Occupation · SOC 25-1062
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. 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
865 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingInstructingWritingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningActive LearningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisService OrientationPersuasionMonitoringCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisNegotiationScienceManagement of Financial ResourcesMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Education and TrainingEnglish LanguageSociology and AnthropologyHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageCommunications and MediaComputers and ElectronicsPhilosophy and TheologyAdministrativePsychologyGeographyCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentFine ArtsPersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityTelecommunicationsTransportationEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingDesignProduction and ProcessingBiologyEngineering and TechnologyMedicine and DentistryMechanicalChemistryFood ProductionPhysicsBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Blackboard LearnCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareFileMaker ProGoogle DocsGoogle DriveImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordSakai CLESocial media softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareYouTubeiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDocumenting/Recording InformationCoaching and Developing OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeWorking with ComputersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersProcessing InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping and Building TeamsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationSelling or Influencing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Course syllabi and handout materials — draft and organize under faculty mentorship for undergraduate survey courses in area, ethnic, or cultural studies.Assigned readings and current scholarly literature — review and summarize to support preparation of introductory lecture content in a postsecondary classroom setting.Classroom discussions on race, ethnicity, and cultural identity — facilitate introductory sessions following established departmental protocols and course design.Student class work and short written assignments — evaluate using provided rubrics and grading criteria under the guidance of a supervising faculty member.Lecture presentations on foundational topics such as cross-cultural perspectives or ethnic relations — deliver to undergraduate audiences using prepared notes and slide materials.Professional conferences and departmental colloquia — attend and observe to build familiarity with current developments in cultural and area studies fields.Examination materials — administer and record results according to departmental procedures, referring grading disputes to senior faculty.Word processing and office suite software — use to produce course documents, correspondence, and basic instructional materials in a university academic environment.Learning management and computer-based training platforms — navigate to post course content and communicate assignment expectations to enrolled students.Scholarly articles and discipline-specific sources — locate using information retrieval and database tools to support research tasks assigned by supervising faculty.
developing
Undergraduate and graduate lectures on gender studies, postcolonial theory, or ethnic relations — prepare and deliver independently, adapting content to varying student backgrounds.Course syllabi, homework assignments, and reading lists — design and revise each term, aligning materials with departmental learning outcomes and disciplinary standards.Student papers, examinations, and seminar contributions — evaluate and provide substantive written feedback, managing a full grading workload with limited oversight.Seminar and discussion-based classroom environments — moderate, employing active listening and questioning strategies to deepen student engagement with complex cultural topics.Examination instruments — compile, administer, and grade for multiple course sections, delegating routine scoring tasks to teaching assistants as appropriate.Current scholarly literature and field developments — read routinely and integrate into updated course content and ongoing research in a postsecondary academic department.Introductory research projects — conduct and submit findings to peer-reviewed journals or present at regional professional conferences in area or cultural studies.Curriculum components — evaluate for effectiveness using student performance data and peer feedback, and implement targeted revisions within existing departmental frameworks.Calendar and scheduling software — use to coordinate office hours, course deadlines, and committee obligations across a multi-course teaching assignment.Electronic communication and cloud-based platforms — employ to share instructional resources, facilitate student collaboration, and maintain timely correspondence in a university setting.
proficient
Full course curriculum in area, ethnic, and cultural studies — design, teach, and continuously revise autonomously, integrating interdisciplinary theory and current research at both undergraduate and graduate levels.Complex, non-routine classroom discussions involving contested cultural narratives or sensitive identity topics — facilitate with social perceptiveness and pedagogical authority in a diverse postsecondary environment.Graduate seminars and advanced undergraduate courses — instruct using differentiated learning strategies tailored to students with varied disciplinary preparation and cultural backgrounds.Original research in a specialized subfield such as diaspora studies, indigenous cultures, or transnational feminism — conduct rigorously and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, edited volumes, or scholarly digital media.Comprehensive examination programs — design, administer, and calibrate across course sequences, ensuring alignment with disciplinary competency standards and accreditation expectations.Student theses, dissertations, and independent research projects — supervise and evaluate at the graduate level, providing expert methodological and theoretical guidance.Pedagogical methods and instructional technologies — select and apply using evidence-based learning strategies to improve outcomes in large lectures and small seminars alike.Departmental and national professional conferences — participate as a presenter, panelist, or discussant, contributing specialized expertise to ongoing disciplinary conversations.Critical thinking and complex problem-solving frameworks — model and teach explicitly within course content, preparing students to analyze systemic inequalities and cross-cultural phenomena.Inductive and deductive reasoning applied to primary sources, archival materials, and ethnographic data — demonstrate in research and classroom contexts to develop students' analytical capabilities.
advanced
Departmental curriculum strategy — lead comprehensive review and reform initiatives that shape program identity, learning outcomes, and disciplinary positioning within the institution and broader academic field.Junior faculty and graduate instructors — mentor in pedagogy, research design, publication strategy, and professional development within an area, ethnic, or cultural studies academic unit.Institutional academic priorities — influence by serving on university committees, faculty senates, or accreditation bodies, applying expertise in cultural studies to shape policy and resource allocation.Research agenda for a center, institute, or major grant-funded project — direct, coordinating faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate researchers toward significant contributions in cultural or ethnic studies.Field-defining scholarly works — author or edit, including monographs, anthologies, or landmark journal articles that advance theoretical and empirical knowledge in area or cultural studies.National and international professional associations — lead through elected office, editorial board service, or conference organization, setting direction for the discipline's scholarly community.Cross-institutional or interdisciplinary curricular initiatives — design and champion, brokering partnerships between departments, colleges, and external community or policy stakeholders.Persuasion and systems analysis — apply at the organizational level to advocate for equity-centered hiring, inclusive pedagogy, and culturally responsive institutional practices.Emerging technologies and information systems in academic instruction — evaluate and sponsor adoption across the department, aligning digital infrastructure choices with pedagogical and research missions.Departmental service and knowledge-sharing culture — cultivate by establishing reading groups, speaker series, and collaborative research environments that sustain intellectual curiosity and innovation across faculty ranks.
Also known as
24 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adjunct ProfessorAfrican Studies ProfessorAmerican Studies ProfessorAsian Studies ProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorBlack Studies ProfessorCollege Faculty MemberCollege ProfessorEthnic Origins TeacherEthnic Studies ProfessorEthnic Studies TeacherEthnology ProfessorEthnology TeacherFaculty LecturerGender Studies LecturerGender Studies ProfessorHawaiian Studies LecturerHumanities ProfessorLatin American Studies ProfessorLecturerProfessorUniversity Faculty MemberWomen's Studies Professor