The Strong Interest Inventory® (SII) is a powerful job search tool that has helped thousands of people worldwide find fulfilling careers that are a good fit for them. This resource assesses individuals’ interests and preferences in everything from level of independence to subject area, and then it compares their responses to those of professionals already working in hundreds of different fields. In other words, the Strong Interest Inventory works by guiding people towards careers of people whose preferences are similar to their own. Moreover, according to this Interest Inventory, modern careers fall into six categories distinct: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Each of these Theme Code Categories contains a set of careers with certain shared characteristics. For example, Social careers typically involve interacting with others on a daily basis, often through mentorship or educational relationships and helping them achieve a goal. Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers are considered Social careers because they involve mentoring others and helping them achieve their potential in a given field of study.
Read about a career as Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers, including information such as salary, daily tasks, and other career information.
Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers, sometimes called Assistant or Associate Professors or Instructors, conduct research and teach courses in theology, religion, and philosophy at the university level. Many responsibilities of Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers are standard instructional and educational tasks that many teachers share. These may include assigning, collecting, evaluating, and grading students’ assignments and papers; initiating, facilitating, and moderating classroom discussions; preparing and delivering lectures to students; engaging with the community on topics relevant to their professional interests; designing, administering, and grading examinations and other assessments; preparing course materials such as syllabi, assignments, worksheets, handouts, and slideshow presentations; maintaining records of student academic performance and attendance; select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks; advise students on possible career paths.
Other responsibilities are unique to the higher education setting. For example, Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers must stay up-to-date on new developments and findings in their field, typically by reading current publications, conversing with colleagues, attending talks, and participating in professional conferences. They also conduct research and publish their findings in professional journal articles, books, or other electronic media; perform university or departmental administrative duties like serving as department head or participating on panels that resolve academic or institutional misconduct; maintain regular office hours to assist students and advise them; supervise students in internships, teaching, and research at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels; engaging in student recruitment and placement tasks; participate in campus events; write and submit grant proposals to secure external funding for their research. In some cases, Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers may even provide professional consulting services to governmental organizations or private industry corporations.
Successful Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers should be comfortable using a broad range of tools and technologies, including standard office software (e.g., word processors, e-mail, web browsers, calendar and scheduling software, presentation software, etc.), computer-based training software (e.g., Blackboard Learn; Moodle; Sakai CLE; Canvas, etc.), and scholarly database software (e.g., InteLext Past Masters; Philosopher’s Information Center The Philosopher’s Index). Moreover, they need to have strong written and spoken communication skills, as the majority of their responsibilities involve delivering information in writing or through instructional talks.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers require extensive higher education. Nearly 75% of job postings require a doctoral degree and 12% require postdoctoral training. Just 13% require a master’s degree, and there are almost no positions that only require a Bachelor’s.The median salary for Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers in the United States is $77,610 annually, though the top 10% of earners make over $150,000 yearly. Compensation can also vary depending on geographic location and the prestige of the institution at which one is employed. For example, in Florida, the bottom 10% of earners make just $18,000 per year, while the median is over $60,000, and the top 10% earn nearly $100,000 per year. In Massachusetts, which has such prestigious institutions as Harvard and MIT, the median is almost $100,000, and the top 10% of earners make over $200,000 annually. Regarding employment, as of 2020, some 29,000 Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers were employed in the United States. This number is projected to grow faster than average, at a rate of 10% – 15%, adding approximately 3,100 new positions within the coming decade.
Below are some employment trends for Post-Secondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers:
- Median Salary: $77,610 annually
- Employment: 29,000 employees
- Projected growth (2020-2030): Faster than average (10%-15%)
- Projected job openings (2020-2030): 3,100
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org