The objective of this study was to investigate sociodemographic characteristics of higher education teachers and the possible associations with burnout syndrome. Its theoretical foundation, pointed out how the historical process and the Cartesian method influence have been approaching this the educational model. It was identified, throug a bibliographic review, how the human sciences have been approaching this new educational paradigm and how they can contribute to the development of the teaching practice. The concept of burnout syndrome components was described. The bioecological model of U. Bronfenbrenner s human development was used as a theoretical basis to understand and identify the characteristics of the bioecological environment of teachers and their possible implications for teaching practice. One hundred and six (106) public and private universites professors participated in the study, completing the MBI - Maslach Burnout Inventory by Maslach and Jackson (1978). The three components that are present in the burnout syndrome showed a significant concentration of participants classified at medium / moderate level, that is, at risk for they are at risk of developing signs and symptoms in relation to the syndrome, which and impair their psychic health and their teaching practice. From the results, it was possible to identify the need to broaden the debate with more studies in this segment of education, with the aim of mapping and treating in a preventive way the professor s psychoological mental health as a public policy of valorization to the teaching profession.