Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Education and TrainingO*NET 25-1065.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $84,440
Projected change: +9.1%
Typical education: Doctoral degree or more
Employment: 1.78M jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What political science teachers, postsecondary do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as classical political thought, international relations, and democracy and citizenship.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
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.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
Act as advisers to student organizations.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $49,147
25th percentile: $62,814
50th percentile: $84,440
75th percentile: $118,952
90th percentile: $175,749

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $84,440 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+9.1%faster than average

20251,782,325 jobs

2035 projected1,944,527 jobs

162,202 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Doctoral degree or more: 96.5%
Master's or Professional degree: 3.5%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Political Sciences
Social Sciences
International Relations
Public Administration
Sociology
Economics
Public Policies
Political Philosophy
Student Engagement
Talent Management
Learning Management Systems
Syllabus Development
Pedagogy
Curriculum Development
Educational Technologies
Student Learning Outcomes
Ethnic Studies
Psychology
Online Teaching
Educational Assessment

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Active Listening: Giving 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.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Adjunct Faculties128 postings
02Political Scientists97 postings
03Professors of Political Science90 postings
04Adjunct Professors of Political Science86 postings
05Political Science Adjunct Instructors62 postings
06Science Faculties46 postings
07Political Science Instructors28 postings
08Science Lecturers19 postings
09Professors of Government14 postings
10Lecturers12 postings
11Lecturers in Computer Science12 postings
12City Government Reporters11 postings
13Adjunct Instructors10 postings
14Adjuncts9 postings
15Non-Tenure Track Faculties9 postings
16Associate Professors of Political Science8 postings
17Communication Lecturers8 postings
18Faculties8 postings
19Online Adjunct Faculties7 postings
20Political Affairs Interns7 postings

Top employers

01Herc25 postings
02Lone Star College System23 postings
03Tennessee Board of Regents17 postings
04California State University-Chancellors Office12 postings
05University of Chicago11 postings
06Northeastern University10 postings
07Brigham Young University9 postings
08The University of Texas at Austin9 postings
09College of the Sequoias8 postings
10Edjoin.Org8 postings
11American University7 postings
12Georgia Southern University7 postings
13Stanford University7 postings
14University of New Hampshire7 postings
15Alamo Colleges District6 postings
16California State University-Fullerton6 postings
17Foothill-De Anza Community College District6 postings
18Northwest Vista College6 postings
19Ohio State University6 postings
20Sam Houston State University6 postings

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