Occupation · SOC 25-1054
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
669 mapped
Core skills
InstructingScienceSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningWriting
Knowledge areas
MathematicsPhysicsEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareComputer based training softwareDevelopment environment softwareObject or component oriented development softwareCalendar and scheduling software
Representative tasks
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.Supervise students' laboratory work.Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.Act as advisers to student organizations.Participate in campus and community events.Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Course syllabi and homework assignments — draft and organize under faculty mentorship for introductory undergraduate physics courses.Lecture content on foundational topics such as classical mechanics and optics — prepare and deliver with structured guidance in a supervised classroom setting.Student class work and lab reports — evaluate using provided rubrics and grading criteria under close faculty oversight.Examinations covering core physics concepts — administer and grade following departmental protocols established by senior instructors.Office hours — maintain on a scheduled basis to respond to undergraduate student questions with support from supervising faculty.Classroom discussions on introductory physics principles — facilitate using prepared prompts and structured formats in small undergraduate sections.Student attendance records and grade entries — maintain accurately in departmental learning management systems following institutional guidelines.Analytical or scientific software tools — apply to prepare course demonstrations and problem sets under direction of experienced teaching faculty.Scientific literature and textbook chapters — read and synthesize to support accurate content delivery in assigned undergraduate courses.Undergraduate laboratory sessions — assist in supervising, ensuring students follow safety protocols and proper experimental procedures.
developing
Course materials including syllabi, problem sets, and handouts — independently design and refine for undergraduate courses across multiple physics topics.Lectures on intermediate topics such as electromagnetism and thermodynamics — prepare and deliver autonomously to undergraduate students with minimal oversight.Student assignments, examinations, and laboratory work — compile, grade, and return with substantive written feedback in a timely manner.Examinations aligned with course learning objectives — construct and administer, delegating specific grading tasks to teaching assistants as appropriate.Office hours and one-on-one advising sessions — conduct regularly to support diverse undergraduate learners navigating challenging physics concepts.Undergraduate research projects and internship activities — supervise, providing periodic structured feedback to guide student progress.Active learning strategies — integrate into physics lectures and recitation sections to increase student engagement and conceptual retention.Grade books, attendance data, and institutional reporting records — maintain with accuracy using departmental software and calendar management tools.Classroom discourse on topics such as quantum mechanics — initiate and moderate, encouraging critical questioning and evidence-based reasoning among students.Interdisciplinary connections between physics, mathematics, and engineering — draw upon and communicate clearly during course delivery to mixed-background student cohorts.
proficient
Advanced graduate-level lectures on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and statistical mechanics — design and deliver autonomously, adapting depth and pace to diverse graduate student needs.Comprehensive course curricula spanning introductory through graduate levels — develop independently, incorporating current research findings and pedagogically sound sequencing.Complex student assessments including research papers, qualifying-style problems, and laboratory projects — evaluate with expert judgment, providing detailed diagnostic feedback.Graduate student research and thesis work — supervise end-to-end, guiding experimental design, data analysis, and scholarly writing toward publication-ready outcomes.Seminar and graduate classroom discussions on non-routine theoretical and experimental physics problems — facilitate with intellectual depth, drawing out student reasoning and synthesis.Independent study plans and academic advising pathways — construct for individual graduate students, integrating departmental requirements with each student's research trajectory.Analytical and scientific software environments — employ proficiently to model physical systems, create simulations, and design data-driven course activities.Examination and assessment systems at the course level — design, administer, and continuously improve using student performance data and evidence-based assessment principles.Original physics research alongside teaching responsibilities — conduct and integrate into coursework, exposing students to current discoveries and methodological rigor.Teaching effectiveness — monitor through systematic self-assessment, peer review, and student feedback analysis, implementing targeted improvements each academic term.
advanced
Departmental physics curriculum — lead comprehensive review and redesign, aligning learning outcomes with national disciplinary standards and institutional strategic goals.Junior faculty and postdoctoral instructors — mentor in pedagogical best practices, research integration, and professional development within the postsecondary physics context.Large-scale or multi-section course reforms — direct, deploying evidence-based instructional innovations such as active learning frameworks and technology-enhanced laboratories.Graduate program admissions, qualifying examination standards, and degree requirements — establish and periodically revise to reflect evolving disciplinary and workforce demands.Externally funded research programs — lead, integrating graduate and undergraduate students as co-investigators and authoring publications in high-impact physics journals.Institutional policies on academic integrity, grade appeals, and assessment equity — shape and advocate for at faculty governance and administrative levels.Interdisciplinary collaborations with engineering, chemistry, and computer science departments — initiate and steward, creating joint courses, research initiatives, and shared laboratory resources.Departmental teaching culture and professional norms — model and reinforce through exemplary classroom practice, public scholarship on physics education, and faculty hiring decisions.Strategic vision for physics instruction and research — articulate to institutional leadership, accreditors, and external funding agencies, securing resources to advance departmental priorities.National and international professional communities in physics education — contribute to by presenting innovative findings, serving on editorial boards, and shaping disciplinary teaching standards.
Also known as
72 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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