University of Southern California

Academic and Administrative Titles

• The order of academic titles is: professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, lecturer, adjunct, visiting professor. Full-time faculty are listed before part-time faculty.
• For Distinguished Professors, University Professors, or those who hold endowed chairs, such honors may also be in their titles.
• Do not list “Dr.” before a doctor’s name in text when referring to a medical doctor or someone holding a doctorate.
• For the Keck School of Medicine, the order of academic titles is as follows:
  

  Department title, e.g. Department of Preventive Medicine

  Tenured or tenure track

  • Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Instructor (Not actually used)
  
  
  Clinical Scholars

  • Professor (Clinical Scholar)
  • Associate Professor (Clinical Scholar)
  
  
  Clinical

  • Professor of Clinical
  • Associate Professor of Clinical
  • Assistant Professor of Clinical
  • Instructor of Clinical
  
  
  Research

  • Professor of Research
  • Associate Professor of Research
  • Assistant Professor of Research
  • Instructor of Research
  
  
  Part-time Clinical

  • Clinical Professor
  • Clinical Associate Professor
  • Clinical Assistant Professor
  • Clinical Instructor
  
  
  Part-time Research

  • Research Professor
  • Research Associate Professor
  • Research Assistant Professor
  • Research Instructor