Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Women's Studies Professor

Alternate Job Titles

Adjunct Professor
African Studies Professor
American Studies Professor
Asian Studies Professor
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Black Studies Professor
College Faculty Member
College Professor
Ethnic Origins Teacher
Ethnic Studies Professor
Ethnic Studies Teacher
Ethnology Professor
Ethnology Teacher
Faculty Lecturer

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Education and Training
English Language
Sociology and Anthropology
History and Archeology
Foreign Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Instructing
Active Listening
Writing
Active Learning
Learning Strategies
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Oral Expression
Written Expression
Oral Comprehension
Written Comprehension
Speech Clarity
Inductive Reasoning
Near Vision
Deductive Reasoning
Speech Recognition
Originality

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Intellectual Curiosity
Dependability
Innovation
Social Orientation
Achievement Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Achievement
Relationships
Independence
Recognition
Working Conditions

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Doctoral Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration

Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

Google Docs
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

Carousel slide projectors
Compact digital cameras
Compact disk CD players
Computer data input scanners
Computer laser printers
Computer projectors
Conference telephones
Desktop computers
Digital calculators
Digital video cameras
Digital video disk DVD players
Handheld microphones
Interactive whiteboard controllers
Interactive whiteboards
Laptop computers

Work Environment

E-Mail
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Freedom to Make Decisions
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$51,130
Median	$84,290
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$164,650

Workers Employed Nationally: 11,430