This is an accepted version of this page Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.)[1] is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries.

[4] Professors often conduct original research and commonly teach undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional courses in their fields of expertise.

In most Commonwealth nations, as well as northern Europe, the title professor is the highest academic rank at a university.

In the United States and Canada, the title of professor applies to most post-doctoral academics, so a larger percentage are thus designated.

[10] Beyond holding the proper academic title, universities in many countries also give notable artists, athletes and foreign dignitaries the title honorary professor, even if these persons do not have the academic qualifications typically necessary for professorship and they do not take up professorial duties.

In general, the title of professor is strictly used for academic positions rather than for those holding it on honorary basis.

Many colleges and universities and other institutions of higher learning throughout the world follow a similar hierarchical ranking structure amongst scholars in academia; the list above provides details.

Some professors also earn additional income by moonlighting in other jobs, such as consulting, publishing academic or popular press books, giving speeches, or coaching executives.

Some fields (e.g., business and computer science) give professors more opportunities for outside work.

The majority of university lecturers and instructors in the United States, as of 2015[update], do not occupy these tenure-track ranks, but are part-time adjuncts.

Traditional fictional portrayals of professors, in accordance with a stereotype, are shy, absent-minded individuals often lost in thought.

Professor Henry Higgins is a main character in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion.

Christopher Lloyd played Plum's film counterpart, a psychologist who had an affair with one of his patients.

The popularity of the Indiana Jones movie franchise had a significant impact on the previous stereotype, and created a new archetype which is both deeply knowledgeable and physically capable.

[23] The character generally referred to simply as the Professor on the television sitcom series, Gilligan's Island, although described alternatively as a high-school science teacher or research scientist, is depicted as a sensible advisor, a clever inventor, and a helpful friend to his fellow castaways.

Annalise Keating (played by Viola Davis) from the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) legal drama mystery television series How to Get Away with Murder is a law professor at the fictional Middleton University.

The series includes her character's negotiation of liberal arts campus politics, in particular issues of racism, sexism, and social mores.

[27] Mysterious, older men with magical powers (and unclear academic standing) are sometimes given the title of "Professor" in literature and theater.

Also, the magician played by Christian Bale in the film The Prestige[29] adopts 'The Professor' as his stage name.