<P> In much of the world, the unqualified word "professor" is used formally to indicate the highest academic rank, informally known as "full professor". While in most countries (which includes the English speaking world), the word professor is only used in this sense, in some other countries, the word professor is also used in titles of lower ranks such as associate professor and assistant professor . </P> <P> Professors conduct original research and commonly teach undergraduate, graduate, or professional courses in their fields of expertise . In universities with graduate schools, professors may mentor and supervise graduate students conducting research for a thesis or dissertation . Professors typically hold a Ph. D., another doctorate or a different terminal degree . Some professors hold a master's degree or a professional degree, such as an M.D., as their highest degree . </P> <P> The term "professor" was first used in the late 14th century to mean "one who teaches a branch of knowledge ." The word comes "...from Old French professeur (14c .) and directly from (the) Latin professor (, for) "person who professes to be an expert in some art or science; teacher of highest rank,"; the Latin term came from the "...agent noun from profiteri "lay claim to, declare openly ." As a title that is "prefixed to a name, it dates from 1706 ." The "(s) hort form prof is recorded from 1838 ." The term "professor" is also used with a different meaning: "(o) ne professing religion . This canting use of the word comes down from the Elizabethan period, but is obsolete in England ." </P> <P> A professor is an accomplished and recognized academic . 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 is also the highest rank, but a larger percentage achieve it . In these areas, professors are scholars with doctorate degrees (typically Ph. D. degrees) or equivalent qualifications who teach in four - year colleges and universities . An emeritus professor is a title given to selected retired professors with whom the university wishes to continue to be associated due to their stature and ongoing research . Emeritus professors do not receive a salary, but they are often given office or lab space, and use of libraries, labs, and so on . </P>

Who is the first professor in the world