-

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2008-05-23 09:29:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

# The highest academic rank on a college or university faculty. In descending order, the other ranks are associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor. (Graduate teaching assistants are generally not considered faculty.)
www.collegeincolorado.com/Expert/glossary.asp

1. one that professes, avows, or declares 2. a. a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education b. a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school c. one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate)


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2008-05-23 09:33:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Traditionally, Assistant Professor has been the usual entry-level rank for faculty who hold doctorates, although this depends on the institution and the field. While Instructorships seldom require a doctorate, competition for jobs has led to an increase in the number of Instructors who hold PhDs or other terminal degrees. The rank of Associate Professor usually indicates that the individual has been granted tenure at the institution. Professor is often the highest rank attained by a senior faculty member, although some institutions may offer some unique title to a senior faculty member whose research or publications have achieved wide recognition. This is most often a "named chair": for example, the "John Doe Professor of Philosophy". Large research universities also offer a small fraction of tenured faculty the title of "Distinguished Professor" to recognize outstanding and broad contributions to the advancement of a field of study. The most prestigious academic appointment is the University or Institute Professor. Such faculty members are not usually answerable to deans or department heads and may directly report to the University Provost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_rank#Academic_ranks_18

the most senior academic rank, and often the head of a school.
www.prospective.utas.edu.au/glossary.php

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="the rank of professor"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_rank

Нужно еще учитывать национальные особенности систем образования.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2008-05-23 09:40:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

по поводу ученой степени (из энциклопедии):
УЧЕНАЯ СТЕПЕНЬ научная квалификация в определенной отрасли знания. Как правило присуждается после соответствующих этапов обучения в вузе или по завершении образования в его исследовательском (напр., аспирантском) подразделении и публичной защиты специальной научной работы. В университетах России единые правила присуждения ученой степени магистра и доктора действовали в 1819-1917. В 1937 в СССР были установлены степени кандидата и доктора наук. С 1992 в Российской Федерации вводится принятая во многих странах мира система ученых степеней: бакалавра, магистра, доктора (ок. 20 отраслей).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2008-05-23 10:00:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

УЧЕНОЕ ЗВАНИЕ присваивается преподавателям вузов и научным работникам (как правило, с учеными степенями) в зависимости от научной квалификации и сложности решаемых исследовательских задач. В Российской Федерации приняты ученые звания профессора, доцента, старшего научного сотрудника. (та же БСЭ 1998г.)