Occupation · SOC 25-1122
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. 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
1,491 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionInstructingActive ListeningWritingLearning StrategiesActive LearningCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesScienceManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations MonitoringTechnology DesignProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsSociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServicePhilosophy and TheologyAdministrativeHistory and ArcheologyAdministration and ManagementFine ArtsTelecommunicationsTherapy and CounselingPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesGeographyForeign LanguageMathematicsSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingDesignTransportationEngineering and TechnologyBiologyProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionMedicine and DentistryBuilding and ConstructionPhysicsChemistryMechanical
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe AuditionAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopApple Final Cut ProAudacityAvid Technology Media ComposerAvid Technology Pro ToolsBlackboard LearnBlackboard softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopData visualization softwareDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareGoogle DocsImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSLinkedInMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMoodleSakai CLEVideo editing softwareVideo production softwareWeb browser softwareWideOrbitiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Documenting/Recording InformationThinking CreativelyWorking with ComputersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsTraining and Teaching OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProcessing InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesSelling or Influencing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling 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 homework assignments — draft and organize under faculty mentorship for undergraduate communications courses.Classroom discussions on introductory communications topics — facilitate using structured prompts with guidance from supervising faculty.Student written assignments and participation records — evaluate using departmentally provided rubrics in a postsecondary classroom setting.Lecture content on foundational topics such as public speaking and media literacy — prepare and deliver to small undergraduate sections under faculty supervision.Course examinations aligned to stated learning objectives — compile and administer following established departmental protocols.Student attendance and grade records — maintain accurately in university-designated systems under administrative oversight.Word processing and document management software — use to produce course handouts and instructional materials for a postsecondary communications course.Assigned readings and scholarly articles in communications and media — comprehend and synthesize to inform introductory lecture preparation.Scheduled office hours — hold consistently to respond to basic student inquiries and refer complex advising needs to senior faculty.Active listening techniques — apply during student interactions to identify comprehension gaps in an entry-level postsecondary teaching role.
developing
Undergraduate and graduate lecture content on topics such as oral traditions and media criticism — prepare and deliver independently with minimal supervisory review.Student class work, papers, and examinations — evaluate and grade with calibrated, constructive feedback across multiple course sections.Seminar and discussion-based classroom environments — facilitate and moderate to promote critical inquiry among postsecondary communications students.Course curricula and instructional materials — review and revise periodically to reflect current scholarship and pedagogical best practices.Learning management systems and computer-based training software — integrate into course delivery to support hybrid or online postsecondary instruction.Advisement during scheduled office hours — provide to undergraduate students on academic progress, course selection, and communications career pathways.Inductive reasoning strategies — employ to guide students from specific case studies toward broader communications theories in a classroom context.Examination design and grading workflows — coordinate across a course section, delegating components to teaching assistants and verifying consistency.Video creation and editing software — use to produce supplementary instructional media that enhances lecture content for postsecondary learners.Time management practices — apply to balance teaching, grading, advising, and ongoing scholarly development within a full-time faculty workload.
proficient
Full-scope curricula for undergraduate and graduate communications programs — plan, evaluate, and revise autonomously to align with disciplinary standards and institutional goals.Advanced graduate seminars on topics such as rhetorical theory, media criticism, and intercultural communication — design and deliver to diverse postsecondary student populations.Complex non-routine student performance challenges — diagnose and address by adapting instructional strategies and assessment methods to individual learner needs.Scholarly communications literature across English language, sociology, psychology, and media studies — synthesize critically to inform curriculum development and original research.Analytical and scientific software tools — apply to support research-informed course content and to model evidence-based argumentation for graduate students.Graduate student theses and capstone projects — supervise and evaluate with expert feedback on methodology, argumentation, and scholarly writing standards.Problem sensitivity and deductive reasoning — exercise to anticipate curricular gaps and proactively restructure course content before performance outcomes decline.Interdisciplinary course content drawing on philosophy, history, and fine arts — integrate into communications instruction to broaden students' critical analytical frameworks.Collaborative faculty course development initiatives — lead within a department, coordinating with colleagues to ensure coherent program sequencing.Social perceptiveness and empathy — deploy consistently to recognize diverse student needs and adapt instructional tone and pacing across classroom and advising contexts.
advanced
Departmental and program-level educational strategy — set and champion through curriculum governance, accreditation processes, and institutional planning committees.Junior faculty and graduate teaching assistants — mentor and develop through structured observation, formative feedback, and modeling of evidence-based pedagogy.Communications discipline standards and emerging research agendas — shape by publishing influential scholarship and contributing to national professional associations.Program assessment frameworks measuring student learning outcomes — design, implement, and continuously improve across undergraduate and graduate communications degrees.Cross-institutional partnerships with media organizations, public affairs bodies, and professional associations — negotiate and steward to expand experiential learning opportunities for students.Departmental resource allocation, scheduling, and faculty coordination — oversee to sustain high-quality instructional delivery across a diverse portfolio of communications courses.Persuasion and negotiation competencies — exercise at the administrative level to secure funding, faculty lines, and curricular approvals from institutional leadership.Innovative instructional technologies including desktop publishing, graphics software, and advanced video platforms — evaluate and champion for adoption across a postsecondary communications department.Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives embedded in communications pedagogy — lead institutionally, integrating perspectives from sociology, anthropology, and intercultural communication scholarship.Complex organizational challenges affecting program reputation and student outcomes — resolve through strategic judgment and systemic problem-solving at the college or university level.
Also known as
40 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adjunct Communications Faculty MemberAdjunct Communications InstructorAdjunct InstructorAdjunct LecturerAdjunct ProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorCollege Faculty MemberCollege ProfessorCommunication Arts LecturerCommunication Arts ProfessorCommunication InstructorCommunication LecturerCommunication ProfessorCommunication Skills InstructorCommunication Studies InstructorCommunication Studies ProfessorCommunications Assistant ProfessorCommunications Faculty MemberCommunications InstructorCommunications Media ProfessorCommunications ProfessorInstructorInterpersonal Communications ProfessorJournalism InstructorJournalism ProfessorJournalism TeacherJournalist ProfessorLecturerMass Communications ProfessorMedia Arts ProfessorProfessorPublic Speaking ProfessorPublic Speaking TeacherRhetoric ProfessorSpeech Communication ProfessorSpeech InstructorSpeech ProfessorSpeech TeacherUniversity Faculty Member