1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Physics Teachers Postsecondary
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Occupation Detailed Description

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

The main tasks and work activities of Physics Teachers, Postsecondary are to evaluate student work, teach physical science or mathematics courses at the college level, prepare tests, administer tests to assess educational needs or progress. In general, for the Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, instructing, speaking, reading Comprehension, science and other 16 skills are required.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Job Description
EducationMost 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).
Related ExperienceExtensive 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.
Job TrainingEmployees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
ExampleThese occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary jobs.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
0.00%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
100.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Supervise students' laboratory work.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • 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.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Training and Teaching OthersIdentifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Evaluate student work.
  • Teach physical science or mathematics courses at the college level.
  • Prepare tests.
  • Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
  • Maintain student records.
  • Supervise laboratory work.
  • Develop instructional materials.
  • Advise students on academic or career matters.
  • Supervise student research or internship work.
  • Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
  • Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
  • Evaluate effectiveness of educational programs.
  • Develop instructional objectives.
  • Guide class discussions.
  • Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.
  • Research topics in area of expertise.
  • Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
  • Select educational materials or equipment.
  • Perform student enrollment or registration activities.
  • Promote educational institutions or programs.

Skills and Abilities for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Ultracentrifugese.g. Analytical ultracentrifuges
  • Slide projectorse.g. Carousel slide projectors
  • Spectrometerse.g. Circular dichroism CD spectrometers
  • Digital camerase.g. Compact digital cameras
  • Compact disk players or recorderse.g. Compact disk CD players
  • Scannerse.g. Computer data input scanners
  • Laser printerse.g. Computer laser printers
  • Parabolic mirrorse.g. Concave mirrors
  • Teleconference equipmente.g. Conference telephones
  • Parabolic mirrorse.g. Convex mirrors
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Pocket calculatore.g. Digital calculators
  • Digital camcorders or video camerase.g. Digital video cameras
  • Digital video disk players or recorderse.g. Digital video disk DVD players
  • Laserse.g. Far infrared FIR lasers
  • Global positioning system GPS receivere.g. Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Microphonese.g. Handheld microphones
  • Holography apparatuse.g. Holography equipment
  • Portable data input terminalse.g. Interactive whiteboard controllers
  • Touch screen monitorse.g. Interactive whiteboards
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.