LoRs from non- "Professors"?

[jisu]

When grad schools say in their admissions requirements "letters of recommendation from # professors", do they mean anyone who has taught you at uni or strictly in the sense of the honorific title?

Only one of the lecturers under whom I've been taught is a Professor, and even then he is only an Associate Professor.

The rest are PhD's.

I didn't choose courses on whether the lecturer is a professor is not, but rather the content of the courses,

I should be ok if my LoR's come from these right?

[hahahut]

In US, they use "Professor" for university lecturer. I am a first time applicant. But I am pretty sure anyone with PhD, therefore knowing how to judge your research protential, is great for recommendation letter. Based on Wikipedia, in some countries they even refer any teacher as "Professor". I felt weird to use that term myself. "Professor" is the highest title the acadmic could achieve where I live.

Edited September 17, 2010 by hahahut

[jisu]

"Professor" is the highest title the acadmic could achieve where I live.

It's the same here.

I'm sure it'll be ok, I just want to see if anyone thinks to the contrary.

[schoolpsych_hopeful]

Yes, you should be fine. I have two letters coming from professors and one from a lecturer (all PhDs).

[mudlark]

Actually, I wouldn't ask a lecturer or sessional instructor/adjunct for letters. My grad chair specifically advises against it. When they ask for letters from "professors", they mean people who are on the tenure track: either assistant, associate, or full professors. The reasoning is that these people should be actively engaged in research, and are therefore able to speak to your potential as a researcher. People with teaching positions aren't seen as reliable assessors of research potential. Not saying I agree with the logic, just saying what I've been told.