cite the intellectual freedom of academic life and the satisfaction of shaping future business leaders as primary rewards. The autonomy to pursue research interests is valued. The teaching influences many careers. The sabbaticals and flexible schedules are appreciated. The intellectual community provides stimulation. The expertise is recognized and respected. Common frustrations include the intense pressure to publish and the politics of academic departments. Many find that research productivity overwhelms other contributions. The tenure process is stressful and uncertain. Teaching loads can be demanding. Compensation may lag industry alternatives for similarly qualified individuals.

This career requires a doctoral degree in a business discipline, with research productivity essential for tenure-track positions. Strong research, teaching, and communication skills are required. The role suits those committed to both scholarship and teaching who can manage academic demands. It is poorly suited to those preferring practice to research, uncomfortable with publish-or-perish pressure, or seeking predictable career advancement. Compensation is generally good, particularly in accounting and finance, with significant variation by field and institution.