I was raised with a heavy importance on education, and ironically I dropped out of college. I don't feel like I'm at a point in my life where I am ready to pursue higher education. That's why I respect when celebrities who are already set financially, take it upon themselves to further their own education, or the education of others. Here's a list of high profile celebrities that have taught (and still teach) college courses.

 

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
loading...

The Bad Religion vocalist/lyricist has always been a smart guy. He earned a master's degree in geology from UCLA and received his Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University. He returned to UCLA where he taught Life Science 1. In 2011, he co-taught a class on evolution for 14 weeks.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
loading...

The Pineapple Express actor taught a one-semester class at NYU in 2011 that helped students turn poems into films. Since then, he has taught classes in English and filmmaking at USC, UCLA, and CalArts.

Getty Images
Getty Images
loading...

In 2008, the Superman Returns and House of Cards actor was named the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at St Catherine's College, Oxford, succeeding Sir Patrick Stewart. As visiting professor, the requirement is to give at least one lecture, one workshop or a seminar once a term.

Getty Images
Getty Images
loading...

In 2002, Alec Baldwin was been named Distinguished Professor of Theater at Southampton College of Long Island University. The 30 Rock and Beetlejuice actor taught a Master Class in Theater that summer.

Getty Images
Getty Images
loading...

In 2007, the Harold and Kumar actor was appointed guest instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn instructed two undergraduate courses that spring, "Images of Asian Americans in the Media" and "Contemporary American Teen Films." Kal Penn was also appointed by President Obama as Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement. He later was appointed by the President to serve on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Bonus: Elementary teachers that became famous - Gene Simmons, Sting (singer), JK Rowling, Stephen King.

 

More From 97.1 KXRX