Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
People classed as Economics Teachers, Postsecondary teach courses in economics. Interest ratings put Social on top at 6.2 out of 7 and Investigative second, so the code is SIC and the day leans toward helping, teaching or caring for people. The preparation level is extensive preparation, typically graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. O*NET’s skill data points to speaking, writing, and reading comprehension as the ones to build. A regular part of the work is to prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics. It tends to suit people who want helping, teaching or caring for people, and it offers little for anyone seeking hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.
What they do
Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Main tasks
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 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.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Skills
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
- You are comfortable relying on speaking and writing.
May not suit you if
- You find a full day of dealing with people draining.
- You want to be working in the field within the next few years.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code SIC takes the three highest, and Social comes first here.
Preparation
Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Economics Instructor
- Economics Lecturer
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.