Occupation · SOC 25-1126
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. 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
1,452 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingInstructingActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingLearning StrategiesActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSystems EvaluationTime ManagementSystems AnalysisService OrientationCoordinationPersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisNegotiationMathematicsScienceProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Philosophy and TheologyEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingHistory and ArcheologySociology and AnthropologyLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyForeign LanguageAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematicsGeographyFine ArtsAdministration and ManagementTherapy and CounselingTelecommunicationsPublic Safety and SecurityBiologySales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryTransportationEconomics and AccountingDesignPhysicsChemistryProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalFood Production
Technology & tools
Blackboard LearnCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareGateway to LogicGoogle DocsImage scanning softwareInteLext Past MastersLearning management system LMSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMoodlePhilosopher's Information Center The Philosopher's IndexSakai CLEUniversity of California Thesaurus Linguae Graecae TLGWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersGetting InformationThinking CreativelyMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsWorking with ComputersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCoaching and Developing OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsSelling or Influencing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational UnitsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating 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 introductory undergraduate philosophy or religion courses.Student written work and short essays — evaluate and apply departmental grading rubrics under the guidance of a supervising professor.Classroom discussions on foundational topics such as ethics and logic — facilitate using prepared discussion prompts in small seminar settings.Examination questions aligned to course learning objectives — compile and administer following established departmental protocols.Introductory lectures on topics such as contemporary religious thought — deliver to undergraduate audiences using structured notes and faculty-reviewed materials.Current philosophical and theological literature — read and summarize to stay abreast of field developments under the direction of senior colleagues.Student attendance records and grade entries — maintain accurately in departmental management systems following prescribed procedures.Word processing and office suite software — use to produce course handouts, assignment sheets, and basic correspondence in an academic department.Electronic mail and calendar scheduling tools — employ to coordinate office hours, student meetings, and course-related communications.Foundational texts in philosophy, theology, and related disciplines — comprehend and synthesize in preparation for seminar discussions and lecture support.
developing
Undergraduate and graduate course syllabi — design and revise independently, integrating current literature in ethics, logic, and religious studies into a coherent semester plan.Student assignments, papers, and examinations — assess routinely with reduced oversight, providing substantive written feedback calibrated to graduate-level academic standards.Seminar and lecture discussions across multiple course sections — initiate and moderate, adapting facilitation strategies to diverse student backgrounds and learning needs.Lecture series on specialized philosophical or theological topics — prepare and deliver to undergraduate and graduate audiences, incorporating analytical frameworks and primary sources.Grading responsibilities for large courses — assign to teaching assistants and oversee quality and consistency through regular calibration meetings.Professional conference participation and current scholarly literature — engage with regularly to incorporate emerging debates in philosophy and religion into course content.Analytical and information retrieval software — apply to support research tasks, literature searches, and preparation of course reading lists in an academic library environment.Short scholarly articles and book chapters — draft and revise, drawing on disciplinary expertise in philosophy, theology, or related fields for peer-reviewed publication.Student performance data and grade distributions — monitor and analyze using spreadsheet software to identify patterns and inform instructional adjustments.Complex ethical, metaphysical, and sociological problems — work through with students using Socratic questioning and inductive reasoning strategies in seminar contexts.
proficient
Full-scope undergraduate and graduate curricula in philosophy and religion — design autonomously, sequencing courses to build students' critical thinking and analytical reasoning across a degree program.Non-routine student performance challenges, including academic integrity cases — evaluate and resolve independently, applying institutional policy and professional judgment in postsecondary settings.Advanced graduate seminars on specialized topics such as philosophy of mind, comparative religion, or applied ethics — prepare and lead, synthesizing cross-disciplinary scholarship at the highest academic level.Book-length scholarly works and peer-reviewed journal articles — research, write, and revise for publication, contributing original arguments to the academic literature in philosophy or theology.Oral presentations and keynote addresses at professional conferences — deliver with clarity and authority, representing the institution's scholarly voice to national and international audiences.Complex philosophical and theological problems spanning multiple knowledge domains — analyze using deductive and inductive reasoning, drawing on history, law, sociology, and anthropology.Comprehensive examination processes for graduate students — design, administer, and evaluate, ensuring alignment with program competencies and accreditation standards.Mentorship relationships with doctoral candidates and junior faculty — conduct through regular feedback, manuscript review, and professional development coaching in academic department environments.Institutional learning assessment data — interpret and use to evaluate course and program effectiveness, recommending evidence-based curricular improvements to departmental governance bodies.Emerging digital research tools, OCR scanning software, and scholarly databases — integrate into research and teaching workflows to enhance access to primary sources and archival materials.
advanced
Departmental or school-wide academic vision for philosophy and religion studies — set and communicate, shaping hiring priorities, research culture, and curricular direction at the institutional level.Junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars — mentor and develop through structured observation, tenure-track guidance, and sustained professional sponsorship in research-intensive university environments.External grant proposals and major research initiatives — lead the development and submission of, securing funding that advances the discipline and elevates the institution's scholarly reputation.Cross-institutional collaborative research programs — establish and steward, fostering partnerships with peer universities, think tanks, and international scholarly networks in philosophy and theology.Discipline-wide pedagogical innovations and instructional standards — champion and disseminate through publications, conference leadership, and invited workshops at national professional associations.Institutional accreditation reviews and program self-studies — lead and represent the department in, demonstrating alignment between learning outcomes and regional or national standards.High-profile public lectures and community education initiatives on ethics, justice, and religious thought — design and deliver, extending the university's intellectual influence into civic and policy arenas.Scholarly journals, edited volumes, and book series in philosophy or religion — serve as editor or editorial board member, shaping the standards and directions of academic publishing in the field.Institutional resource allocation decisions affecting faculty lines, course offerings, and research support — advise senior academic leadership on, grounding recommendations in evidence and strategic analysis.Ethical and governance challenges facing higher education institutions — analyze and respond to at the organizational level, applying philosophical rigor and professional integrity to institutional decision-making.
Also known as
42 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adjunct Faculty MemberAdjunct InstructorAdjunct Philosophy ProfessorAdjunct ProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorBiblical Studies ProfessorChurch History TeacherChurch Music ProfessorCollege Faculty MemberCollege ProfessorDivinity ProfessorDivinity TeacherEastern Philosophy ProfessorEducatorEthics ProfessorHumanities ProfessorInstructorJewish EducatorMetaphysics TeacherOld Testament ProfessorOnline Philosophy InstructorPastoral Ministries ProfessorPhilosophy Adjunct InstructorPhilosophy Adjunct ProfessorPhilosophy Assistant ProfessorPhilosophy Faculty MemberPhilosophy InstructorPhilosophy LecturerPhilosophy ProfessorPhilosophy SpecialistProfessorReligion InstructorReligion ProfessorReligious EducatorReligious Studies ProfessorReligious Studies TeacherSystematic Theology ProfessorTheology ProfessorTheology Teacher