Career Overview
Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Associate Professor
- Political Science Instructor
- Political Science Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Political Science Instructor
- Adjunct Political Science Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Faculty Member
- Geopolitics Teacher
- Government Instructor
- Government Professor
- Government Teacher
- Instructor
- International Relations Professor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as classical political thought, international relations, and democracy and citizenship.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- History and Archeology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Instructing
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Social Orientation
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Relationships
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
- C
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- R
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
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $50,490 |
| Median | $94,680 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $173,380 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 17,170
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $82,540
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Median Salary: $126,650
Political Scientists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $139,380
History Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $81,500
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $119,980
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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.