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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.
Other titles employers use
Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Humanities Professor · Instructor · Philosophy Instructor · Philosophy Professor · Professor · Religion Professor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and creative work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Philosophy and Theology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- History and Archeology
- Sociology and Anthropology
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 1.6 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 87%
- A master's degree 13%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Data base user interface and query software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 3,080
- Job openings each year
- 60
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 21.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,080 | 60 | 21.7% |
| California | 2,500 | 210 | 4.2% |
| Texas | 2,470 | 200 | 7.9% |
| Illinois | 1,310 | 100 | — |
| New Jersey | 1,190 | 100 | 7.2% |
| Florida | 1,170 | 100 | 12.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,060 | 80 | — |
| Tennessee | 960 | 80 | 18.5% |
| North Carolina | 760 | 60 | 11.8% |
| Ohio | 660 | 50 | — |
| Washington | 640 | 70 | 14.3% |
| Virginia | 560 | 40 | 1.8% |
| Colorado | 530 | 50 | 20.5% |
| Arizona | 520 | 40 | 4.0% |
| Michigan | 510 | 40 | 4.1% |
| Indiana | 500 | 40 | 4.2% |
| District of Columbia | 380 | 30 | 2.7% |
| Kentucky | 380 | 30 | 2.7% |
| Connecticut | 370 | 30 | 8.8% |
| Missouri | 370 | 30 | 2.8% |
| Alabama | 360 | 30 | 5.9% |
| Iowa | 350 | 30 | 9.4% |
| South Carolina | 340 | 30 | 9.7% |
| Georgia | 330 | 30 | 6.5% |
| Minnesota | 330 | 30 | — |
| Maryland | 310 | 30 | 10.7% |
| Wisconsin | 300 | 30 | 7.1% |
| Massachusetts | 280 | 20 | 12.0% |
| Oregon | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| New Hampshire | 230 | 20 | — |
| Oklahoma | 210 | 20 | — |
| Kansas | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Arkansas | 130 | 10 | — |
| Rhode Island | 130 | 10 | — |
| Mississippi | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Idaho | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Utah | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Maine | 90 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 90 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 80 | 10 | — |
| Vermont | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| West Virginia | 50 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 761
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of Pennsylvania
- Degrees each year
- 183
- Admit rate
- 6%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Degrees each year
- 173
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 128
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 120
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Notre Dame
- Degrees each year
- 105
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 99
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Boston College
- Degrees each year
- 88
- Admit rate
- 16%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000