Career Overview
Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Environmental Sciences Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Conservation Educator
- Conservation Science Teacher
- Educator
- Energy Conservation Educator
- Environmental Educator
- Environmental Engineering Professor
- Environmental Science Management and Policy Professor
- Environmental Science Professor
- Environmental Sciences Professor
- Environmental Studies Faculty Member
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Geography
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Innovation
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
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
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Atomic absorption AA spectroscopes
- Carousel slide projectors
- CHNS/O Analyzer
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Field data collectors
- Flow meters
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $50,670 |
| Median | $87,710 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $164,290 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 7,130
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $100,830
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $101,390
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $86,350
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $83,460
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $86,220
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.