Online English adjunct professor jobs

Frequently asked questions

What does an online English adjunct professor do?

Online English adjuncts teach one or more English courses fully remotely, usually through a learning management system like Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle. The work is mostly asynchronous — recording or curating lectures, moderating discussion boards, and grading — with occasional live Zoom sessions or virtual office hours. Course design is often already done for you, especially at large online universities.

What qualifications do I need to teach English online?

Most institutions require a master's in English, comparative literature, rhetoric & composition, or creative writing (MFA accepted for creative writing roles). The common accreditation standard is 18+ graduate credit hours in the discipline you'll teach, which is what allows people with a related degree to qualify. Prior online teaching experience helps but is rarely required — many schools provide their own LMS certification before your first term.

How much do online English adjuncts get paid?

Pay is set per course rather than per hour at most institutions. Community colleges commonly pay $2,000–$3,500 per 3-credit course and four-year universities $3,000–$7,000+, with online sections usually paid at the same rate as in-person ones at the same school. Listings on this page show pay where the institution discloses it — many don't, so it's worth asking during the interview.

What English courses do online adjuncts usually teach?

Introductory and general-education sections turn over the most often, since they run every term and enroll the most students. Frequently staffed courses include English Composition I & II, Introduction to Literature, Creative Writing, Technical Writing, American Literature. Upper-division and graduate seminars are typically reserved for full-time faculty.

Can I teach online English courses from any state?

Usually yes. Most institutions participate in SARA (the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement), which lets them hire instructors across state lines. A few states and a few institutions add their own residency or licensure requirements, so confirm what the posting says before you apply.

How many online courses can I teach at once?

Most institutions cap adjuncts at 1–3 courses per term to stay under the 30 hours/week threshold that would trigger benefits eligibility. Because online teaching has no commute, many instructors stack courses across two to four institutions at the same time — the entirely-remote version of the "freeway flyer" pattern.